August Storm Mod Review

[Praetori]

Out of curiosity, is there any explanation on the Wikipedia what colouring scheme they're using for their diagrams? As far as I can tell it's not provided with the diagrams, it's not included in the NATO symbols page, and for that matter, there's not even any explanation provided with the diagrams what the colours actually mean ...

There is, or it's usually Noclador's color-scheme being used.

One must remember that there are MANY different systems in use out in the real world. I don't disagree with the choice made in August Storm but some form of tooltip or ledger would be nice.

 

[jackda]

There is, or it's usually Noclador's color-scheme being used.

One must remember that there are MANY different systems in use out in the real world. I don't disagree with the choice made in August Storm but some form of tooltip or ledger would be nice.

Very interesting, thanks.
@JackPettyAndTheSpritebreakers

 

[Pixox]

I can't understand why this discussion about Nato counters and colours is so important... I have a question to the mod developer. What do you think about new resources as grain and uranium?

 

[dermeister]

I have a question to the mod developer. What do you think about new resources as grain and uranium?

Not saying we won't ever add a new resource, but in general our philosophy is to refrain from multiplying the number of resources. That said, Uranium could be interesting. Generally speaking though, adding multiple new resources such as grain and other miscellaneous things is something these guys may consider.

 

[The Albatross]

Not saying we won't ever add a new resource, but in general our philosophy is to refrain from multiplying the number of resources. That said, Uranium could be interesting. Generally speaking though, adding multiple new resources such as grain and other miscellaneous things is something these guys may consider.

The Saharan Railway was mentioned as an infrastructure solution, primarily for transporting resources overland from Central and Southern Africa.
Recall that in previous HOI iterations, parts of Africa had significant strategic resources.
Having previously enjoyed August Storm + ICE + HPP in HOI III, I am looking forward to playing these mods once again in HOI IV.

HOI III mod list = here
Strategic resource map lists = here.
Effects of strategic resources = here.

Here is a 2015 video of version 8 of the Black Ice mod featuring strategic resources and their benefits.

 

[Fulmen]

Not saying we won't ever add a new resource, but in general our philosophy is to refrain from multiplying the number of resources. That said, Uranium could be interesting. Generally speaking though, adding multiple new resources such as grain and other miscellaneous things is something these guys may consider.

BICE was alright for HoI3, even though already then it had way too much useless stuff. But the HoI4 version of BICE is just full-blown feature creeping. Please don't follow the same design mistakes.

Btw I completed my first game with August Storm as England. Due to lack of players I made it into an SP game, but it was alright. I very much liked some of the design choices (armour techs & battalions, higher costs on certain techs, increased cap for saved research etc.). You might want to consider upping saved Focus days and perhaps also setting the ace bonus so that you don't get a higher percentage for having a wing smaller than 100 aircraft (in vanilla you get 1000% if the wing is 10 planes - 20 in AS).

 

[Hawk_za]

i cant stand being forced to use nato counters as well

 

[dermeister]

i cant stand being forced to use nato counters as well

You vill uze zem und you vill like it, ja?

 

[Hawk_za]

You vill uze zem und you vill like it, ja?

lol

or itz off to za campf vith you und you can kampf wagens all day ya.

 

[Highmongrel]

Personally I have no issues with NATO counters in of themselves as they're pretty easy to use. I just start to get annoyed after I do partial upgrades and have to go around looking to find my best equipped units.

 

[jackda]

BICE was alright for HoI3, even though already then it had way too much useless stuff. But the HoI4 version of BICE is just full-blown feature creeping. Please don't follow the same design mistakes.

Our modding philosophy is described in the second post of this thread : https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/august-storm.942523/
You could find there why we won't make the same design choices some other mods made.

Don't be lulled into the false impression that AS works well because it is "simpler" than the other mods.
Many AS features are part of a complex system, even more complex because we mean it to be coherent. We simply think that this complexity does not necessarily need to be "visible" for the player at first glance to improve the game significantly . For example, adding several dozen of new units could give the impression you are giving the game more depth + many players love to always have more and more new toys to play with. Units are a very visible feature, and many seem to always consider this as a gameplay improvement and immersion improving.

For AS mods, we have preferred to optimise the uses and the features of the existing units first, and -provided it is well done- I can assure you that it could be more complex than simply adding new ones, as you have to include them in the core balance system of the mod. Also, we are very cautious when people are asking us to join our (small) modding team or to add a feature they kindly made for AS. We need ALL the guarantees it won't break the whole mod's balance system first.

When we decide to create a new unit, that's because :

- We stated it really lacks and it is indispensable to any Strategical scaled WW2 game (HOI4 is not a tactical game, so there is no need of tactical units, like "Lapon Ski units" or whatever)
- It is manifestly not abstracted in the existing units. For example : bakers and cookers are abstracted in the current INF units.

Modding is a hobby for us, but we try do do it seriously. When we disagree with the design of a vanilla feature that is not hard-coded, we are not those who yield to the PI devs' ears, we prefer to mod it to make it suit OUR own preference. Thanks Paradox, I have learnt how to mod years ago just to not have to yield.
We are not there to please all of the players at all cost (cf : the NATO/Sprite debate) or to be the most popular mod ever, but to try to improve this game the best we can, using our wargaming/modding experience (I use to play WW2 wargames for almost 28 years), our WW2 acknowledge, and of course, the other serious players experience. The ones you seem be part of.

