Are there any plans to increase the # of provinces?

[KevinG]

I played AOD at the launch but stopped due to having a crappy computer. Now that I have a better one AOD isn't as slow but one problem still remains: the tiny number of provinces. In HOI2 I thought the number of provinces was OK because there were less units and battles were over much, much quicker so if you had a gap anywhere it could be easily exploited and fronts were very dynamic.

This is not true for AOD. I mean I can still beat the AI easily by spamming super brigaded tanks and just running over their infantry, but I wanna get into AOD MP soon but I can't imagine how boring a AOD MP game would be if everyone knows what they're doing and can pump out 200+ units by 1939 and just stack all the border provinces with a crap load of divisions.

Now I think the new stacking penalty is a good idea, but I think it's way too steep with so few provinces.

 

[bosman]

I would like to see more provinces in AoD. I really hoped that AoD was going to have a bit more detailed map especially in some regions like Poland, Eastern France, Spain or Germany (maybe Finland too). There is no need to make map similar to HoI 3, just add some provinces where they would be strongly needed.
There are many discussions on the forum how to make this game more challenging or historical while in fact the best way in many cases would be adding more provinces in some parts of map.

There is a picture with my (example sample) proposal for improved AoD map:

 

[Onni_Manni]

Try Mexbuild's mod when it comes out

 

[unmerged(151142)]

Would one be able to mod new provinces to the game or is it hardcoded?

 

[Pier]

More provinces is not necessarily a good thing, as you need more divisions to man the frontline. It's one of the balancing things that HOI3 suffers from. A bit more detail here and there, however, I would love to see.

 

[Eugenioso]

what the game needs is a set territory size and divide that by the size of the map.

so a 2x2cm square ingame replaces the ridiculous distances that you need to travel only because the terrain in the game is gigantic (im looking at you, russia)

 

[Happy Tyrant]

It's an abstraction. It's a game, not a real world simulation. You guys kill me sometimes with your gripes. They did make a version of this with more uniform and numerous provinces though. It's called HOI3.

 

[am300307]

It's an abstraction. It's a game, not a real world simulation. You guys kill me sometimes with your gripes. They did make a version of this with more uniform and numerous provinces though. It's called HOI3.

Pwned

 

[bosman]

More provinces is not necessarily a good thing, as you need more divisions to man the frontline. It's one of the balancing things that HOI3 suffers from. A bit more detail here and there, however, I would love to see.

That was just my point and since quality is more important than quantity in AoD I think, that adding 30-40 provinces in Europe (and some in other part of map - mostly Asia) would not be a problem You mentioned, but rather make land operations more flexible and probably better use of aircraft.

 

[KevinG]

It's an abstraction. It's a game, not a real world simulation. You guys kill me sometimes with your gripes. They did make a version of this with more uniform and numerous provinces though. It's called HOI3.

Funny considering the main gripe of HOI3 is that its a fantasy sim and not a real world war 2 sim.

I honestly can't believe so many AOD players hate the idea of adding a few provinces to France or Germany. It's like any change that even resembles HOI3 gets hated on just because it's associated with HOI3. I'm not asking for 100 more provinces in Africa FFS I'm just asking for a few more provinces in Poland/France/Finland/Russia, you know, where all the fighting takes place in every game.

I mean the entire border between France/Ger/Belgium is 6 provinces. Look at the # of topics complaining about the stacking penalty or ridiculous numbers of divisions in some provinces. Those ALL arise from the fact that players are forced to squeeze 200 divisions in a very narrow province border.

All you naysers answer this question, would a few extra provinces in France really KILL the ****ing game for you? Explain to me how it could possibly make the game worse.

 

[KevinG]

Pwned

Go play Axis and Allies or Risk if you like abstraction so much, this games seems much too complicated for someone like you.

