History Characters / DawnOfWar

* OneWingedAngel: Twice. The first time was in ''Dark Crusade'', where turning into a Daemon Prince was the the final upgrade; though in that case, he was a humanoid warmachine with numerous, hard-earned upgrades and replaced with [=PVP=]-balanced unit [[PowerupLetdown which was a frankly inferior unit]]. The second time was when he turned into a Daemon Prince at the end of the ''Retribution'' campaign, though we sandly didn't get to play with that version of him. Unfortunately, [[CuttingOffTheBranches neither instance was canon]].

* TheChessmaster: Best. Example. In. The. Series. All of his plans work the he intended them, except for the part where he died. [[spoiler: He knew the Maledictum was on Tartarus and had one of Khorne's Bloodthirster in it. So he used the Orks as a cover for the War Band as well as a means to give enough blood and sacrifices to Khorne and ascend to Princehood. Lord Bale was just a figurehead to keep the War Band in line.]]

* AmbiguousSituation: In the ''Hammer of the Emperor'' sourcebook it was stated he was killed by the Eldar after the Necrons were driven off. Yet in Dawn of War II, the "Shield of Sturnn" wargear contradicts that by stating that he was successful in retrieving the titan. Leaving his actual and eventual fate up in the air.

* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: He's the FrontlineGeneral who leads the 412th Cadian regiment and by all acounts is an ordinary human, yet he can tear Chaos Space Marines apart in close combat!
* BadassNormal: He doesn't have any special powers or augmentations, he's just an old man who has seen decades of the worst fighting in the galaxy, and survived. It becomes more notable considering the fact that, unlike the other two Generals, He doesn't feel the need to wear a golden breastplate, have a Plasma Pistol, super-duper Power Claws or Power Fists, optical bionics, Over-sized Pauldrons, fancy golden boots or a shiny new cape. He only wears his gritted face, Power Claws, a forearm-mounted Storm Bolter and his Medal-covered Imperial Guard uniform.

* BadBoss: During the attack on his Stronghold, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcEA5Hvi4RA he roasts several of his own men with his Hellstorm cannon to shoot ONE of your units]], and keeps firing it periodically until you take the power for it away from him on the off-chance he'll hit you again regardless of how many of his own men might be down there. [[LaserGuidedKarma If you build Thermo Plasma Generators in the right places, you can fire the Titan gun on his men any time they're in its firing line at your leisure]]. And since the Blood Ravens were the canon winners of ''Dark Crusade'', this really did happen.

* BlingOfWar: A good amount of his carapace armor, and other Wargear is decked out in Gold.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: He made two fatal blunders during his final battle with the Blood Ravens.
** His Fifth Company were having [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere morale problems]], and his solution... was to force them to screen attacks directed at his central base with only token defenses and a single Regimental [[ThePoliticalOfficer Commissar]] to keep them in the fight. The Blood Ravens killed the Commissar and the entire company promptly [[TheDogBitesBack turned on him]].

** The other was building the Thermo Plasma Generators used to power the Titan cannon in a fairly easy-to-access location that the Space Marines could get to easily once they overcame the Fifth Company's defences. He didn't defend them very well, either, with only a token defense of mine fields, turrets, some infantry and a pair of Leman Russ tanks. The result was that the Generators were all destroyed and replaced with Space Marine equivalents that allowed the Blood Ravens to take it for themselves.

* KilledOffForReal: Canonically killed by the Blood Ravens. Though an Imperial Commander with his same model is killed in Soulstorm's introduction cinematic, instead by a Tau army.

* VindicatedByHistory: An in-universe example, given in an item description in the ''Retribution'' IG campaign. Given the elements of treachery and heresy within the Blood Ravens as of ''Chaos Rising'' and ''Retribution'', many within the Imperium have re-evaluated his decision to oppose them, and he's seen a lot more positively now.

* GangstaStyle: Does this when you give him the plasma pistol... for some frakin' reason[[note]]most likely because the developers didn't think bother his firing stance when he acquires the weapon[[/note]].
* GeneralFailure: The meme of him "losing 100 Baneblades" has made some people jokingly claim he was this[[note]]the "loss" of the Baneblades wasn't his fault in the slightest; they weren't destroyed or misplaced, just reassigned to a different battlezone[[/note]]. Still awesome though.
* HeroicBSOD: In his defeat scene, he gives a pretty impressive breakdown speech, despise the bad voice acting:

* OnlySaneMan: One of the few leaders in Soulstorm who doesn't have his head stuck all the way up his arse.

