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2021? Damn, we are in the future now boys and girls!

I wanted to write this diary because it feels like it's been a really long time since we chatted. Well I guess it wasn’t that long actually but 2020 has definitely made everything feel like its taken forever ;D

2020 has probably been the most challenging year so far for the team since release. The COVID-19 situation really messes with your wellbeing, even if your life normally is chilling inside with your cat and computer games so I hope you are all taking care of yourselves. Looking back I think we overestimated direct impacts to work efficiency and absolutely underestimated impacts to mental health and general well being - things that are also incredibly important for doing a good job and being productive, as well as helping to onboard new members to a team. We have absolutely been impacted, and as a result I want to be pretty clear that you should not expect the next big expansion to drop before summer this year, which is what I was planning before COVID hit us right after La Resistance dropped.
I know a lot of you have been asking about dates for diaries to start up and for us to show stuff again, but you are going to have to wait a bit longer for that. I can say though that the expansion we are brewing up is gonna be pretty sweet I think and focus on a lot of things people have been wishing for :)

So, given that there was no PDXCON last year, where I normally do this, I felt I should take this opportunity to drop some statistics on you all…

Player Counts
With COVID keeping us all inside we and I suspect a lot of the rest of the gaming industry has seen a lot more players than normal playing. I know personally I have gotten a lot more gaming in. It's going to be interesting to see if there is a dip once our lives go back to normal again (whenever that may be).

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Top Mods
I am just highlighting the biggest total conversion mods here, and % numbers are based off daily player numbers.

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I think the standout here is TNO having jumped up in popularity quite rapidly during the year so congrats to the team behind that! Also feel free to chime in in comments if you think we have any other big up and coming mod to keep eyes on!

Road to 56 and KR keeping their top spots from before, and I also want to say that I am really inspired and impressed by the cool video and other transmedia content the KR team is putting out. I’m eager to see if any other mod teams do similar stuff in the future :cool:

Top 20 played nations
Counting most sessions > 5h

Germany - 17.9%
Italy - 7.4%
Soviet - 7.7%
France - 5.5%
Turkey - 5.1%
Britain - 4.7%
USA - 4.6%
Japan - 3.9%
Hungary - 3.7%
Spain - 3.2%
Greece - 3.0%
Romania - 2.0%
China - 1.9%
PRC - 1.9%
Bulgaria - 1.8%
Yugoslavia - 1.7%
Netherlands - 1.5%
Portugal - 1.5%
Mexico - 1.4%
Czechoslovakia - 1.2%

I think it's really cool to see Turkey this high. It was always popular but with Battle for the Bosporus it jumped up overall 60%. Greece and Bulgaria also more than doubled in popularity.

While I got you all gathered here reading, I also want to make sure to highlight here that there was an accidental released update of the launcher and that the launcher team is working on reverting that as quickly as they can as it introduced some bugs. Read about it here. I also want to say that we have received increasing amounts of reports of people using cheat tools to mess with multiplayer games over christmas, and we are looking into it.

See you all later, and to be clear this is not the start of regular diaries just yet. You'll have to be patient a bit longer on that front.
 
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I'd rather pay money for a new, good Japan focus tree than an incredibly good focus tree for Mongolia. Most people don't even play these small countries anyway, so it's definitely puzzling to me that some of these big majors, especially Japan with its extremely barebones and disappointing focus tree get neglected.

We're in a paradoxical situation where these small and marginal countries are getting new content which is mostly really high quality, while the countries with the most replayability and most potential for epic scope tend to have content that is mediocre at best in comparison.

Here's hoping they can make a USSR and Italy rework that rivals the best focus trees we have seen yet like that of Portugal, Bulgaria, Turkey..
My hypothesis here which I've stated before is that nations which are important to the war have a lot of intrinsic value to the experience of playing them due to playing through the things they did historically. You almost always are doing something with a major and most players know the (general) historical context of the majors during the time period. Most minors don't have this. To make up for it, they have to make more in-depth detailed focuses with decisions and "mini-games" to keep the player engaged and to generate reasons to justify those minors becoming world powers all of a sudden over a few years.
 
