Hearts of Iron IV - 26th Development Diary - 25th of September 2015

[Joe32320]

yes, battleship coolness triumphs over historical accuracy imo.

Is it somewhat like HOI2 where BB's were better early on, carriers becoming stronger as the war progresses? That had a nice balance to it imo, if not entirely correct

 

[mursolini]

I thought everything got owned by high level destroyers, but I only played early on in the beta :3 should give it a spin again

Well, if you know how to play carrier, your first target usually doesn`t get to do anything other than die before firing a single shot even if it`s a battleship.

 

[Alex_brunius]

Is it somewhat like HOI2 where BB's were better early on, carriers becoming stronger as the war progresses? That had a nice balance to it imo, if not entirely correct

Well the development is correct, just much more compressed. Carriers making Battleships obsolete ranged more from 1920-1945, but in the game it would be compressed to fit the timescale of starting 1936 which makes sense. Especially since in reality leaders lacked war experience so it still made sense to build BBs until CVs were combat proven.

 

[Ezio7]

Guys release a gameplay footage plz...

 

[joerd9]

Nice DD, thanks.

The interesting question for me is: will single german battleships actually try to create havoc? In other words: will we have an AI that does this kind of lone wolf raider stuff to create maximum diversion and disruption?

 

[Johuotar]

Thanks for the developer diary!
Fun fact: Yugoslavia was first country I played in hoi3.

 

[Mannstien]

I'm heading to JP next week and will be visiting Yokosuka to see the Mikasa first hand.....

Edit: Fun fact

 

[Fulmen]

Can you abandon an entire naval doctrine tree and switch over to another one like you could in HoI2? For example if as Germany I want to focus on carriers instead of submarines and battleships.

 

[Denkt]

You cant except through some national focuses (unless you lend lease or send volunteers to someone elses war while you are at peace). Only land really *need* XP so you can change your templates. in peace time you make advancement on plans/ships by research mainly.

Well people like to be able to customize their stuff and I don't think the technology system offers much of that. Like think about the difference between Germany's diesel ships and the steam ships other was designing in late 1930s before the war started.

 

[Praetorian44]

Sounds like the naval game has been improved considerably since HOI3.

 

[alanschu]

I thought everything got owned by high level destroyers, but I only played early on in the beta :3 should give it a spin again

My general understanding playing it is that whatever ship you're currently sailing is the weakest and the ones that sink you are overpowered!

 

[Centurion1973]

I thought everything got owned by high level destroyers, but I only played early on in the beta :3 should give it a spin again

DDs got nerfed.

IMO, Cruisers are the best class

Spoiler: screenshots

 

[Secret Master]

UK is fleet in being? Not as far as I am aware - when did the UK practice a fleet in being strategy ever during the war? Our main strategy was control of the shipping routes. If anyone practised a fleet-in-being strategy it was Germany. The UK also pioneered carrier warfare and ended the war with a powerful carrier fleet, albeit one heavily inclined towards escort carriers.

If anything, the UK should be in the Base Strike branch, albeit with a different emphasis to the US and Japan.

Not unlike the land doctrines, this looks a bit like some countries get ahistorically landed with rubbish doctrines whilst the 'popular' countries that fanbois lavish their attention on get awesome ones.

Let's not be hasty.

From the screenshot, it looks like Fleet in Being could also be named Sea Lane Defense or Capital Ship Based Naval Force Projection.

Maybe the name needs a change?

I like that every doctrine path has possibilities to properly employ u-boats.

USS Archerfish agrees.

I still won't build any as the US, though. (Unless I can build subs using non-naval IC or something like that.)

 

[Denkt]

Fleet in being is a rather good name for it because the point of it is to dominate the sea without resorting to tactical battles.

 

[Centurion1973]

....
I still won't build any as the US, though. (Unless I can build subs using non-naval IC or something like that.)

Since Germany built sub segments inland (1944-45), it could be a nice late war tech.

 

[rjohansen]

One of the best DD so far - I have nothing against it (well, except for the graphics still, but I am sure there will be a mod for it) - I really like the automation of ships, and fleets going back into harbour etc. I miss that feature in HOI3 - although you can sort of get the same result, but not as good as this.

However, I think I remember reading way back than convoys where actual ships this time? No change after all? Or am I remembering incorrect? And you don't have to build transports or landing ships this time? Very curious to how invasions will work, hope it is the next DD.

 

[Denkt]

I think convoys will be ships then they are engaged by raiders otherwise they will work in an automated fashion.

 

[Secret Master]

Since Germany built sub segments inland (1944-45), it could be a nice late war tech.

Yep. That's what I was thinking of when I made the comment.

 

[Torisaru]

However most of us knowing well the Reich from the HoI3, but most people would be eager to see a brief overview of the changes and new developments in Germania.
Take care about us please!

 

[Admiral Piett]

"Fleet-in-being" is a bit of a strange name choice for an entire tech tree choice. Probably would have been better to make it a branch under a capital ship focus tree. Not a big deal though. Just a name.