* TheExtremistWasRight: [[spoiler:She's techically not wrong about the Blood Raven being tainted, with Kyras being in league with Chaos before any of them knew of the truth.]]

-->'''Gorgutz:''' Listen up ya grots an' squigs! Dey'z comin' for us like we some kind a humie gitz. But we ain't. We'ze da orks and dis here is gonna be one great fight! So get your choppas and shootas ready boyz , cos dere's some killin' to do!

* DirtyCoward: Averted. Although running may seem cowardly for an Ork (especially a Warboss), Gorgutz only flees when he knows he's lost. Retreat is more PragmaticVillainy than an act of cowardice.

* SmallNameBigEgo: Not for his entire career mind you, but when he first started out in Winter Assault, one of his men bragged that he was bigger than Nazdreg and Ghazghkull, two infamous warbosses. Gorgutz corrects him saying no one is bigger than Ghazghkull "at least not yet" showing his arrogance. At the time, it was unlikely he was bigger than even Nazdreg. By ''III'', he's probably reached that size. As for Ghazghkull, he's got a long way to go more than likely.

* {{BFS}}: He owns a pretty large claymore-like Power Sword[[labelnote:*]] (seriously the damn thing looks like it should belong to a Space Marine)[[/labelnote]], it's very impressive he's even able to use the weapon [[OneHandedZweihanderwith one hand]].

* KilledOffForReal: By the Eldar after the Necrons are driven off, according to the ''Hammer of the Emperor'' sourcebook for ''TabletopGame/OnlyWar''. This contradicts a piece of wargear in the Imperial Guard campaign of ''Retribution'', which states that he succeeded in capturing the Titan. Leaving his actual fate up in the air.

* [[Characters/DawnOfWarBloodRavens Blood Ravens characters]].

* {{BFS}}: He owns a pretty large claymore-like Power Sword (seriously the damn thing looks like it should belong to a Space Marine), it's very impressive he's even able to use the weapon with one hand.

* HandCannon: Carries a standard-issue Bolt Pistol and is more than willing to use it both on his enemies and his own cowardly men.

* BadassNormal: He doesn't have any special powers or augmentations, he's just an old man who has seen decades of the worst fighting in the galaxy, and survived. It becomes more notable considering the fact that, unlike the other two Generals, He doesn't feel the need to wear a golden breastplate, have a Plasma Pistol, super-duper Power Claws or Power Fists, optical bionics, Over-sized Pauldrons, fancy golden boots or a shiny new cape. He only wears his gritted face, cheap Power Claws, a forearm-mounted Storm Bolter and his Medal-Covered Imperial Guard uniform.

* KilledOffForReal: By the Eldar after the Necrons are driven off, according to the ''Hammer of the Emperor'' sourcebook for ''TabletopGame/OnlyWar''. This contradicts a piece of wargear in the Imperial Guard campaign of ''Retribution'', which states that he succeeded in capturing the Titan.

* WolverineClaws: His Power Claws, with a Bolter attached.

* SwordAndGun: His Crozius Arcanum and a Bolt Pistol.

* ArmCannon: He first starts off with a normal wrist-mounted bolter, with a storm bolter being his penultimate upgrade ,before eventually getting a much more powerful wrist-Mounted plasma pistol.

* WolverineClaws: His starting weapon, though he will eventually replace it with the Power Fists.

* ArmCannon: Just like Sturn and Alexander before him, he starts off with a normal Wrist-mounted Bolter and can upgrade to double-barreled Storm Bolter.

* {{BFS}}: He owns a pretty large claymore-like Power Sword. (Seriously the damn thing looks like it should belong to a Space Marine.)

* HandCannon: Carries a standard-issue Bolt Pistol

* SwordAndGun: He wields a large Power Sword and a Bolt Pistol.

* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: As an ordinary human, he can tear Chaos Space Marines apart in close combat!

