CoH: Tales of Valor T17 has the POWER
Some of the new units in Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor are much more than just skin updates, they are upgrades. They should have drawbacks and bonuses from the unit they are replacing, but with the case of the T17, it is ALL bonus.Here is the whole list of unit upgrades for Tales of Valor. Seeing the T17 in action is just amazing; It has a very fast firing cannon that just decimates infantry. It's almost like an Ostwind on wheels, but fast enough to chase down retreating infantry. Example number 1 shows a group of T17s waiting to destroy some retreating infantry. Warning: 16 MB GIF
The T17 also gets a stun ability that is just like the British Bren infantry's ability to button. The big difference is that the stun ability makes it so a vehicle cannot move OR fire their main weapon. This grants the T17 the power to take down Axis heavy armor all by itself; granted it isn't on a 1v1 basis, but if the tank is alone, it WILL die to a group of T17s. This really makes the Allies insanely over powered, as long as they have the fuel to get to the T17 first- It's game over for the Axis team.
Watch this video and see how insanely powerful the T17 is. I have a replay someplace of four T17 Amored Cars taking out an Axis King Tiger right as it was called in. Talk about balance issues!
Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor new units video
Well, it seems that Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor is FINALLY out and available for purchase. Tales of Valor adds some new multiplayer modes and single player campaigns. The interesting part is that you can earn medals that unlock new vehicles in multiplayer and if you don't want to allow them in your game, there is a simple check box to disable Tales of Valor vehicles.
The video shows some very interesting information about the new units, in the opening scene you see three Geschutzwagens wrecking havoc on a US base on the map Wrecked Train, you can see the massive damage the both tanks seem to do to buildings. They manage to take down a supply yard in just three shots!
- Staghound Armored Car replaces the British Command Tank.
- The Kangaroo Carrier replaces the Cromwell tank.
- The T17 Armored Car replaces the M8 Armored Car.
- The M18 Hellcat replaces the M10 tank destroyer.
- Tiger tank “205” replaces the Blitz Tiger Tank.
- Schwimmwagen Type 166 replaces the Wehrmacht motorcycle (This unit was not in the video)
- Geschutzwagen replaces the Wehrmachts Stug IV.
I haven't had the chance yet to grab Tales of Valor and try out the new vehicles, but it seems that they all have alternate costs. Take the Geschutzwagen (or the GW); It replaces the Wehrmact Stug IV and it's alternate cost is 280 mp and 45 fuel. The Geschutzwagen's health is 375 compared to the 400 of the Stug and it can three hit a British Firefly. So it costs less manpower and five more fuel.. and you have a tank that can take down a building in three hits!
On the other hand, the Kangaroo (replaces the British Cromwell) just doesn't seem justified to me. The Cromwell is a tough and VERY useful call in for the British Engineers Doctrine. I use it as my sole anti tank when I play multiplayer with friends; I tend to just Lt stack and have a infantry blob of doom.
Here is the video of the new Tales of Valor units in action.
Dawn of War 2 Beta Information
Down to the Last Save has blogged about Company of Heroes many times before and probably will for the near future. Now, since Dawn of War 2 will be using the same engine as Company of Heroes I figure there is no harm in talking about the upcoming Dawn of War 2 Beta.
The news has hit the various gaming related news sites, but none of them seem to have any info on HOW one can get into the beta on the 21st of January. The Dawn of War 2 beta will be distributed via Steam and all that is required is a valid Dawn of War: Soulstorm cd key. The Dawn of War: Soulstorm key can only be used once; and is permanently tied to that Steam account as well. That will prevent people from sharing a cd key for Dawn of War 2 beta access. From the Relic Forums:
The Dawn of War 2 beta will be hosted via Steam and offered exclusively to Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War - Soulstorm owners on January 21, followed by a worldwide public release on January 28. The beta will feature all four playable races, five multiplayer maps, and Microsoft’s Games for Windows - LIVE TrueSkill Matchmaking.
Another reason to love Dawn of War 2 is the fact that it will not include ANY kind of DRM--digital rights management--in the game. DRM is only a pain in the ass for the paying customer and pirates either strip it out or work around it anyways.
If you liked the gameplay mechanics of Company of Heroes, be sure to check out the Dawn of War 2 beta coming to Steam on January 21st.
Edit: I was able to get a Soulstorm key from a friend and will get a Dawn of War 2 beta review as soon as I can get my hands on it. Stay tuned for a Dawn of War 2 Beta Review!
Company of Heroes Strategy: British on Wolfheze
I realized that I haven't posted a Company of Heroes strategy video in a long time, so I got the time to produce this one. The title of the post says it all about the video really. Wolfheze is a 2v2 map that is a bit on the suck side; or a lot depending on whom you talk to. It also depends on what faction you play as too. The fundamental problem has to deal with the fact that the British faction can setup shop anywhere they please. This map is a fairly small and a good British strategy is to rush up to the middle +5 fuel and setup shop. There are ways to counter this British strategy though, namely:
1. Double team where the British guy is going to setup, which is namely one of the five +5 fuels right in the middle (Early game)
2. Try to out cap around him and if you are Wehrmacht, get some sturmtroopers from the Blitz company tree. Equip those guys with shrecks and find a weakness in his emplacement spam base.
It takes a coordinated push from two people to try and dislodge the British player once he gets setup on those fuels. So not only do you have to deal with him, it leaves his American team mate to fast tech to M8 Greyhounds or M10 Tank destroyers with the abundant fuel. To make it worse, is the fact that a SINGLE, well placed mortar pit can hit anywhere of importance on the map (if the British player goes Royal Artillery). So, I hope this Company of Heroes tip helps somebody counter an Allied push on Wolfheze. That or gives you some Company of Heroes strategy ideas for the future.
Now, my Company of Heroes video is all from what happens when the allied players get total map control ( and one Axis player doesn't want to drop). I play the American (Armor Company) player, and my friend Tanith plays British (Commandos!). The Panzer Elite player dropped after I was rushing tanks into his base, but the Wehrmacht player stayed till the very end and kept calling in the CoH off map infantry reinforcements. You know, the kind that comes AFTER your base is destroyed and Tanith decided to put an end to it with some Royal Commando det packs. Also, I would like to say that I love running over guys with tanks; that is all!
Here is the high rez version if you are so inclined.