What I really want from a new HOI
EQUIPMENT POOLS
In the current HOI build divisions can basically have two states. They are either at full strength or, when you run out of manpower globally, they finally start to dwindle.
What we should have instead are divisions that are gradually worn down by combat and attrition. And the equipment or manpower they lack should be reflected by how you prioritize industrial production.
I want divisions that may have plenty of manpower, but sorely lack in tanks or artillery. And I want fighter squadrons that have plenty of planes, but run out of pilots.
Basically, I want military units to have equipment. Nothing fancy, just simple categories like manpower, armour, artillery, AA and transportation. Each of those could have subdivisions. Armour could be heavy, medium, light and support for instance.
Think about it. You plan to attack at Kursk. Your new panzer division is at full manpower, but those heavy tank battalions only have half their complement of your Tigers. Do you wait for your production to catch up? Do you commit the division to battle without half their tanks? Or do you fill up the tank battalions with your old PZ-IVs?
Or how about this? Your ally USSR is in deep trouble. So you decide to help them out and send half a million trucks, and those fancy new tanks your arsenal of democracy has started to produce.
HOI is all about juggling scarce resources. So, please, if not in the next installment of the series then in the next: Give military units and give me an equipment pool.
THE FUN FACTOR
Have you noticed how enthusiastically people on this board discuss the right composition of divisions? Why not build on that. Allow us more freedom to design our own divisions, tanks, planes and battle ships.
The battalion could be the basic building block of a division. As you research them, more battalion types become available. It’s up to you to group them in brigades and divisions as you see fit. Of course your choices affect command & control, mobility, offensive/defensive strength etc.
And don’t even get me started on the ship builder and the pain and joy of designing the ultimate HMS Doom.
rgds/EoE
EQUIPMENT POOLS
In the current HOI build divisions can basically have two states. They are either at full strength or, when you run out of manpower globally, they finally start to dwindle.
What we should have instead are divisions that are gradually worn down by combat and attrition. And the equipment or manpower they lack should be reflected by how you prioritize industrial production.
I want divisions that may have plenty of manpower, but sorely lack in tanks or artillery. And I want fighter squadrons that have plenty of planes, but run out of pilots.
Basically, I want military units to have equipment. Nothing fancy, just simple categories like manpower, armour, artillery, AA and transportation. Each of those could have subdivisions. Armour could be heavy, medium, light and support for instance.
Think about it. You plan to attack at Kursk. Your new panzer division is at full manpower, but those heavy tank battalions only have half their complement of your Tigers. Do you wait for your production to catch up? Do you commit the division to battle without half their tanks? Or do you fill up the tank battalions with your old PZ-IVs?
Or how about this? Your ally USSR is in deep trouble. So you decide to help them out and send half a million trucks, and those fancy new tanks your arsenal of democracy has started to produce.
HOI is all about juggling scarce resources. So, please, if not in the next installment of the series then in the next: Give military units and give me an equipment pool.
THE FUN FACTOR
Have you noticed how enthusiastically people on this board discuss the right composition of divisions? Why not build on that. Allow us more freedom to design our own divisions, tanks, planes and battle ships.
The battalion could be the basic building block of a division. As you research them, more battalion types become available. It’s up to you to group them in brigades and divisions as you see fit. Of course your choices affect command & control, mobility, offensive/defensive strength etc.
And don’t even get me started on the ship builder and the pain and joy of designing the ultimate HMS Doom.
rgds/EoE
