Dark Omen pillars
- Immersive battles
squads oriented, slow-paced with focus on tactical maneuvering and micro-management of moderate-sized troops rather than grand armies confrontation, button mashing power-ups (e.g. strength boost) - Tabletop rules adherence (which emphasizes medieval warfare simulation)
combined arms, formations, flanking, line of sight, terrain advantage, troops morale, etc - High fantasy setting
mythic races, terrifying monsters, powerful sorcery and artifacts - "Alive" units
Unique units, leaders' flesh-out personalities, in-depth background, special abilities, yelling/talking leader portraits. All these emotionally attach player with units and make him care about them.
It is also worth to mention entertaining narrative in Dark Omen single-player campaign as well as music and sfx (voiceover speech) which greatly helps to pass tense of battle
Realistic physics for squad formation movement in formation behavior and ballistics
example of features prioritization by using pillars:
References to discussions of DO unique features (USPs):
- http://forum.dark-omen.org/omg-wartbed/suggestions-t321.0.html
- http://forum.dark-omen.org/tavern/why-do-you-adore-dark-omen-t1348.0.html;msg13622#msg13622
- http://forum.dark-omen.org/tactical-wargaming-and-other-warhammer-games/any-other-games-with-some-of-dark-omens-mechanics-t1201.0.html
- http://forum.dark-omen.org/general-suggestions/question-about-the-remake-project-t1338.0.html;msg13877#msg13877
- http://forum.dark-omen.org/general-suggestions/leopotams-unity-3d-dark-omen-possible-remake-project-t1135.0.html