Hearts of Iron IV - 25th Development Diary - 18th of September 2015

[rjohansen]

Players are free to do what they want, even if it doesnt make sense all the time. Sometimes these guys who arent of the ruling ideology can be prominent political figures, writers or journalists and assigning them a slot with PP symbolizes that you let them spread propaganda etc (so its a way you can switch your countries politics over time)

But hopefulley the AI will NEVER do this? Is there a way to turn these things off? Otherwise it would also break multiplayer games in my opinion, it wouldn't be a WW2 game if these things happen, like Germany turning communist and Soviet fascists, it would be a fantasy game.

If these things are just for the people that really don't care about history at all, and just want a strange bizarre world where everything can happen (sandbox), than that is perfectly ok, but there should be a possibility to turn of the craziness as well.

 

[rjohansen]

Also a question on Material Designer and for countries that do not have their own factories, is it possible to buy "licenses" for tanks, planes etc? Most small countries did not have their own factories for building such things. But for instance if possible to use real life manufacturers from major countries this would kind of simulate that. Like Norway bought planes from UK and Italy pre war. Norway never had and would never have their own factories for tanks, planes and such, but they still had planes. Still do today, but Norway don't build our own planes...

If buying a "license" of some sorts, you could use that to build Gloster Gladiators in your own factories for instance. And perhaps you could only buy licenses for the tech level you are in? Or some other limitations.

 

[Ibn_Solmyr]

Well you kinda need france to fail from a game design standpoint or it will be rather anticlimactic.

I'm ok with that : France should fall 90% of the times, but there should still be a room for surprises. By the way such a scenario still can give very nice WWII also. (US even more likely isolasionist, Germany more careful with USSR relations, then Japan, US and USSR behavior can change all by, say '41, and possibility of WWII degrading in WWIII, etc..). But if you play as Germany against AI, yes, you will always win against France (or need of some tweaks in your handling of the game, for sure )

 

[Centerbe]

(so its a way you can switch your countries politics over time)

oh very nice.... is possible for a country with an ideology join a faction with another one? Or should previously drag his ideology as in HOI3?

 

[LostAlone]

Don't know if anyone else mentioned it but - Is the flag we see in one picture communist Finland?

 

[Will Steel]

Yay, more mana!

 

[Zoob]

But hopefulley the AI will NEVER do this? Is there a way to turn these things off? Otherwise it would also break multiplayer games in my opinion, it wouldn't be a WW2 game if these things happen, like Germany turning communist and Soviet fascists, it would be a fantasy game.

If these things are just for the people that really don't care about history at all, and just want a strange bizarre world where everything can happen (sandbox), than that is perfectly ok, but there should be a possibility to turn of the craziness as well.

He clearly states that the Player has the choice, I imagine we can extrapolate that the AI therefore doesn't.

Also, I care very dearly about history, but I love the prospect of turning the Soviet Union fascist or Germany communist. What if scenarios are so much fun.

Also, Podcat recently said that you can't buy plans, you have to get your materiel through lend lease from another country. You can't just produce on license.

 

[FieldMedic]

Well that's always going to be the conundrum isn't it. Part of me wants that 'Second World War reenactment' so I can relive the war in command of one of the countries. At other times though it might be cool to see what happens if Communist Canada invades Brazil or some such craziness.

 

[Ted52]

Otherwise it would also break multiplayer games in my opinion, it wouldn't be a WW2 game if these things happen, like Germany turning communist and Soviet fascists, it would be a fantasy game.

Its not like stuff like houserules exist.

Always these immersion fanatics that want to take choice from the player. Optional options are optional.

 

[TheDecider]

But hopefulley the AI will NEVER do this? Is there a way to turn these things off? Otherwise it would also break multiplayer games in my opinion, it wouldn't be a WW2 game if these things happen, like Germany turning communist and Soviet fascists, it would be a fantasy game.

If these things are just for the people that really don't care about history at all, and just want a strange bizarre world where everything can happen (sandbox), than that is perfectly ok, but there should be a possibility to turn of the craziness as well.

Well that's always going to be the conundrum isn't it. Part of me wants that 'Second World War reenactment' so I can relive the war in command of one of the countries. At other times though it might be cool to see what happens if Communist Canada invades Brazil or some such craziness.

Having a 'Historical' option would solve this, just like the bonuses applied to historically great nations in EUIV.

