Hearts of Iron IV - 41st Development Diary - 22nd of January 2016

[fabius]

Which priorisation is higher, unit or Theater?

F.e. I have 2 Theaters A and B with 2 divisions each.
A is priorised, but no priorisation of one of the divisions. then I have a Division in Theater B, but this Division is prioritized.
Who get's supply first?

I read it different:
"

you can also define the reinforcement priority for that theatre compared to others

So I read it that Theatre's can be set priority but not divisions or army groups- so no conflict.

 

[Umbaretz]

So, for the purpose of effectiveness we will be using a lot of 12-division armies.
I see HOI 2 approach with some cool new mechanics.

 

[Johan]

Thanks for the DD!
If a general/FM has 5 traits, can we drop one so he could learn an other?
Does the Old Guard counts towards the limit of 5?

1) no
2) yes

 

[Johan]

So I read it that Theatre's can be set priority but not divisions or army groups- so no conflict.

this

 

[Nelfe]

It means the French generals will get the Old Guard trait

No, it means that the trait "Old Guard" can be obtained either by Generals or Field Marshals.

Edit : can we rename the Theatres ?

 

[podcat]

I love it all. Except for Swamp Fox.
Marsh Monster?
Swamp Snake?
Wetlands wolf?
Marsh gator?

Swamp Fox?

'Swamp Fox'is this guy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion.
But yeah, would also prefer a different name.
Swamp Hare is more acurate in these settings.
Or Swamp Snake!

Still beats Jungle 'Rat'!

I see someone already found out who its named from yeah. That trait was also in HOI3 btw, but its not something you'll gain if you arent fighting a lot around the pripyat swamps so I bet a lot of people didnt notice it.

 

[podcat]

Edit : can we rename the Theatre ?

yes they are nameable.

 

[Nelfe]

yes they are nameable.

Thanks !

 

[seattle]

Will some leaders already have traits at game start? Like Rommel the "Desert Fox" trait? If so, will it be activated (100% developed)?
I could imagine one potential problem:
Let's say Manstein has already 4 traits developed at game start. His progress would then be very limited because he can only gain 1 more trait. A general with 0 traits could make much more progress in the game. Further more if you would promote Manstein to Field Marshall you would lose every starting trait.

I do love the vastly decreased number of leaders (only army level and above). Makes each leader more important and you can finally develop an emotional attachment to them. Previous HoI games had like 200 leaders per major and that was bad.

PS: Where's the reinforcement priority indicator?

 

[mursolini]

Let's say Manstein has already 4 traits developed at game start. His progress would then be very limited because he can only gain 1 more trait. A general with 0 traits could make much more progress in the game. Further more if you would promote Manstein to Field Marshall you would lose every starting trait.

Yes, but you have to train them first, which you ultimately may chose not to do. Generals with many traits are more usable out of box. You can start a war with old, tried and true leaders, but by end of war, they may be sidelined by rising starts, which, is how it happened.

 

[Holdy]

Since recruiting Generals cost 150 Political Power, why shouldn't you just recruit one Field Marshal where you put in all your divisions? Especially if you have a Field Marshal with Logistical Wizard (which would end up in 20% less consumption of all divisons you have), Thoroug Planner (50% planning bonus for all battle plans) and Inspirational Commander (10% Moral for all units), which would make it a very, very good commander for all divisions. Also the saved Politcal Power can then spend on something else, like good manufactures or ministers.

 

[Grallak]

Swamp Frog

My thoughts exactly. Since when did you find a fox in a swamp? Desert fox is ok but we shouldn't have more than one animal per terrain. Swamp Frog or Swamp Snake. Personally prefer Frog since they are most common and sound better than Swamp Toad. Träsk Groda.

I know someone was called Swamp Fox really long ago, but I guess they meant it more figuratively since Frogs and Snakes are nasty creatures, but so are swamps so they should be named such. Otherwise good DD. Dying to see Japan. Also, rename Engineer to Kappa

 

[fabius]

There are two levels of commanders that can be assigned to armies, generals and field marshals. They both have skill levels that grow as they gain experience, which impacts the abilties of the divisions to fight.


A general can command up to 12 divisions while giving them the full benefit of their skill and traits. They can always be promoted to a field marshal, but will then lose all their specific traits and 1 level of skill.

