For The Motherland: First Impressions

[FOARP]

After more than two years of drooling over this game, but not having a computer I can play it on, I finally have a nice multi-core laptop that should run HOI 3 perfectly. What's more, judging from the reviews here, it seems that, after multiple patches and two expansions, HOI 3 is finally in a reasonably playable state, or at least will be after tomorrow.

My question is what HOI 3 releases I should buy.

Here's the current prices on Gamersgate:

HOI 3 - EUR 5.99

SF - EUR 5.99

FTM - EUR 19.99

HOI 3 Sprite Collection - EUR 11.99

Common Weapons - EUR 1.99

DiG - EUR 4.99

So I can get HOI 3 + SF + FTM for just over 30 Euros, but what about the rest? If I buy HOI3 + SF + FTM + DiG + Common Weapons + HOI 3 Sprite Collection, this comes to EUR 50.94 (EUR 9 cheaper than GG's HOI 3 collection).

If I buy them will they work with FTM? I see a lot of people saying that FTM is not compatible with DiG, and DiG is not compatible with Common Weapons (and the other sprite packs?) - will they be patched to work together?

Or is this like AoD and DH (i.e., divergent versions which will never be integrated)?

As for the argument above, I think you can see that I'm one of the 'waiters'. I'm sorry, but I do not want to buy a product that is not only not finished, but not likely to be finished within a reasonable time frame. It's OK if we, as a community, are willing to report and fix problems with an expectation that problems will be fixed within a month or two, but HOI3 is now getting on two years old.

 

[Kriegsspieler]

As for the argument above, I think you can see that I'm one of the 'waiters'. I'm sorry, but I do not want to buy a product that is not only not finished, but not likely to be finished within a reasonable time frame. It's OK if we, as a community, are willing to report and fix problems with an expectation that problems will be fixed within a month or two, but HOI3 is now getting on two years old.

In such a case the wisest course might be to wait a little while, to gauge what the majority of opinion here on the forum is. Right now you see the usual back and forth that I see whenever any game is released by any company. But in a couple of weeks you'll have a better sense of how things look.

Personally, I think this expansion is fantastic and finishes off what HOI3 tried to do at the beginning. But I've got a long, long history with this game, so I am scarcely an unbiased observer.

 

[Battlecry]

Observations

From 3 games so far with FtM, I have noticed a few...curious things:

1) The GER AI will attack SOV immediately after France falls, if the Soviet army is not piled on the border (I generally hold them back a little ways), no matter how large SOV's army is. GER was totally unprepared in August 1940, and my Militia "screening force" had no trouble slowing them to the Dniepr, and then holding them there.
-GER AI should perhaps be a little more wary in attacking SOV before it's ready.

2) In all 3 games, Nationalist China fell within a year of being invaded by Japan. In two cases they fell in February, 1938 (i.e. around 7 months). The third time I even tried giving CHI a generic leader_defence = 0.75 modifier, and it didn't help much at all.
-This is probably some sort of balance issue, with the newly fixed Defensive and Toughness values.

Anybody with further observations of these two "phenomena", feel free to post.

 

[FOARP]

In such a case the wisest course might be to wait a little while, to gauge what the majority of opinion here on the forum is. Right now you see the usual back and forth that I see whenever any game is released by any company. But in a couple of weeks you'll have a better sense of how things look.

Personally, I think this expansion is fantastic and finishes off what HOI3 tried to do at the beginning. But I've got a long, long history with this game, so I am scarcely an unbiased observer.

Don't get me wrong. I know what Paradox's business model is, and considering the niche appeal of their games, it's probably the only way for them to get their games out.

At any rate, the first game I bought for my new computer was one which came out at roughly the same time as HOI3 - Eidos's Battlestations: Pacific. Whilst this game is excellently conceived, and it has amazing graphics, not only does this game still suffer multiple bugs and a clunky control system, but all support for it has ceased. I had to basically kludge my way into making it work with Windows 7 (which it had never been patched for) whilst sorting out the retarded requirement that it should be able to access Windows Live (none of which was explained anywhere) to get it to work at all.

Paradox isn't that bad, and I definitely appreciate their on-going support for their games, it's just that I'm not going to buy their stuff until it's approaching ready. From what people are saying on this thread, HOI3 is now at the stage where I'd want to buy it.

 

[Kriegsspieler]

I honestly think so. There will be a patch anon, which will fix the most obvious issues. Then let things settle a bit and look at what people are saying. I'm confident that the reception will be very positive.

 

[Ksyr]

I have only tried once, but I noticed Germany attacking SU way to early and get bogged down. Japan however is having serious problems with china in my game. In 1942 they are still struggling.

 

[unmerged(96436)]

I can´t believe I paid for this. I´m going back to Darkest Hour. Is like Microsoft charging people for buggfixes that doesn´t actually fix the bugs...

 

[gregsm]

Hi,


With For the Motherland, 1936 scenario, I've run five hands-off test games and have found too that AI China is ultimately incapable of defending itself. Although things have improved since 2.04f, where China would invariably fall within a year, China still fell to Japan before the war in the west really got going.