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My hypothesis here which I've stated before is that nations which are important to the war have a lot of intrinsic value to the experience of playing them due to playing through the things they did historically. You almost always are doing something with a major and most players know the (general) historical context of the majors during the time period. Most minors don't have this. To make up for it, they have to make more in-depth detailed focuses with decisions and "mini-games" to keep the player engaged and to generate reasons to justify those minors becoming world powers all of a sudden over a few years.
I agree with you. Majors don’t need elaborate focus trees and political mini games that Minors are getting treated to these days because the majors are able to fully utilize all the game mechanics. Japan would benefit more from expanded land combat and supply than it would from an extra branch on its focus tree. Most minors the game is pretty much navigating your political situation to actually be able to participate in WW2 and then railroading your limited production and research into making something that can actually meaningfully contribute to WW2. Portugal and Bulgaria may have better focus trees and mini games than Japan, but Japan is a much more fun game.
 
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I'd rather pay money for a new, good Japan focus tree than an incredibly good focus tree for Mongolia. Most people don't even play these small countries anyway, so it's definitely puzzling to me that some of these big majors, especially Japan with its extremely barebones and disappointing focus tree get neglected.

We're in a paradoxical situation where these small and marginal countries are getting new content which is mostly really high quality, while the countries with the most replayability and most potential for epic scope tend to have content that is mediocre at best in comparison.

Here's hoping they can make a USSR and Italy rework that rivals the best focus trees we have seen yet like that of Portugal, Bulgaria, Turkey..
This! USA was a really sought-after rework FT. But when it finally did come out, it was barebones and disappointing. Historical paths were almost insultingly bad. Instead of having actual plans and events to support the allies, you instead get some factories or some other weird path that is so lackluster I barely remember it. The Fascist path is disappointing and doesn't make sense. Communist is also disappointing but allows you to become super OP by just annexing the Soviet-Union.

If you look at it, MTG's best FT was Holland and Mexico. While the worse was the USA then followed by the UK. These small nations that get FT's always seem to have a lot more effort put into it. Some stuff that could've been put into the US tree. Is things that actually happened. Such as the internment of Japanese-Americans. Give some type of bonus. But will also have a debuff with it like a hit to National Unity.

There were some other popular theories. Such as a Republican victory at the time. Leading to Peace with Japan. Japan's sole purpose for attacking the US was due to the almost hostile atmosphere coming from the US, from things such as a block in trade and support of Japanese enemies. Most spear-headed by FDR. Republicans were wanting to keep neutral and focus on the country itself.

I remember hearing about how the Japanese and Americans might've found solace if America kept with its Anti-Europe doctrine. Maybe even leading to a sort of Pact between the two and other fellow nations. Can you imagine how cool it'd of been? If as America, you can form a faction with Japan, meant to drive Europeans out of the respective sphere of influence. I can already imagine National Focuses relating to it. Such as a big focus like the Soviet's "The Great Purge" That takes like 210-days to complete. Something like it being called "The Great Exodus" Where America will take in Japanese citizens. This is a big factor for Japanese aggression. You can see this represented a bit in the Manchukuo focus tree. But have this focus be centered around creating a new puppet somewhere on the west-coast or settling them in. Events that could happen would be things such as how much you want to invest in this? Do you want to overfund this? Potentially bringing more important settlers over? If you don't fund it much at all then low amounts come in.

Then events for deciding what to do with the clash of culture? Let them keep their Japanese identity? Encourage Americanizing them? or finding an in-between? Each one could really affect things. Like Japan's relationship with America. If they are left to do their own thing then they might not listen so much to the American government but keep to the Japanese. But if you try tearing down their culture, then riots and other things can happen.

Lastly, what to do with the language barrier? Do you go on a ruthless path of having them Learn English? Encourage Bilingualism? or just place Bilingual people in official positions and allow the people to learn at their choice?

America's west coast never really had the same population as the East Coast for a while. A lot of untamed lands, even to this day. Especially Alaska. Where the population was so low at the time.

Speaking of Alaska, I am hoping that the Russian rework will involve a partial rework of America. Because this could be such a big thing. Such as America allowing White Russians to settle there. Releasing Alaska as a puppet momentarily while it is built up to take on the Soviet-Union.

There's just so much that could've been done with the US. Sure, some of this is unlikely to be in a game. But it's just meant to show the great possibilities they could've done.
 
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This! USA was a really sought-after rework FT. But when it finally did come out, it was barebones and disappointing. Historical paths were almost insultingly bad. Instead of having actual plans and events to support the allies, you instead get some factories or some other weird path that is so lackluster I barely remember it. The Fascist path is disappointing and doesn't make sense. Communist is also disappointing but allows you to become super OP by just annexing the Soviet-Union.