Generals can have the following traits.

• Trickster: Divisions get +25% better recon.
• Winter Specialist: Divisions takes 50% less attrition during Winter.
• Engineer: Divisions have +10% Attack when crossing a river.
• Fortress Buster: Divisions have +20% Attack when attacking a fort.
• Panzer Leader: Armored Divisons move 5% faster, and have +10% in attack.
• Commando: Divisions Out of Supply is impact at 50%
• Desert Fox: Divisions move 5% faster in desert terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Swamp Fox: Divisions move 5% faster in marsh terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Mountaineer: Divisions move 5% faster in mountain terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Hill Fighter: Divisions move 5% faster in hill terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Jungle Rat: Divisions move 5% faster in jungle terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Ranger: Divisions move 5% faster in forest terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Urban Assault: Divisions move 5% faster in urban terrain, and fight 10% better.
• Naval Invader: Divisions prepare 30% faster for naval invasions, and perform them 30% faster

Field Marshals have no command limit, and command armies of any size, and they have the following possible traits.

• Logistics Wizard: Divisions have 20% less supply consumption
• Offensive Doctrine: Divisions have 10% less Combat Width.
• Defensive Doctrine: Divisions can get 30% higher entrenchment.
• Fast Planner: Divisions Plan 10% faster.
• Throrough Planner: Divisions can get 50% higher maximum planning bonus.
• Organisational commander: Divisions have +2% Hourly Reinforce Chance
• Inspirational commander: Divisons have 10% Higher Morale

I really like that there are two levels of command. And hugely like that the traits are different to represent a more Staff officer level.

Two minor observations. I reckon a defensive type trait could be but in the General list too. Maybe a straight def bonus and some specific battle events.

Was going to say add an Org bonus- but I guess that comes from Skill level of Army commanders??? (Memory of Hoi 3 is fading)

How does the impact of skill levels differ for Army and Field marshal?

 

[GsusNSV]

Since recruiting Generals cost 150 Political Power, why shouldn't you just recruit one Field Marshal where you put in all your divisions? Especially if you have a Field Marshal with Logistical Wizard (which would end up in 20% less consumption of all divisons you have), Thoroug Planner (50% planning bonus for all battle plans) and Inspirational Commander (10% Moral for all units), which would make it a very, very good commander for all divisions. Also the saved Politcal Power can then spend on something else, like good manufactures or ministers.

Generals give a direct fighting bonus in terrain. (When they have the trait.) So Rommel (When he gains his 'Desert Fox') as a General would be better in N. Africa, then as a Field Marchal.
Edit: Also it takes time to train your Field Marchals in this specific traits. They may even never get them.

 

[fellaz007]

Questions:

• Can you assign a commander to a Theater?
• Can a General (and its Army) be subordinate to a Field Marshal (and its Army)? Thus is there a command hierarchy?

Edit:

• Or is a FM just commanding a potentially larger army along (on the same hierarchic level) a fellow General and its army?

 

[mdw1985]

yes they are nameable.

I know it is off topic, but are Air Wings also nameable?

Very nice DD!!!

 

[Radu]

• Naval Invader: Divisions prepare 30% faster for naval invasions, and perform them 30% faster

Add an "Airborne Invader" as well? Please? 30% faster preparation + 10% in Airdraop Attack. Because Paratroopers are cool.

 

[seattle]

I don't yet understand when to use a general and when a field marshal besides the 12 divsions limit. Both are assigned to 1 army each, right? The restriction for an army is: 1 <= size <= infinity.
Let's say country A has 1 perfect field marshal and a bunch of mediocre generals. What keeps me from assigning all 150 divisions I might have to 1 army which is lead by that 1 field marshal?
In the screenshot the British Theatre contains 1 army of 58 divisions lead by 1 field marshal.

What benefit do you have from utilizing generals at all? Are their traits better?

 

[fabius]

Questions:

• Can you assign a commander to a Theater?
• Can a General (and its Army) be subordinate to a Field Marshal (and its Army)? Thus is there a command hierarchy?

Hmm that's how I read it at first. Field Marshal to Theatres- Generals to sub group armies.
Just re-read it and looks like just armies now???

 

[EntropyAvatar]

Can an army have both an assigned field marshal and an assigned general or only one or the other?