How many races?

Units are already going to be different colors, just like every RTS ever Each Player/Team get it's own color already. The Different commander models isn't actually what you think them to be, there are technically only 2, the stock and a special Progenitor Commander for those Pledging 50$ or more(think of it as a Kickstarter Bonus), it's not the same really, and all the other commanders are for the people who pledged 1000$, they won't be generally available.

And what is the point of adding tiny badges on already small and numerous units? It's just visual noise that won't amount to anything.

Mike

At the end of the day, the most viable option for factions given the fiscal reasons for only making one, would be something along the lines of zero hour (which was fantastic) where the races use identical models with access to specialised units dependant on who you chose. Its not about playing the mongouls and having better horse archers than other races though, its about the standard line mech being specialised in a slightly different aspect, speed over armour for instance that represents a difference in the commanders standard tactics.

However these minor differences still fail to differentiate the factions in the most important (and as mike pointed out, expensive) aspect, visualy. What is the difference between core and arm if not stamped on every unit the sleekness of a peewee against an AK. The bitter rivalry of the arm against those pathetic hobgoblinish core players (exaggerated opinions are puerly for dramatic effect) is what Planitary annihilation deserves. Which is why I dont want them to try and accomidate a best fits kind of factions system that doesn't really create the rivalries that a fully implimented system can achieve. I want them to include something complete, maybe as a stretch goal or at some time into the future when it is more economical.

If you guys have such a big requirement to identify with the faction, why don't you just have a backstory with 5 or so factions with ideological differences only?

Instead of differences in units, you just have differences in backstories and ideology but with identical armies. As mentioned above, simple badges/stamps/commander differences. That will create a sense of identity without having to go into the clusterpuck that is balancing and creating assets for two unique races.

because that doesn't actualy destinguish between a faction, it might distinguish between players and clans but not proper factions.

and also as said, it clutters up the model needlessly... although i'm kinda liking it as a clan feature.

I'd rather have: ONE RACE, TWICE THE UNIT VARIETY (coming from TA)

Or: ONE RACE, FOUR TIMES THE UNIT VARIETY (coming from SupCom)

If you insist on variety - make some things about your army customizable - remember the Army Painter from Dawn of War? Fairly easy to do, from a coder's standpoint.

As i just said, that doesn't actualy distinguish between inherant factions in the game, that distinguishes between players and makes it hard to tell what unit is what, how can you tell what is a light tank and what is a rocket tank when some 13 year old has managed to (somehow) contort both of them into penises.

these customisation options at best result in clan vs clan destinctions.