Development Diary #25 - 22nd of April 2009

[Johan]

say it isn't so: romania 1936 has the flag with the emblem that the communists added after 1948 in the middle... nooooooooooooo....

Terribly sorry. We're changing the flag to the proper one, and the artist responsible for this terrible mistake is no longer an employee of Paradox.

 

[Tyson_48]

Terribly sorry. We're changing the flag to the proper one, and the artist responsible for this terrible mistake is no longer an employee of Paradox.

So i hope it wasn't you :rofl:

It would be such a waste of talent, if you would become producer of EA's Hearts of Iron 2010, 2011 etc.

 

[Razor]

The hand represents strength, manpower is the third from the right in the list (left of the clock for time)

What's the 7th and 8th from the left?

 

[zeekater]

What's the 7th and 8th from the left?

They were all explained in a DD:

So running from left to right you see of course Strength and Organisation. The next one is a new concept of combat width. Then we have the three attack values; soft, hard and air attack. Then the three defensive values; when you are on the defence, on the attack and air defence. The next one is unsurprisingly the speed of the unit. Then we have suppression value. The next two are supply and fuel consumption. Then we have IC cost, manpower cost and time.

 

[Ithron]

Somebody asked in an interesting manner about all the map complains. Obviously there is strong relation between that and the theory on Uncanny (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uncanny) better known for it's application in robotics - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley
Apparently aspects on IG geography are highly similar. And of course, political history is both part of social and individual identity.

 

[sapper66]

Terribly sorry. We're changing the flag to the proper one, and the artist responsible for this terrible mistake is no longer an employee of Paradox.

That is kinda harsh for making the wrong flag..... you don't haev to fire the poor bastich

just kidding....... but glad to hear you are correcting it......

BTW you guys are doign a great job at communicating with the fanbase......

the project looks great and seems like it is coming along nicely....... i cannot wait to play it...

ty for all the hard work, feedback adn updates

 

[Fulmen]

Will reserve divisions drop back to half-strength after the war is over, or will they remain as regular troops which they transformed into during the war? If the former is true, do you get the strength back to your MP pool?

You also said that men won't remain in the army forever. Once they get out and back into being civilians, will they go back to the MP pool?

 

[unmerged(138364)]

is there a larger pic of the map posted at the begningin of thie thread anywhere?

 

[unmerged(7537)]

Will reserve divisions drop back to half-strength after the war is over, or will they remain as regular troops which they transformed into during the war? If the former is true, do you get the strength back to your MP pool?

You also said that men won't remain in the army forever. Once they get out and back into being civilians, will they go back to the MP pool?

From Johan's post:

Well we mentioned in passing that divisions require reinforcement every month to maintain their strength

So it's likely the other way round: You need to spend manpower each month to maintain your divisions' current strength.

 

[Fulmen]

From Johan's post:


So it's likely the other way round: You need to spend manpower each month to maintain your divisions' current strength.

I know. But it makes no sense if they just disappear forever. If you choose not to reinforce your divisions, their strength should decrease but your MP pool should increase from those returning from the army (plussed with the regular MP income).

Also, that doesn't answer my first question about divisions reverting to reserve status after the war is over.

...and the artist responsible for this terrible mistake is no longer an employee of Paradox.

Maybe he was pro-Communist.

 

[Enzo]

This is a great DD
one question :

When you go to war your consumer goods demand falls

Will it falls of 50% like in HoI2 the day after you're at war ? or will it take time to go to the lowest level of CG needs ?

 

[unmerged(105596)]

I think this was one of the greatest DDs in a while. The reserve system is so beautifully simple, just a cap on strength that can be removed by 'mobilization'. That's just genious! I had been thinking way more complicated means to present a reserve division or a non-mobilized one... Good job!

 

[Lauri]

just kidding....... but glad to hear you are correcting it......

I'm not so sure that's exactly what he meant

You also said that men won't remain in the army forever. Once they get out and back into being civilians, will they go back to the MP pool?

Well, why would they? At least in war-time, I doubt it... I'd think they'd retire or something... As for peace-time, it's possible, as they get back in the army when war comes.. I don't know..

 

[unmerged(127071)]

Maybe it is one of those stupid historical errors that means people won't buy this game, or perhaps the province in question is called Zadar? You pays your money and you takes you choice.

bahahahhaha
brilliant way of marketing games :rofl:

 

[Cardus]

bahahahhaha
brilliant way of marketing games :rofl:

Apart from the fact that King was right I would say that there are different ways to react and in my humble opinion I don't think that a rofl is an appropriate comment.

 

[oribiasi]

[soapbox]

Folks, it should be fairly clear now that further discussion/critique of the layout of the map is not desired by the development team, who most likely have much more important gameplay issues to worry about at this stage of game development than whether the bulk of the province of Warsaw is east or west of the Vistula. Johan and co have stated repeatedly that the layout of the map is based in part on gameplay considerations, and as such may not perfectly represent the geography of the timeperiod. If making the game map look like an atlas results in poor gameplay, then it makes much more sense for the map to be abstracted to a degree to allow to ensure that gameplay functions as intended.

For those of you who are unhappy with some specific issues regarding a province name, location of a river, or shape of a province or national border, please bear in mind that HoI3 will be using the EU3 engine and, as such, will be very much moddable for those gamers who believe that a more perfect gaming surface (ie map) is desirable, even if it means a loss of gameplay efficiency or an increase in the minimum requirements that would be needed for computers to run any new map mod. Check out the EU3 modding forums to see what has been accomplished with that game in terms of new maps, and let the development team please focus on the more crucial gameplay elements, like a competent AI. Devoting limited developer time to making a perfect map will not make the game worth playing if the AI is crap and can't put up a decent fight. And in the end, that is what is going to make this game worth playing, having a decent AI that can play the role assigned.

It's like theater, an excellent actor on a bare stage makes for a more memorable and enjoyable perfomance than a stunnging state set with wannabe thespians who couldn't act their ways out of paper bags.

[/soapbox]

One of the best (and maybe the only) reasoned arguments about this idea. Well said.

Also, Michigan sucks. You with me, OHgamer? O-H....

 

[Fulmen]

Well, why would they? At least in war-time, I doubt it... I'd think they'd retire or something... As for peace-time, it's possible, as they get back in the army when war comes.. I don't know..

20 year old perfectly healthy men retiring? I doubt it. Also, I think the MP loss is only for peace-time... Wouldn't make sense at all if they'd just leave the army during war-time unless they're wounded or killed. And even then, some of the wounded go back to the front thanks to proper treatment/medical care.

 

[unmerged(112615)]

Awesome diary. Especially like the second pic. The new mobilisation system sounds like something I'll have to get used too.

 

[Sovereign]

Terribly sorry. We're changing the flag to the proper one, and the artist responsible for this terrible mistake is no longer an employee of Paradox.

Really? Wow... Paradox is a tight ship run by an iron fist.

 

[peer-LAN]

Love it! The map needs some work... it would be great if it had been used the real world map like http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/BlankMap-World.png (also http://kantan-net.main.jp/worldmap/world_map_gif.gif from slightly different perspective; don't know how good there are though) or some google earth stuff, but I love it anyway.
Also I hope events will be able to change flags .