 

[bosman]

I see, that many people forget about one important thing, that many factors in combat mechanics which were introduced (already in HoI 2) and designed for balance/gameplay/abstraction purposes have been made so just because there are not enough provinces to achieve such effects lets say "operationally".
Adding several provinces in some countries is not going to destroy the game, but IMO make it more interesting, not to mention modding possibilities.

 

[Titan79]

(...) There is no need to make map similar to HoI 3, just add some provinces where they would be strongly needed.
(...)
There is a picture with my (example sample) proposal for improved AoD map:

+1

I like really much this degree of map modification. It doesn't upset the original one's scheme neither introducing too many new provinces, nor needlessly twisting the borders (which aren't too jagged and thus remain recognizable at a glance), nor creating too small provinces - three problems which other maps sometimes experience, IMHO.

Additional 8-10 provinces could be added using the same philosophy in other key areas like the Ardennes, Normandy/N France, and so on. Such one would be a map which adds a fair amount of tactical possibilities without the need of too many (graphical) changes.

I'd keep it into serious account. Good job Bosman, gratuluję [congrats]!

 

[KevinG]

+1

I like really much this degree of map modification. It doesn't upset the original one's scheme neither introducing too many new provinces, nor needlessly twisting the borders (which aren't too jagged and thus remain recognizable at a glance), nor creating too small provinces - three problems which other maps sometimes experience, IMHO.

Additional 8-10 provinces could be added using the same philosophy in other key areas like the Ardennes, Normandy/N France, and so on. Such one would be a map which adds a fair amount of tactical possibilities without the need of too many (graphical) changes.

I'd keep it into serious account. Good job Bosman, gratuluję [congrats]!

Yeah this is exactly what I'm talking about. Just split a few provinces in two, no need to redo borders on anything. I remember one of the HOI2 MP groups I played in had a vanilla mod that split the France/Benelux/Germany border into 8 provinces from 6, so if it's possible to do it in HOI2 then surely it must be possible in AOD.

 

[Titan79]

Yeah this is exactly what I'm talking about. Just split a few provinces in two, no need to redo borders on anything. I remember one of the HOI2 MP groups I played in had a vanilla mod that split the France/Benelux/Germany border into 8 provinces from 6, so if it's possible to do it in HOI2 then surely it must be possible in AOD.

Yes, of course it is. Could you recover that map somehow? Part of the work on Western Europe would already be done.

The problem, however, is that modding the map requires quite much dedication. As a matter of fact, though, my wish would be to make this map the official AoD one, since IMHO it would have the right requirements: it doesn't upset the look of the original, adds some tactically important changes only without unnecessary graphical frills like complicated borders between provinces etc.

 

[KevinG]

AFAIK it wasn't a major mod. I don't have it on this computer but if anyone remembers the mod used in Storm501's HOI2 MP AARs it was that one. Unfortunately I can't find the AAR or MP thread anywhere since it's been over for a year.

It MIGHT be in Georing's Delay as well but I can't check since I don't have HOI2 on this comp.

 

[Eugenioso]

It's an abstraction. It's a game, not a real world simulation. You guys kill me sometimes with your gripes. They did make a version of this with more uniform and numerous provinces though. It's called HOI3.

so thats why so many people think HOI3 is good, even though AoD gave it a kick in the balls

 

[Iberville]

+1 on more areas. Not 1000 more, just a few more - to spice up the old map.

 

[bosman]

Thanks Titan79, that was my intention - no big remaking, just tweaking.
I mean, there is no need to focus on very detailed map like in HoI 3, but it would be great to make some progress compared to HoI 2 with map. It is a matter of good balance we could find, I hope.

NOTE: Personally, I would add some more provinces in Finland. Ah and I am going to take a look at France and Spain to make similar example... If You don't mind

 

[Lennartos]

There are 2 mapmods in the making to my knowledge.

The E3 map
and Mexbuilds

The real problem by adding provinces is that all the events need to be checked and possibly adjusted.
So making the map is only 50% of the job

If you really want a new map, why not ask if you can help the respective mods?