Ok those are good ideas. I like the idea of an open game scenario. Humans are the ultimate sandbox element after all. However, I don't agree with the 1933 start. It is too early and war will then start probably in 1935, which wouldn't really set in with the 1940s WW2 backdrop. I suggest we leave it at 1936 so that the war might start somewhat historically as far as dates are concerned. Also, since the timeline will already be expanded until 1970 as per your suggestion, adding 3 years at the start will not really make a difference in the roleplay.
Also, I want to propose we do some minor necessary changes for the roleplay but to not play a heavy mod centered game as some users might have trouble understanding how to add mods or change code settings. And I would like to suggest that we don't modify any aspect of the game once the campaign has started (outstanding exceptions only). Like, we should keep it as straightforward and simple as possible to make it easier on everyone. I also want to propose that we play at least 1 campaign when the game comes out as soon as our schedules allow and everything else is agreed upon by the majority. It would be awesome if everyone played and learned together
And finally, we should record it as an AAR and write about it in HOI4 AARland (or perhaps even Reddit, Imgur, etc). Perhaps a few well versed writers and historians that played the campaign might want to take up the offer. Maybe we could have a small editor's team? Perhaps another team could record it on video and stream it on Youtube if that's their thing. And Take, you should probably write down next to their name in the OP, the countries that every player lives in so as to have a general idea of their available gaming times (mine is Peru).
1. Adding mods is very easy. We will do it this way:
1. There will be a "vanilla" Timeline change mod. This mod is seperate because this way, other non-related players can use it, and we can add technology as the game progresses. Its likely that even after we played, lets say until 1945, we can still "add" more technologys without breaking the game file. Thus we can start day 1, but add tech as the game progresses, if it takes that long.
2. There will be a second mod we will use, which will simply be named something like "Roleplay MP match 1" - that everyone subscribes to before we start. This mod will however have no content when we play and just be a placeholder. After we finished the first session, our community modder can then "update" the mod, adding / changing things according to the game´s individual progression.
For Instance: During the Game, the leader of India decided "F** BRITAIN; REVOLUTION!", - and joins the greater prosperity sphere, - then our modder will, in the off time, remove India from the british empire and make it join the Axis as indipendent country, making the majority of india "occupied" by british forces and giving india a small army and 1-2 unoccupied citys, to simulate an "indian revolution".
Once our modder did this, the mod will be automatically updated by all subscribers (whole group), and once the next session starts, india will be revolting in everyones game.
The British player obviously will still have forces in india and hold most of indian provinces, but the indian player would now be part of the axis and have the opportunity to "fight himself free".
This is but one possible way, of how the game could be modded during the match. Remember: We will probably play for months. Thus a lot can happen. Of course each "modification" of the game has to be approved by the group first, and has to be logical and necessary. Another example for a case where our mod team would be usefull, is when for instance general XYZ of the german empire decides to bring back the german emperor, and then starts a revolt with his army. Of course thats a very vague scenario, but if he manages to built up to it, we will play along, and give him the opportunity to rebell once the next session starts, if it is plausible.
In this case, we would probably look at how much support the nazi party has, if it has a lot of support, the game will be modded, creating a new country "The German Empire", and giving it one small city, with claim on whole of german posessions. Then, we would look at the army the revolting general commands (lets say, he commands the 2nd Army of 500.000 men) - and calculate how many of those man would probably rebell, - for that we would most likely look at the support for the nazi party within germany, if it is very high, like 99%, we will say his revolt failed without even modding, - if its very low, like only 30%, the modder would give the new country (German Empire) nearly the entire II army.
Of course the general (player) would still have to fight it out with the remaining germany players. You get the scenario.
However, it wont be work for the participants, they will automatically have the "actual" version of the game, as long as they stay subbed.
Of course the things above are very, very huge modifications and events, i dont think we will see much of it, if any, but thats how far we could go with this. However in most cases, there will only be minor events and / or modifiers, maybe faction/allegiance or name changes...
2. Regarding the Timeline: Well, i dont think there would be a world war 1935 if we start 1933, - the idea behind starting 1933 is to "enable" complete logical alternate history, starting 1936, a lot has already been set in motion. If we start 1933, shortly after hitler came to power, its basically open game, - since everything could change drastically. For instance: What if, the Hitler player and the Poland player will like each other, and poland aggrees to cede danzig for help versus russia? Poland was a dictatorship during that time, and there was indeed kind of an relation between hitler and pilsudski.. pilsudski simply died before anything could be accomplished.
And if we look to america: Warplan Red, americas plan for a war with britain and japan has seen various updates between 1934-1935, so the relation between britain and the US wasnt as "nice" as it is often displayed, in fact the world war 2 brought britain and the US together, - well and the US fear of facism (since they feared, if germany wins in europe, maybe facism will befall the US, that was a bigger threat than the british empire). But now think about it.. what if all comes different? If for instance the american president isnt pacifist, or takes the chances and uses the british german war for a conquest of canada? Its possible.
And if we look at britain.. during 1933, the japanese - british relations werent as bad as they became later.. in fact britain was allied with japan until 1921 and only cancled the alliance, because it caused discomfort in the USA, because they saw the alliance as a threat. Maybe the alliance can see renewal?
And we can continue this game a lot. In fact, the world was much closer to war than most people think, if germany didnt "start" the war, its likely that on another date, a great war between other countrys would have happened, maybe even between USA and Britain - the very close relations between britain, france & other allied states actually was the result of fighting germany in the second world war again, and in the new big foe - the sowjet union. However in 1933, germany isnt a threat just yet. So its open game.
Also, please remember that it doesnt even have to come to a world war.. its basically open: Maybe it will come to a worldwar, maybe not. Maybe there will be a lot of small wars, like in eu4, or maybe there will be small wars, and then a big one, or a big world war, which however will result in a white peace because both sides are scared that if they fight too long, the 3th or 4th side will join.
Maybe all will come down as it did in history until 1940, just to have america then take the chance to invade canada and forcing britain to capitulate to germany - ending the war and starting a cold war between germany and russia, while the USA invade south america..
Oh.. so much can happen..
3. Regarding the AAR: Every major nation will have one person that writes an AAR. I for my part will also ask my generals to deliver me written reports every session, informing me of how the front is going.