With a Historical option the AI decision weights would be heavily weighted towards historical choices, like US staying democratic 9 of 10 times (or perhaps even 100% just like history). Without an Historic option it could be more random, like fascist US and communist France happening 25% of the time or something - essentially a mode to spice things up a bit after you've played 10 times

 

[Darkshadows]

Don't know if anyone else mentioned it but - Is the flag we see in one picture communist Finland?

I'm fairly certain it's the default/democratic flag for Finland.

 

[CrackingShow]

Curse you Paradox. You are making it extremely difficult to enjoy Hoi3 because its sequel is looking superior in every way.​

 

[Shampoocat]

I'm ok with that : France should fall 90% of the times, but there should still be a room for surprises. By the way such a scenario still can give very nice WWII also. (US even more likely isolasionist, Germany more careful with USSR relations, then Japan, US and USSR behavior can change all by, say '41, and possibility of WWII degrading in WWIII, etc..). But if you play as Germany against AI, yes, you will always win against France (or need of some tweaks in your handling of the game, for sure )

Very true. I suppose with the new, more sandboxish gameplay there are more options than before, Especially for a player controlled France. Used to be a pain to find a France player in MP games.

 

[Vedinu]

I think for example communist Germany should be difficult even for a player. Changing a minor's ideology should be easier and even AI should do it occasionally.

And Finland flag's coat of arms still wrong shaped. See wikipedia list of flags of Finland. (But do stick with the state flag; it is also the war flag and those are the two flags you use during war times.)

Thank you for sisu !

 

[Rauko]

Having a 'Historical' option would solve this, just like the bonuses applied to historically great nations in EUIV.

With a Historical option the AI decision weights would be heavily weighted towards historical choices, like US staying democratic 9 of 10 times (or perhaps even 100% just like history). Without an Historic option it could be more random, like fascist US and communist France happening 25% of the time or something - essentially a mode to spice things up a bit after you've played 10 times

You said exactly what I was thinking. I think it wouldn't be too dificult to add a "sandboxness" selector in game configuration with three possible positions. Historic, Normal and Crazyness. This parameter simply applies a multiplier to the AI for the historic option of every event and AI decision, ranging from 1.5 to 0.5, to make AI more or less willing to follow History.

 

[MaximillanVoss]

Good stuff, maybe showcase the next Developer Diary with Czechoslovakia ? pls ?

 

[mursolini]

Having a 'Historical' option would solve this, just like the bonuses applied to historically great nations in EUIV.

With a Historical option the AI decision weights would be heavily weighted towards historical choices, like US staying democratic 9 of 10 times (or perhaps even 100% just like history). Without an Historic option it could be more random, like fascist US and communist France happening 25% of the time or something - essentially a mode to spice things up a bit after you've played 10 times

AI should make decisions that make sense. AI should have a set of goals, that can be different, but plausible, then work to complete them.

I think for example communist Germany should be difficult even for a player. Changing a minor's ideology should be easier and even AI should do it occasionally.

Changing ideology should make sense. Ideologies don`t come from void. Either the internal situation, or external pressure has to force ideology.
Communists were second most popular ideology in 1933 in Germany. Not that hard, really.

You said exactly what I was thinking. I think it wouldn't be too dificult to add a "sandboxness" selector in game configuration with three possible positions. Historic, Normal and Crazyness. This parameter simply applies a multiplier to the AI for the historic option of every event and AI decision, ranging from 1.5 to 0.5, to make AI more or less willing to follow History.

If there is a need for option, make it historical vs makes sense in the current moment.

 

[Denkt]

If buying a "license" of some sorts, you could use that to build Gloster Gladiators in your own factories for instance. And perhaps you could only buy licenses for the tech level you are in? Or some other limitations.

I think one of Norway's aircraft will be Gloster Gladiators as before we have seen an american tank in the Italian tech tree.

 

[Secret Master]

Germany starts with Bitter Loser

Can we change the wording on that? It sounds like what Donald Trump would say:

Perhaps something like: Resentment Towards Versailles

 

[Agilent]

well i know what my first game of hoi4 will be... germany and I'm going to completely ignore those losers to the east. muhahahahaha dats how u don't get overrun by soviets. or i might just invade the soviet union and poland in 1936/1937.. i did it in hoi3 many times...