If you look at it, MTG's best FT was Holland and Mexico. While the worse was the USA then followed by the UK. These small nations that get FT's always seem to have a lot more effort put into it. Some stuff that could've been put into the US tree. Is things that actually happened. Such as the internment of Japanese-Americans. Give some type of bonus. But will also have a debuff with it like a hit to National Unity.

There were some other popular theories. Such as a Republican victory at the time. Leading to Peace with Japan. Japan's sole purpose for attacking the US was due to the almost hostile atmosphere coming from the US, from things such as a block in trade and support of Japanese enemies. Most spear-headed by FDR. Republicans were wanting to keep neutral and focus on the country itself.

I remember hearing about how the Japanese and Americans might've found solace if America kept with its Anti-Europe doctrine. Maybe even leading to a sort of Pact between the two and other fellow nations. Can you imagine how cool it'd of been? If as America, you can form a faction with Japan, meant to drive Europeans out of the respective sphere of influence. I can already imagine National Focuses relating to it. Such as a big focus like the Soviet's "The Great Purge" That takes like 210-days to complete. Something like it being called "The Great Exodus" Where America will take in Japanese citizens. This is a big factor for Japanese aggression. You can see this represented a bit in the Manchukuo focus tree. But have this focus be centered around I totally agree with your argument and that North American rework has quite dependent and implausible paths like putting the OSS focus and purple magic on alternate paths when they should be available on the historical path and they didn't even put a focus on the rangers and I hope that one day do some small revision of that tree creating a new puppet somewhere on the west-coast or settling them in. Events that could happen would be things such as how much you want to invest in this? Do you want to overfund this? Potentially bringing more important settlers over? If you don't fund it much at all then low amounts come in.

Then events for deciding what to do with the clash of culture? Let them keep their Japanese identity? Encourage Americanizing them? or finding an in-between? Each one could really affect things. Like Japan's relationship with America. If they are left to do their own thing then they might not listen so much to the American government but keep to the Japanese. But if you try tearing down their culture, then riots and other things can happen.

Lastly, what to do with the language barrier? Do you go on a ruthless path of having them Learn English? Encourage Bilingualism? or just place Bilingual people in official positions and allow the people to learn at their choice?

America's west coast never really had the same population as the East Coast for a while. A lot of untamed lands, even to this day. Especially Alaska. Where the population was so low at the time.

Speaking of Alaska, I am hoping that the Russian rework will involve a partial rework of America. Because this could be such a big thing. Such as America allowing White Russians to settle there. Releasing Alaska as a puppet momentarily while it is built up to take on the Soviet-Union.

There's just so much that could've been done with the US. Sure, some of this is unlikely to be in a game. But it's just meant to show the great possibilities they could've done.
I totally agree with your argument and that North American rework has quite dependent and implausible paths like putting the OSS focus and purple magic on alternate paths when they should be available on the historical path and they didn't even put a focus on the rangers and I hope that one day do some small revision of that tree
 
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Exactly OldSwifty. And much more will come, because the now existing R & D System the Devs don´t like too. Therefore they will do an big Refit there. In that Case they announced too something with the Doctrines, Economy, Warthings, Specials, Secrets and the Cabinet / Ministry.

I waiting with surprise what they change to make the Game more interessting. Very good Mods show how the Economy, Training, Buildup etc. as well as Army-Limitations can be implemented.
 
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My wishlist:
  • improved battle planner and operations, including having to draw up and execute operations instead of just constant fighting along the entire front. I think this would help performance, and could actually help the AI, too, if implemented properly, as it would help it focus its attention on a few areas at a time.
  • an improved logistics system, possibly even with trucks required to transport supplies, and maybe even trains as "land convoys". Properly implemented railroads.
  • Scandi focus trees would be awesome.
  • a system that has each country be at a certain level of readiness and mobilisation at all times, allowing for surprise attacks. Every country in the entire world constantly having their entire army mobilised and deployed along its borders feels very unrealistic. Full mobilisation should be costly both economically and politically, and should be something that you only do when you are about to invade someone, or you feel extremely threatened.
 
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I'd like to see a rebalance of air units:

Normal fighters are better than both heavy fighters and jet fighters. Heavy fighters need a better niche than "range is better and they shred unescorted bombers", and jet fighter models should range from "this is a bit better than fighters but do I want to retool my factories" in 1945 to "this eats fighters alive" in 1950.

CAS are better than TAC. TAC need a better niche than "only good if CAS are at a worse than 66% range penalty".

