Map-Specific Strategies

Master the Dark Crusade campaign map! Learn about province strength, difficulty levels, and how to approach each territory for victory in Dawn of War.

Hey there! So, you're diving into the _Dark Crusade_ campaign, huh? It's a bit different from the older _Dawn of War_ games, with a big strategic map where you move your armies around before jumping into the actual fights. Think of it like a grand strategy layer on top of the usual real-time battles. This campaign's non-linear, meaning you get to choose which provinces to conquer and in what order. Most of the battles are standard skirmishes against the AI, but keep an eye out, as some special territories have unique scripted battles. ## Difficulty Levels When you start, you'll see three difficulty settings: Easy, Normal, and Hard. The game's descriptions about unit strength are a little misleading. Here's the real deal: * Easy: Your units have 250% health, while the enemy's have only 25%. You also start with a hefty 600 planetary requisition. * Normal: Your units have 200% health, and the enemy's have 100%. You'll start with 400 planetary requisition. * Hard: It's a tougher fight here. Your units have 100% health, but the enemy's have 150%. You'll start with only 200 planetary requisition. Just a heads-up, even on easier settings, the AI can sometimes throw a curveball by starting with two bases against your smaller strike force. So, always be prepared! ## The Strategic Map The _Dark Crusade_ campaign map has 25 provinces in total. Conquering each one gives you different bonuses or even special Honor Guards. When you begin, your faction controls just your homebase. The AI leaders, however, start with 3-4 provinces already under their control. Each faction has its own unique homebase. These are usually the toughest maps and are best left for the end of the campaign, as they're quite different from the standard ones you'll encounter. Remember, most of these provinces correspond to skirmish maps you can play anytime, except for the homebases. ## Province Strength Understanding province strength is key to knowing what you're up against. The game rates provinces from 1 to 9 and higher, giving you a good idea of the enemy's setup: ### 1 to 3 These provinces have Tier 1 bases. * Expect a skilled combatant leading the enemy forces. * Their army will likely be mostly basic infantry. * They'll have a single base to defend. ### 4 These provinces have Tier 1 bases with several unit production buildings. * The enemy commander is a skilled combatant. * Their force will likely consist of basic infantry. * They'll have one large base. ### 5 Here, the enemy bases are at Tier 2 and have multiple unit production buildings. * The enemy commander is a hardened veteran. * Their forces will likely include elite infantry. * They'll have a single large base. ### 6 to 7 These provinces feature Tier 2 bases with even more unit production buildings. * The enemy commander is a hardened veteran. * Their forces will likely include elite infantry. * They'll have two bases to deal with. ### 8 Provinces at this level have bases at Tier 2 or higher, often with more turrets around their Headquarters. Some turrets might even be fully upgraded to counter vehicles. * The enemy commander is a hardened veteran. * Their forces will likely include elite infantry. * They'll have two large bases. ### 9 and higher This strength level usually comes into play when you're defending your own province from an invasion. It's like attacking an enemy province of this strength, but they might have extra turrets around their base. * The enemy commander is a hardened veteran. * Their forces will likely include elite infantry and vehicles. * They'll have two large bases. Good luck out there on Kronus, Commander!