Warhammer: Dark Omen

Warhammer: Dark Omen is a real-time tactics game developed by Mindscape and released in 1998. As a sequel to Shadow of the Horned Rat, the game continues the story of the Grudgebringer mercenary company fighting across the Old World. Players command their regiment through a campaign against the forces of Undead and Chaos while managing their company's roster and resources.

The gameplay features real-time battles where tactical positioning and unit abilities determine outcomes rather than base building or resource gathering. Each unit has unique capabilities, from the firepower of crossbowmen to the devastating charges of cavalry. Terrain features like hills and forests provide tactical advantages, while flanking and combined arms tactics prove essential against cunning enemies.

The campaign follows a persistent mercenary company that grows and evolves based on battle outcomes. Surviving units gain experience and become more effective, while losses must be replaced when possible. Between battles, players manage their regiment, purchase new units, and choose which contracts to accept. The narrative drives the company through encounters with Undead legions, Orc warbands, and daemonic forces.

Dark Omen stands as an influential title that shaped tactical gaming and Warhammer video games. The game's focus on persistent consequences and tactical depth without resource management created a template that many subsequent games would follow, while its Old World setting remains fondly remembered by fans.