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{{Wikipedia|Warhammer:_Dark_Omen}}

{{ Infobox VG
| title = Warhammer: Dark Omen
| image = [[Image:WHDO-Cover.jpg|256px|]]
| developer = [[Mindscape]]
| publisher = [[Electronic Arts]]
| designer =
| engine =
| released = [[May 6]], [[1998]]
| genre = [[Real-time tactics]]
| modes = [[Single player]], [[Multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[PlayStation]]
| media = [[CD-ROM]]
| requirements = Pentium 166 MHz, 32 MB [[Random Access Memory|RAM]], 265 [[Megabyte|MB]] disk space
| input = [[Computer mouse|Mouse]], [[Computer keyboard|Keyboard]]
}}

'''''Warhammer: Dark Omen''''', the sequel to ''[[Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat]]'' (1995), is a [[real-time tactics]] [[wargames|wargame]]. It is one of the earliest fully recognisable and seminal of the genre and seminal in being an archetypal specimen.

Rendered entirely in a freely rotatable- and zoomable steep [[Isometric projection|isometric]] [[3D computer graphics|3D]] overhead perspective, the game features for its time remarkable 3D graphics of terrain, terrain features and buildings, and advanced support of the first-generation [[Voodoo Graphics|Voodoo 3dfx]] 3D accelerator card effects. The 3D terrain and features are combined with [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] ("[[Sprite (computer graphics)#Billboarding|billboarding]]") to render the hundreds of individual units simultaneously on-screen on the limited hardware of 1998; a technique still employed in games many years later, a good example being the essentially similar game [[Shogun: Total War]] (2000). ''Warhammer: Dark Omen'' is based on the [[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]] miniature tabletop wargame rules and situated in the Old World in the [[Warhammer Fantasy (setting)|Warhammer Fantasy world]] and makes good use of the vast background, creating a deeply engrossing storyline that develops over the course of the game through illustrations and voice acted conversations. The enemy [[AI]] is poor, relying on scripts rather than adaptive logic.

First released for the PC platform, it was later released in a simplified version for the [[PlayStation|Sony Playstation]]. An expansion was scheduled and advertised but never released.

== Gameplay ==
[[Image:WHDO-day.jpg|thumb|The player's cavalry charging Orc archers while his infantry holds the road and crossbowmen soften up the Orc archers in preparation for charge.]]

The [[gameplay]] is one of [[Military unit|unit]]-oriented [[Operational warfare|operational]] [[battle]]field [[military tactics|tactics]] with [[infantry]], [[cavalry]], and [[archery|archer]] [[squad]]s and [[artillery]] pieces as well as supporting hero and [[Wizard (fantasy)|wizard]] units as the fundamental unit to command; that is, beyond rare and special hero characters, no individuals can ever be given orders. The [[Warhammer Fantasy (setting)|Warhammer Fantasy]] world is comparatively eclectic and the game freely mixes cannons, [[arquebus]]es and steam-powered [[tanks]] with bows, cavalry and [[Magic (gaming)|magic]]. Except for heroes, which are always by themselves, units consist of as few as four or five individual members for stationary artillery pieces to up to 50 members for larger ordinary units, but are usually of ten to 20 individual members in size. Units suffer from psychological effects and can be routed, and individuals in units may be lost (but can be replaced between missions unless the entire unit is lost). Units advance in experience as the game progresses, and between battles (although not within a 'mission', unlike contemporary [[real-time strategy|RTS]] games such as [[Command & Conquer]]) the player's forces can be brought up to strength, replacing losses, and upgraded by adding armour and equipment using money gained by killing enemies and accomplishing objectives within the mission. New units, including allied Elven and Dwarf units, can also be added at certain points in the campaign, often as rewards for successful completion of critical missions. 

While the army can consist of many units only ten may be employed simultaneousy in one battle - selected before the battle commences - making the scope of the battles more of skirmishes than of epic army confrontations, a scale of theatres cemented by the relatively confined maps. Though thus of smaller scope than, for instance, games in the Total War series, in consequence it does afford the commander (player) better overview and more meticulous control over unit formation, orientation and positioning. 

Choosing the optimal initial dispoisition, arrangement and position objectives for the army as well as suitable unit formation and depth when engaging the opponents is of paramount importance to the unfurling and outcome of the battle. Archers and artillery should not be in direct mêlée with opposing troops and cavalry is best employed to outflank and shock engaged or harrying fleeing opponents. Care must be taken to avoid friendly fire from artillery. Terrain and elevation must be taken into consideration for attack and defense. Predicting enemy entry and [[ambush]] points and movement routes is highly important for a player's tactics. Most real-world [[Medieval warfare|medieval]] or [[Gunpowder warfare|Napoleonic]] tactics can be employed, including [[ambush]]ing and [[outflank]]ing (see [[list of military tactics]]). Movement likewise reflects historical reality in that units must rotate or "wheel" from the centre or edges when changing facing.

''Dark Omen'' also has a multiplayer component, where both players 'purchase' an army with a predefined amount of money before facing each other in battle, and can choose to play as the Imperial, Orcish or Undead forces.

== Background story ==
[[Image:WHDO-4pics.jpg|thumb|Four screenshots showing typical game battle situations.]]

The dialogue script was written by dark fantasy and science fiction novelist, [[Stephen Marley (writer)|Stephen Marley]].

The game's introduction movie shows the resurrection of an evil [[undead]] King in lands far to the South of the Empire. Meanwhile to the North, the player (as [[mercenary]] commander Morgan Bernhardt, the main character from [[Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat]]) is defending a small trading post from attack by [[goblin]]s. The army is soon recalled to [[Altdorf (Warhammer)|Altdorf]] where you are told that Orcs are invading the Empire from the South.

After fighting a number of battles against the orcs, it becomes clear that something is making them flee into the Empire. The player returns to Altdorf to make his report, and is assigned to a series of expeditions to fight the imminent undead threat. These campaigns consist of several battles each, and there are a number of occasions where the player is required to choose between alternative paths, with consequences in the battles ahead. Along the way you meet many friends and enemies, including several from the previous game in the series.

Eventually, after defeating undead incursions in [[Kislev (Warhammer)|Kislev]], [[Bretonnia]] and within the Empire itself, the location of the Undead king is discovered and the final battle is pitched. Throughout the game, the player character Bernhardt changes from a mercenary who only cares about money to a hero willing to lay down his life to save others.

== Production credits ==

{{further|Warhammer: Dark Omen/Production Credits|Production Credits}}

== See also ==

* [[Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat]]
* [http://en.dark-omen.org/dark-omen-and-windows-xp.html Running WH:DO on Windows XP]
* [http://en.dark-omen.org/dark-omen-and-windows-vista.html Running WH:DO on Windows Vista]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/warhammerdarkomen/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review Review of ''Warhammer: Dark Omen'' at '''Gamespot''']
* [http://darkomen.blitz-art.com Polish ''Warhammer: Dark Omen'' Fansite]
* [http://darkomen.benjamintrenkle.de/en German ''Warhammer: Dark Omen'' Fansite]
* [http://darkomen.hotmail.ru/ Russian ''Warhammer: Dark Omen'' Fansite]
{{Warhammer Fantasy}}

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