E3 06: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

Adding new races is a great way to breathe new life into a strategy game, so that's exactly what Relic is doing for its second expansion pack to the original RTS, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (the first expansion pack was Winter Assault). Due out later this year, Dark Crusade introduces the protective Tau and the destructive Necrons, bringing the total number of playable races to seven. Diametrically opposed, the two new races promise to change the way Dawn of War veterans think about combat.

Known for their precision and heavy firepower, the Tau are best when attacking from a distance. Wearing body armor and armed with pulse rifles, the Tau are physically weak, so they don't do well in close combat. Instead, the bulk of the Tau forces are designed to keep the enemy at bay and never let anyone move in for the kill. Success with the Tau will rely heavily on positioning and tactics. This is not a race that will win with brute force.

On the flip side of the coin are the Necrons. These creepy, mechanized monstrosities are the equivalent of death incarnate. Though the Necron forces are slow to move, they pack a deadly surprise - the ability to repair themselves on the field. This is an invaluable skill as it means your troops literally almost cannot die. They just keep coming back to life. Talk about the ideal cannon fodder.