About MP :
AS3 was scaled and balanced through the time playing MP games. We have the same plans for AS4. We haven't found the time to organize a new campaign yet, but it's planned. Let us know by MP if you are interested by joining the AS MP GROUP.

 

[Pixox]

Our modding philosophy is described in the second post of this thread : https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/august-storm.942523/
.

Some years ago when I wasn't a student full time, I modded some strategic games of an other franchise "seriously" and I thought exactly the same things. I agree completely.
I think there are two problems for modders of strategic games:
- a lot of the public love history and immersion. So total historical accuracy is so important for many players and as modder, I understand how histarical accuracy and gameplay balance are so difficult to adjust. We need good abstractions, many things are hardcoded etc.
- The second problem is about the new "toys": the problem is not the lackness of units or resources in a strategic game. There are so many in every good strategic game as HoIV and other Paradox titles.
A strategic game is fun and very good when the player has to think in a new way to win every time. The easiest way is to add things. So players will have the sensation of "new" for 30 minutes. But u have right: tha game itself will be so easy and unbalanced. It's just a trick.
The best way to mod is the yours. It's the most difficult because u have to test so many times, improve the AI, modify everything to be a real choise for the player. But I think you are doing very well.

I indicated grain and uranium as new resources for two reasons:
- Nukes in this game are no sense. I think they are underpowered and at the same time everyone can have 20 30 nukes so easily. It doesn make any sense from an historical and gameplay perspective. So I think only majors with good scientists and particular resources should have the possibility to do them (with a real industrial investment).
- Grain was an important issue for Axis and it can add a new way to think when u just want to spam infantry

However it's just my two cents. Because of university I dont have tha game yet ((( and I have seen a lot of utube videos and played with my friends some days with your mod and I loved it.

Have a good day

 

[Fulmen]

Our modding philosophy is described in the second post of this thread : https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/august-storm.942523/

I'd love to read and post in that thread, but I can't access to mods sub-forum until supposedly some time in October.

Many AS features are parts of a complex system, even more complex because we mean it to be coherent. We simply think that this complexity does not necessarily need to be "visible" for the player at first glance to improve the game significantly . For example, adding several dozen of new units could give the impression you are giving the game more depth + many players love to always have more and more new toys to play with. Units are a very visible feature, and many seem to always consider this as a gameplay improvement and immersion improving.

For AS mods, we have preferred to optimise the uses and the features of the existing units first, and -provided it is well done- I can assure you that it could be more complex than simply adding new ones, as you have to include them in the core balance system of the mod. Also, we are very cautious when people are asking us to join our (small) modding team or to add a feature they kindly made for AS. We need ALL the guarantees it won't break the whole mod's balance system first.

When we decide to create a new unit, that's because :

- We stated it really lacks and it is indispensable to any Strategical scaled WW2 game (HOI4 is not a tactical game, so there is no need of tactical units, like "Lapon Ski units" or whatever)
- It is manifestly not abstracted in the existing units. For example : bakers and cookers are abstracted in the current INF units.

I think this is the right way to go.

Let us know by MP if you are interested by joining the AS MP GROUP.

Thanks, I'll look for that group.

 

[jackda]

I indicated grain and uranium as new resources for two reasons:
- Nukes in this game are no sense. I think they are underpowered and at the same time everyone can have 20 30 nukes so easily. It doesn make any sense from an historical and gameplay perspective. So I think only majors with good scientists and particular resources should have the possibility to do them (with a real industrial investment).

That's true. Uranium should be a crucial strategic resource for major powers in AS post WW2's scenarios.

- Grain was an important issue for Axis and it can add a new way to think when u just want to spam infantry

Not sure we can introduce food matters suitably regarding the actual state of the game.

 

[jackda]

I have created an AS mp group thread in the Multiplayer forum if you guys are interested :

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/august-storm-multiplayer-group.967705/

 

[Atomcreator]

This thread is supposed to be a review of the August Storm mod but several people have chosen to focus on their preferences for infrastructure development or the use of particular symbols on counters. If you want to make he point that you don't like a choice made by the modding team, that's fine (it is aligned to the purpose of review) but debating issues should be raised in a specific thread.

I don't agree with every decision that a modding team makes. I might try to change their minds by reasonable discussion in their mod thread but, if it is clear that their position is firm, I would respect it. If it really bothers me, I would try to mod a change or I would just play a different mod.

I totally agree. It looks like I was being trolled anyway as his comments have all been removed now.

 

[The Albatross]

I have created an AS mp group thread in the Multiplayer forum if you guys are interested :

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/august-storm-multiplayer-group.967705/

And here are some stats from podcat that backup the value of mods.

 

[Neal Mac]

NATO counters are the deal-breaker for me. Pass.

I don't understand why either side has to eliminate the users option to choose as is default with the game and force you to play THEIR preferred counter.
It is a deal breaker for me as well, and it is really ridiculous that you can't just choose for yourself. Oh well.
Anyone know of a mod to change the counters back to default?

 

[Neal Mac]

I was always respectful of gamers who wanted the old NATO symbols and always sided with allowing them the option and not insulting them etc. But I think Jackda and his insults and disrespect has changed my mind. I am going to laugh when they are relegated to the dustbin of history and all the tabletop boomers cry about them being gone.

All you had to do was leave the option in place and just use an old biplane sprite for helicopters or something like that, and just post it in the descriptor. Or god forbid ask if anyone wants to mod a 3d model of a generic helicopter. I am sure someone would have stepped up.

 

[JackAlNXT]

Holy Necronomicon, Batman!