AI Russia too could use some fortifying as well, I think. It's survived the German onslaught just once.


Cheers,


Greg

 

[juv95hrn]

The *effectiveness* of a reserve unit has nothing to do with it being a reserve formation. Experience is all that matters in the end (and in HOI3 the experience and training factors are merged).
Personally I'd like to see reserve formations having 0 experience until mobilization (at which point they start working as normal units but on a reserve status). Giving standing units experience in accordance with the training laws would work well to set the reserve and professional units apart.

Its a good idea.

 

[Darkrenown]

I can´t believe I paid for this. I´m going back to Darkest Hour. Is like Microsoft charging people for buggfixes that doesn´t actually fix the bugs...

And the problems are so terrible you can't mention them?

 

[juv95hrn]

Might I suggest that we take the reserve/regular discussion to this thread:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...-5x-as-Much-to-Reinforce-as-Regulars-NO/page2

This way we wont hi-jack the first impressions from this one.

 

[unmerged(12303)]

why did they kill the org loss on advance? That was one of the good things done....
dont they know that in the later years the no regain due to combat delay is minimal or nonexistant?

 

[unmerged(96436)]

And the problems are so terrible you can't mention them?

HOI3 goes hand in hand with MOO3. I feel I sit and watch the computer do everything, HOI2 and clones, was just enough, but needed a better map (which DH solved). After playing FTM for 1½ day I realise that not so much changed that I should be forced to pay for it, yes, Paradox is a company and as such needs money, but before they can start charging for buggfixes they need to provide a working game. FTM is what HOI3 should have been. And not.
There is, at least for me, two choices, either I am doing everything, and I don´t have that kind of patience, or I´m doing pretty much nothing, just watching the game (I build and organize). And, I have no idea what I am doing, the AI says it needs 40 more INF and 18 more ARM to beat France and kicks France ass with what it has in record time...
Why doesn´t Air force and navy have their own theatres and command structure? Why are the HQ responsible for Denmark - Sweden - Norway keeping a HUGE reserve in Karlskrona, when they should be kicking Norways butt? Norway has taken 2/3 of Sweden (Yes, I´m letting them, to see when the AI reacts).The AI uses MP units in the front, instead of securing the rear from partisans, instead it uses ARM divsions (2 ARM, 1 MEC, 1 ENG and 1 SP ART) to secure the rear... Oh, imagine my suprise when I landed eight airborne divisions in London, hardly expecting them to survive, only to find the ENTIRE British army in Norway...
Perhaps the partisan system will save some of my first impression when I try USSR.
To be frank, I am a huge Paradox fan. And HOI2 is a masterpiece.

 

[Darkrenown]

To be honest, it sounds like you were expecting FTM to totally change HoI3 into a different game, and the problem is due to your expectation of something that was never offered rather than any specific problems with FTM.

Fiendix: There was never an org loss, but units do still not regain org while advancing unless under attack delay.

 

[DanSez]

Well, I'd say the game runs a lot faster. The scrolling works nicely on my rig. I am inteested in finding all the small changes (German starting OOB is different - curious about Italy and Japan).

Moving the Contniue/Pause over will take a few games to get used to.

Anyone else having the "Select" click happen whenever you scroll over countries list in Diplomacy or over the Message Log on the main screen - the clicking is annoying.

Overall very happy that a new expansion is out - yes there are things to tweak,patch,address but this is a good foundation to build on.

 

[RazakelApollyon]

How are we supposed to know if a government has a fractured government or not? I had the effect as Japan for a few months and was vulnerable to a coup but since I'm playing as the AI one didn't happen.

 

[unmerged(141132)]

Paradox please don't have me pay full price for something that doesn't run for a me and a large number of other people, it would have been much better to delay the launch date than frustrate and estrange a large number of your customers. I can deal with glitches but this is well... ridiculous, I love the games that you guys make and that you have the fortitude and courage to do things most other companies don't but every time something like this happens I think more and more about whether I will ever buy another product from you because of this shocking level of quality.

This is my first Impression.

 

[misterbean]

according to Darkrenown, you have a fractured government when a political party has enough popularity to demand a cabinet posting but isn't getting any.

 

[Darkrenown]

Paradox please don't have me pay full price for something that doesn't run for a me and a large number of other people, it would have been much better to delay the launch date than frustrate and estrange a large number of your customers. I can deal with glitches but this is well... ridiculous, I love the games that you guys make and that you have the fortitude and courage to do things most other companies don't but every time something like this happens I think more and more about whether I will ever buy another product from you because of this shocking level of quality.

You're not really giving us much top work on there, for all I know it's just missing direct X or an updated driver. Please make a post on the tech support forum with details and hopefully someone can help you.

 

[unmerged(207829)]

first impressions:

the game is running smoothly. very big improvement over semper fi. no problems with install (i read the many threads). new zoom to mouse is slick.

well done PI! good release.

although i'm still gonna mod it's pants off