I had a similar experience. It's certainly a different style a game, more like an action RPG than the original RTS. But I enjoyed the mechanics all the same, and *really* enjoyed the story. I bought (or preordered?) Chaos Rising and wasn't disappointed, replaying it at least 2 times. On normal, because I'm a scrub, just to reexperience the story (:
And the end of the original, too. I feel like it captures the horror of Tyrannids pretty well. And the horror of Eldar. A faction I like to fear. Dammit, now I'm thinking about the
opening cutscene again, so good.
And yet the opening of DoW 1 is basically what got me into Warhammer at all! The combination of high tech, ""steampunk"" ork-tek, and
oh I just realized a common theme, Dreadnoughts are THE FREAKING BEST OMG
MUCH SAD
SO DESTROY
I was also very satisfied with Dark Crusade (I didn't notice Winter Assault launch). Basically I came back to DoW1, having recited the memes for a few years and idly browsing 40K threads (Tau~) and Fantasy threads (wood elves <3) and coming back to find the game IMMENSELY improved, in every way. The campaign, the factions available, even the graphics and gameplay were just... better. That's something I like to support.
And that's why I gave DoW2 a chance, and it didn't disappoint me. Retribution was... maybe a bit much talky, but that's what I *wanted*, it's not their fault they filled my cup overmuch. That just means there's more there I want to see, when I feel the itch again.
Multiplayer was never a factor for me whatsoever, I know I'm awful at RTS. I just like them for story. I was sorta ecstatic when I was able to reliably beat Dark Crusade AI on 1-on-1 normal, on a certain map. Even Necrons! With me always as Space Marines, spamming scout marines with plasma. That's the meta I found and I basically stuck with that (ramping up to terminators and fully-upgraded marines if necessary).
So,
here's that DoW1 trailer that hooked me on Warhammer. Fuck Slaanesh. It's been a wild ride.