I hope Expansions will be expansions and not stand alone games like Doomsday was. What do you think about that?
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
the first thing I want is just a no end date (play at your own risk). With the map as big as it is, no way could Germany even make a dent in the US by '49
Johan previously stated that addons will not be stand-alones. However, I do not see what's the problem with stand-alone expansions. You get pissed off because you paid for the game and then for the expansion while another player just bought the stand alone and has the same features as you? Well it might seem frustrating but since it does not hurt you I don't see the problem. It's not really unfair either since the other gamer made the choice to wait until the expansion is out while you rushed to buy the game. 
Yeah, the timeline is deeply flawed - which they know, and will 'fix' in the first expansion.
Yeah, the timeline is deeply flawed - which they know, and will 'fix' in the first expansion.
I don't understand the point of strict time lines that tell you your game has to end now. My problem with it isn't me wanting to play until 2036 or anything ridiculous like that (which would be my own problem, wouldn't it? Why should it bother Paradox or their customers?) but from a modding stand point.
I'd love to do a 1452+ mod for CK, but I can't because of how hard coded the dates are. I could only make a mod and pretend it was the time I wanted, and I just find it odd why this route is taken.
Don't mind stand alone or expansion.
But... isn't this post a bit early? I mean, I rather though the game had to be released first before an expansion is in order.
As for the timeline. I can understand that. You need somethings to be improved by the expansion. Makes for better sales. I don't mind that. As for everything else in the expansion (HoI 2 and EU3 had two expansions) we'll just have to wait.
But... isn't this post a bit early? I mean, I rather though the game had to be released first before an expansion is in order.
As for the timeline. I can understand that. You need somethings to be improved by the expansion. Makes for better sales. I don't mind that. As for everything else in the expansion (HoI 2 and EU3 had two expansions) we'll just have to wait.
2 Expansions I think, like Eu3 to make it complete.
Edit- If they call them Doomsday and Armageddon, I shall by disappointed.
Edit- If they call them Doomsday and Armageddon, I shall by disappointed.
Stand alone? Only if can be at the same time merged so we can play them separately or as part of HoI3. My vote goes for WWI (Vicky isnt good at that) so we could if we wish play till WWII (plausible outcomes) and Cold War - Armageddons ahistorical game isnt the best expansion IMO (although it gave as few good options I didnt like the scenarios).
And yes its a bit eary to talk about that
And yes its a bit eary to talk about that
Because they made it easy to mod, which shows that Paradox Did and Does care.
Because in a game like EU:3 it's not exactly as simple as changing a line in a text file. It works only to the point where nations run out of tech to research at which point it will crash. Thus it would require fleshing out the tech files with techs which didn't exist really (as after '45 a lot of army teching stopped for many nations) I don't see why Paradox should bother too much with making up very late war fairy tale techs, there's no real point either, because it's not about conquering the whole map, but about being the dominant faction. At the game's end it should be decided, even with a '45 start.
Now if people have a big problem with that they can add in the needed techs themselves, change the end date and voila, you can play until 2000 if you want.
This is based on the EU:3 model though, the HoI3 research model is obviously very different, but I think there's a good chance it's very similar in this regard. It just 'seems' that it's easier to add generic research lvl's for when you're out of historic ones, but who knows before the release?
-edit- I just realise this is rather offtopic. I'd prefer a stand-alone sequel actually, I've downloaded and installed EU:3 --> NA --> IN --> 3.1 patch --> 3.2b patch --> mod one time too often now. If the expansion packs would include the main game that would be grand, if they'd be able to install All patches (including 'beta' ones) from the patcher that would be nice too.
I've got no beef with expansions. They do good work quite often (In Nomine for EUIII is one notable example). I don't really mind if Paradox don't extend the timeline backwards in any expansion, because I don't really think the game is set up to be a simulation of WWI. This would require far more provences in Europe and far less input into the war from minors (and majors) in the Americas and Asia. I'm keen to see the timeline extended though. The Cold War-era was really interesting from a historical standpoint and I'd be happy to see it through in an expansion (sort of like HoI2 Doomsday, but better).
The Cold War would be modeled very very poorly in the HoI3 engine. It shines in a 'hot war' with battles and combat-tactics & strategy. There are some peace-time activities, but to model the Cold War you'd need many more and more in-depth ones. Besides it'd only work when you have the historical set-up, to make a cold war happen from an a-historical set-up would make it too generic, if not implausable in many scenarios.
You got me there. You're right; thinking about it, it wouldn't work particularly well on the HoI3 engine (though probably far better than the Hoi2 engine could handle it).
I agree with the timeline extension, but there would have to be techs in the tree to research...
And while the game might not handle a cold war well, there are plenty of interesting what-if scenarios where things would go hot, such as an all out war with China during the Korean War, for instance.
What I would also really like to see is more WWII era scenarios. For instance, what if Hitler was killed on 20 March 1943, and Germany would start with the political scene in complete disarray. Who would take power? Would the Axis fall apart? Would the Western Allies break their recent alliance with the Soviet Union (which technically still was at war with the Polish Government-in-Exile following the invasion on September 17)? A lot of fun options to explore...
And while the game might not handle a cold war well, there are plenty of interesting what-if scenarios where things would go hot, such as an all out war with China during the Korean War, for instance.
What I would also really like to see is more WWII era scenarios. For instance, what if Hitler was killed on 20 March 1943, and Germany would start with the political scene in complete disarray. Who would take power? Would the Axis fall apart? Would the Western Allies break their recent alliance with the Soviet Union (which technically still was at war with the Polish Government-in-Exile following the invasion on September 17)? A lot of fun options to explore...
There are infinitely many techs to research in many branches (small arms).
But Paradox is well advised not to extend the timeline just like that. Otherwise people get whiny and start expecting Paradox to provide tech/research/ministers for that extension, which just becomes one huge whiny headache.
But Paradox is well advised not to extend the timeline just like that. Otherwise people get whiny and start expecting Paradox to provide tech/research/ministers for that extension, which just becomes one huge whiny headache.
They generally cost more, since they include most of the original games features.
A text book model would be Relic Entertainment and their expansions for DoWI and CoH. Each expansion cost $30, which is steep for expansions, and generally did not add much (maybe a new faction or a couple of new units). But you could play it without any of the previous games, the only catch was you needed to activate the old games to play their respective campaigns.
Basically, its a way to screw the end user out of more money, since most people buying the expansion already have the original game, but you have a justification to increase your price by 50%.
"Hearts of Iron" In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
I'm kind of hoping, instead of time-expansion concept, that there will be game mechanic expansions. Something where a particular area is expanded in complexity, like an air war expansion where unit sizes get smaller, cheaper with a lot more selection. Or a Battalion expansion, with a more complex division designer, right down to support companies.
It would be a lot of work, but I think something like that would be a nice alternative to the usual expansion formulas. In Nomine really broke the mould, I wouldn't be surprised if Johan & Co. do the same again.
I'm kind of hoping, instead of time-expansion concept, that there will be game mechanic expansions. Something where a particular area is expanded in complexity, like an air war expansion where unit sizes get smaller, cheaper with a lot more selection. Or a Battalion expansion, with a more complex division designer, right down to support companies.
It would be a lot of work, but I think something like that would be a nice alternative to the usual expansion formulas. In Nomine really broke the mould, I wouldn't be surprised if Johan & Co. do the same again.
There's no point in being able to play beyond 1945 for example. After everyone builds 500+ divisions the game will slow to a crawl and stop on it's own accord anyway by that date.