* FrontlineGeneral:He is more than willing to fight with his men with nothing other than standard-issue wargear.

* CarryABigStick: Like most Chaplains in the origenal ''Dawn of War'', his Crozius Arcanum looks more like a big mace than anything.

* ArmCannon: He first starts off with a normal Wrist-Mounted Bolter, but eventually you can give him a much more powerful wrist-Mounted Plasma Pistol

* BlingOfWar: A good amount of his Carapace Armor,and other Wargear is decked out in Gold.
* BrokenPedestal: He respects the Space Marines, like most Imperial subjects. However, when the Blood Ravens marches toward his headquarter at Victory Bay, he grows disillusioned by the fact that these "holy" warriors would fight against their own loyal servants.

* PowerFist: One of his eventual upgrades.

* WolverineClaws: His starting weapon, though he will eventually replace it with the Power Fist.

* ArmCannon: Just like Sturn and Alexander before him, he starts off with a normal Wrist-mounted Bolter and can upgrade to [[MoreDakka the much faster]] Storm Bolter.

* GangstaStyle: Does this when you give him the Plasma Gun... for some frakin' reason.
** Most likely because the developers didn't think of changing his firing stance when he acquires the weapon.

%%* ChurchMilitant

* DropTheHammer: The ''God-Splitter'', before he gave it to Angelos at the end of ''Dawn of War''.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: In his non-canon victory ending, Stubbs rebuilds the system and constructs several military acadamies, he and his soldiers are seen as heroes, and Kaurava produces soldiers second in quality only to Cadia's Kasrkins.

* StarterVillain: He only appears in a single mission, his WAAAGH! is only your primary concern for four total and the Orks become a disorganised mess without him (albeit one still able to massacre the civilian populace).

* WeAreStrugglingTogether: With Lord Crull on ''Winter Assault''. [[spoiler:Although they have an alliance, it's extremely antagonistic and neither mince words that they'll get right back to trying to kill one another as soon as the Imperials and Eldar are dealt with. This all comes to a head when Gorgutz and Crull racing for the Titan. Ultimately, Gorgutz kills Crull and takes his skull, effectively ending the alliance.]]

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: The only major female in ''Dawn of War''. She proudly began the tradition of only having ONE major female character in the series until ''Dawn of War II'', apart from ''Soulstorm''.

* GutturalGrowler: With an emphasis on 'Guttural'. It helps that he's voiced by [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Dinobot]].

* '''GutturalGrowler:''' Even more than Bale. No, really.

* GutturalGrowler: As voiced by Steve Blum.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: As an ordinary human, he can tear Chaos Space Marines apart in close combat!

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: At least as far as the Ultramarines go.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He's governor of the parts of Kronus under Imperial command, and the leader of the Liberators. Not quite enough to save him, but give him credit for not backing down even in the face of certain death.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: This guy is easily the strongest boss in the vanilla ''Dawn of War II'' campaign besides the [[PhysicalGod Avatar]].

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The absolute best melee hero of ''Retribution'' in terms of raw damage and tanking potential.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Downplayed. He's no Redshirt, but his "lieutenant" O'Kais is much stronger than he is. Fitting, as he's a civilian leader rather than a military general.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He can take on small armies of enemy units and win with the right upgrades.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Like the Necron Lord of Kronus.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Averted, as he doesn't leave his Dais, likely since rules for him on foot in the tabletop didn't exist when ''Soulstorm'' was made.

* BonusBoss: You don't need to kill him to complete the campaign, though you get an achievement for it. He's also far from a pushover.

* VillainForgotToLevelGrind: In the vanilla game, Bonesmasha is one of the main antagonists and a challenging BonusBoss. If he survives to ''Chaos Rising'' through your OldSaveBonus, however, then by the time he shows up he'll be completely outmatched by your marines.

* ScaryBlackMan: Subverted in that most of the cast don't really find him scary at all. And those who do only do so due to his bureaucratic power.

* StaffOfAuthority: His Crozius Arcanum is much as a badge of as much as it can force xenos, heretics, and daemons heads in with brutal force.

