The maps and multiplayer
MAPS
At E3, Warhammer: MOC displayed a limited view of the terrain that many fans were disappointed with. We can now confirm that the map view can now be fully extended, providing a bird’s eye view of the environment and therefore enabling you to strategically think even further ahead.
One of the newer maps, that appears later in the Empire campaign, involves hunting down a number of Vampire counts that are hidden in crypts deep in the bowels of a dark, foreboding cave. The huge spires on rocks and the shadows they create add to the suffocating, paranoia-fuelled atmosphere. This elevated terrain ensures that you’ll need to use a different strategy, as you can no longer zoom out and see around the next corner. You’ll need to navigate your way through the narrow maze-like pathways to reach the crypts that are protected by undead skeletons and defeat them before you take on the Vampire counts.
All of the maps are inspired by the Warhammer universe, including the Northern Wastes, where the brutal hordes of Chaos inhabit the bleak wasteland. Once again the harsh terrain will have an impact on your strategy. Walk up a hill and your soldiers will move slowly, walk down a hill and they’ll speed up. Therefore, perching your troops at the top of a hill and waiting for the enemy to make its way towards you will give you a strategic advantage as you pound them with arrows. Of course there are many other variations; the strategic options are limitless.
Click for larger imageWarhammer: MOC has its fair share of villages where you can buy items from alchemists or weapon stores as well as being able to view information about missions. Every village has a shrine so you can recharge the morale of your troops, thus giving them an advantage over the opposition. Morale is extremely important and low morale can spread through your team like wild fire, so these shrines provide a crucial boost to your depleted regiment. Villages are also one of the places where you can pick up side-quests!
The simple and unique user interface means that fans and newcomers to the real-time strategy genre will have no problems in getting to grips with the game. Even though I’ve never played an RTT game for any significant period of time, it was within minutes that I understood how to move around the terrain, attack enemies and order a formation (more about this in our hands-on preview coming soon!). The layout of the options are so well presented that it’s almost with an instinctive reaction that you’ll send your regiment charging at the opposition or unleash a fire bolt from the fingertips of your champion. And I thought real-time strategy games were supposed to be complicated!
Click for larger imageIndeed, the campaign mode has a gradual learning curve so those new to Warhammer or real-time strategy games shouldn’t encounter too many hurdles.
MULTIPLAYER
The multiplayer mode of Warhammer: MOC is where you’ll participate in some hard fought intense battles and, once the single player campaign is complete, is where you’ll find thousands of gamers spending hour upon hour perfecting their armies and their strategies, hoping to create an army that they can be proud of. The competitive nature of Warhammer fans offline will undoubtedly be projected into this online battlefield.
Click for larger imageThe option to be able to save these battles and send them to friends is an added bonus. You’ll be able to view saved files of some of the most strategically superior and vicious online matches and therefore be able to extract tips and tactics that may prove valuable in future battles.
The comprehensive selection of multiplayer modes includes co-op matches, skirmish one-on-one modes, siege, and an online campaign that should be one hell of an experience. With added clan support, including chat channels, an innovative stat-tracking system, map editing functionality and banner contests, the online community aspect of Warhammer: MOC will be one that will grow and grow.
Chris also shed some light on who would be flying the flag for Warhammer: MOC online, he told us that 'GameSpy is the portal which we will use to connect people in multiplayer, they will also be involved in the beta test and the banner competition. Gamespy will be the ones accumulating and distributing statistics as well as moderating our tournaments online.'