NAV and kamikazes are so good they basically make the naval game obsolete.

There's a space missing for "long range NAV" to represent your Catalinas and your Short Sutherlands.
 
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I'd like to see a rebalance of air units:

Normal fighters are better than both heavy fighters and jet fighters. Heavy fighters need a better niche than "range is better and they shred unescorted bombers", and jet fighter models should range from "this is a bit better than fighters but do I want to retool my factories" in 1945 to "this eats fighters alive" in 1950.

CAS are better than TAC. TAC need a better niche than "only good if CAS are at a worse than 66% range penalty".

NAV and kamikazes are so good they basically make the naval game obsolete.

There's a space missing for "long range NAV" to represent your Catalinas and your Short Sutherlands.
good to have long-range maritime aircraft such as the German condors and or the aircraft that you propose, it would be necessary to have your own aircraft designer similar to the naval one with different types of hull and engines
 
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My wishlist:
  • improved battle planner and operations, including having to draw up and execute operations instead of just constant fighting along the entire front. I think this would help performance, and could actually help the AI, too, if implemented properly, as it would help it focus its attention on a few areas at a time.
  • an improved logistics system, possibly even with trucks required to transport supplies, and maybe even trains as "land convoys". Properly implemented railroads.
  • Scandi focus trees would be awesome.
  • a system that has each country be at a certain level of readiness and mobilisation at all times, allowing for surprise attacks. Every country in the entire world constantly having their entire army mobilised and deployed along its borders feels very unrealistic. Full mobilisation should be costly both economically and politically, and should be something that you only do when you are about to invade someone, or you feel extremely threatened.
I agree with your list, except that I would add a rework of the peace system as my number one wish for the game right now.

For me, at least, it is BY FAR the most frustrating thing to work with in HoI, especially when I do most of the work, just for a single state (such as taking Albania as the ottomans) to have the AI Soviet Union decide Albania is its core territory and should be annexed ASAP in the peace deal...
 
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I agree with your list, except that I would add a rework of the peace system as my number one wish for the game right now.

For me, at least, it is BY FAR the most frustrating thing to work with in HoI, especially when I do most of the work, just for a single state (such as taking Albania as the ottomans) to have the AI Soviet Union decide Albania is its core territory and should be annexed ASAP in the peace deal...
How could I forget. Yes, this. Absolutely.

I'd also love an actual war score system for minor wars, like in EU and CK. Would allow me to for example invade and take back Hong Kong as China, without having to cross the ocean and invade the British isles to make them stop fighting me.
 
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NAV and kamikazes are so good they basically make the naval game obsolete.

There's a space missing for "long range NAV" to represent your Catalinas and your Short Sutherlands.

One reason NAV does so well against ships is because of the weird way they made the ship AA (anti-air) work. In real life ships sails together in formation and they cover each other with their AA guns. It was like suicide to attack American fleets with aircraft especially after they developed proximity fuzes for their ammunition and put a ton of AA guns on their ships. However in the game the AA coverage is set at an arbitrary low level of 20% or something like that.

The game basically encourages you to stack AA on a single big ship. There's basically no point in creating a realistic fleet that has a bunch of smaller ships with AA guns on them to cover the fleet.

And yeah the game is completely missing the flying boat type aircraft. There were various types and sizes of flying boat aircraft. Some huge transport ones like the famous Spruce Goose for example.
 
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It would be great if the DD said that they are done with WW2 HOI 4, they cannot take it any further. Instead, the Paradox team will focus the entire series on Old World Blues situation. If OWB had the muscle of the Paradox team behind it, the possibilities for endless and varied gameplay would be endless.

PS - I know this will not happen, but man, it would be great.
 
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It would be great if the DD said that they are done with WW2 HOI 4, they cannot take it any further. Instead, the Paradox team will focus the entire series on Old World Blues situation. If OWB had the muscle of the Paradox team behind it, the possibilities for endless and varied gameplay would be endless.

PS - I know this will not happen, but man, it would be great.
For this the need to buy the rigths to make a game of Fallout...(or have the permission in exchange of a %)
 
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How could I forget. Yes, this. Absolutely.

I'd also love an actual war score system for minor wars, like in EU and CK. Would allow me to for example invade and take back Hong Kong as China, without having to cross the ocean and invade the British isles to make them stop fighting me.
I have post a mod can run in this method, i think if modders can make this, and the game DEV not...exist a problem
 
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