** DragonWithAnAgenda: [[spoiler:Was this to Araghast.]]
** DragonAscendant: In a sense, while he does [[spoiler:take Araghast's place and his forces]], carrying out his agenda isn't quite his main objective. That said, he is still utterly committed to slaughtering everything in Aurelia.
** DragonInChief: He's a far more powerful warrior than Araghast, despite being weakened as he is. And he is the one who seems to handle the Black Legion's operations against the Aurelian sector during ''Chaos Rising''.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: InUniverse, Carron is hideously inept at worshipping Khorne. He spends his time constructing temples, while Khorne favors bloodshed and killing as forms of worship. Said temples create an aura of poison, which, on top of neither drawing blood (hemmoragic toxins nonwithstanding) or removing heads, is Nurgle's hat, which means that those sacrifices would be empowering him instead of Khorne. He also at one point refers to being a hand which will strangle the enemy, strangulation being a rather bloodless form of killing. Add on his DirtyCoward nature while Khorne is a god of battle and slaughter, and you have perhaps the worst Khornate Chaos Lord in all of 40k.

* DamageSpongeBoss: Has over twice the health of even the closest contenders in ''Chaos Rising''.

* BladeOnAStick: Can wield a Singing Spear in ''Dark Crusade''.

* BladeOnAStick: She can be equipped with a Singing Spear.

* BladeOnAStick: Her Singing Spear.

* MagicStaff: Like all Necron Lords, he wields a Staff of Light, which [[BladeOnAStick has blades on the end of it]] and [[BoomStick doubles as a ranged weapon by shooting Gauss flares]].

* StaffOfAuthority: His Crozius Arcanum is much as a badge of as much as it can force xenos, heretics, and daemons heads in with brutal force.

%%* KillItWithFire: He's an Ordo Malleus Inquisitor.%%And?

* MisBlamed: InUniverse, he wrongfully suspected Gabriel of heresy when it was actually Isador. He grudgingly apologizes about it.

* RightForTheWrongReasons: He was right to be suspicious that someone in Gabriel's Company was corrupted of Chaos, it's just that he picked the wrong marine to scrutinize and that marine only ,when he could just take a look at the other marines as well. By the time that it's too late to stop [[spoiler:Isador]], he begrudgingly apologizes to Gabriel.

* BadassBaritone: When voiced by Paul Dobson and Steve Blum.

* BadassBaritone: Naturally given that Fred Tatasciore voiced this character, giving him a very deep voice.

* JokerImmunity: Regardless of whether or not the Dark Eldar lost in Soulstorm or not, he's still alive due to being a character in the tabletop game.

* BadassInCharge: Routinely leads all of his assaults. Given his allegiance to Khorne, this is expected of him.

* BadassInCharge: There's a reason why [[spoiler:Abaddon]] resurrected him to lead the Black Legion in Aurelia.

* BadassInCharge: Araghast kicks ass and leads his warband through example, which is why the fandom loves him so much.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Like any good Warboss, he's strong enough to assert his authority and keep his Boyz in line.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Like all Chaos Lords, Crull earned his title through many feats of dark bravery and sacrifices, and as such, is amongst some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: As both a Chaos Lord and Dark Apostle, Eliphas earned his title through many feats of dark bravery and heroism as well as thousands of sacrifices and as such, is amongst the most powerful beings in the galaxy.
** AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The absolute best melee hero of ''Retribution'' in terms of raw damage and tanking potential.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Thousand acts of dark bravery and he slaughtered a thousand worlds. Yup.

* OneManArmy: All of his upgrades and wargear give him an insane amount of DPS and health, allowing him to take on entire armies. The only commanders that can beat him are the Necron Lords in both campaigns, the Chaos Lords and Caerys due to a bug in the game letting her kill him in one shot with her gun. Then comes the ending of ''Dawn of War 3'', where he, Macha, and Gabriel slaughter their way through hundreds of enemies and a Greater Daemon on their own.

* AnAxeToGrind: He can wield a Khornate Chainaxe.

&&* TheChessmaster: Would you expect any less from an Eldar Farseer?%%How?

* YouHaveOutLivedYourUsefulness: Leaves Bale to be killed after he's served his purpose and after deceiving Isador with stealing the Maledictum, he easily subdues the librarian and takes the daemon artifact for himself, leaving him to the vengeful Gabriel.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: His name is awesomely evil.