HOI4 Dev Diary - Reflections and Romania

[durbal]

People were upset because the new DLC added zero depth to the game in areas where it was lacking.

Focus trees do not work, create really weird interactions, are railroady as all hell and completely unbalanced and impossible to balance without making them pointless. Just remove the whole concept please and work on deeper mechanics that could benefit all countries, then people will see a benefit regardless of which nations they like to play.

 

[Gwydion5]

What issues? Because I don't think I've ever played as Germany, and it seems to work fine for me.

Do a search for "1.3.3 Germany Russia" Many posts and break downs about the problems with Germany. TLDR version is that AI Germany loses to AI Russia by 1941 in like 80-90% of the games. Even a max boosted AI Germany can lose to non-boosted AI Russia in 1941. Posts, saves, pics etc... all provide ample evidence that it's a problem.

 

[denisKhan]

@podcat thx for the awesome job!
Will Poland have a way to invite Romania in Miedzymorze through their focus tree now?

 

[Sleight of Hand]

Nice diary @podcat

Great to see Franco helping out the Romanians as a general. Is this an option for Spain if they remain neutral?

 

[lihp]

<snip> I can't even understand how you could reason this to be a relevant comment or counter point to what is being expressed here.

Unfortunately it is a valid point. Simply since the community is biased.

 

[lihp]

Focus tree news doesn't excite me either.

But it seems people miss, downplay or ignore podcat saying this:

Sorry, but you simply disregard bugs present from day 1. The biggest being "Ai division shuffling". In 4th week after release me and some others posted savegames and comments on AI shuffling.

We got so far: a patch for a patch for a patch, which tried to fix a bug it didnt fix. After almost a year the time is imho over to present a potential fix fo the AI as a major giift with a wrapping aka voila - here we are.

 

[Pshek]

Don't understand why people dislike new focus trees. For me it is great feature(RP fun ofc), and focuses for Commonwealth was less interesting only because that countries was not in the center of war. But eastern Europe is other thing. If minors will have focuses, it would be better for major nations too. More events and etc. So... focuses for everybody!

And a question for devs - Would you add Corneliu Codreanu as political leader of Iron Guard's Romania with unique portrait? I saw the focus "Iron Guard", and wish it leads to alternative fascist regime(not Antonescu).

 

[Tankbusta8]

Are you acting as a moderator or speaking for a moderator? I thought that was against the rules

Neither, just pointing out the truth. I dont exactly see any mods trying to calm anyone down either which is a shame considering the HOI4 threads are on fire most of the time.

 

[indignanthedgehog]

Do a search for "1.3.3 Germany Russia" Many posts and break downs about the problems with Germany. TLDR version is that AI Germany loses to AI Russia by 1941 in like 80-90% of the games. Even a max boosted AI Germany can lose to non-boosted AI Russia in 1941. Posts, saves, pics etc... all provide ample evidence that it's a problem.

Huh, I haven't really had those issues. Germany tends to do rather well (even beating the Soviets at times. I mean I do use some mods, but the only one I can really think that would effect it that much is the Increased Resources mod (and even then, it mostly effects Africa, SE Asia and South America, I don't think I've ever seen Germany run out of steel in vanilla). Now they do seem to over-commit and then get steam-rolled by the allied invasion, but that's sort of accurate to real life, so it's not so bad.

 

[Sleight of Hand]

My main is CHI so I know that you are right and very strongly wish for CHI and PRC focus trees and events. But that been said, can you imagine the toxic response that a China-centered expansion would get right now from the community? I'd be a very happy camper, but every other Paradoxian would be like: "PARAD0x why u work on Asia instead of EUROPE!!!!!!1!!!1!!"

China will definitely, definitely get a DLC at some point. Probably after this one, in fact.

 

[Broletariat90]

Can you guys maybe do the China's next????

Podcat said that Asia/Pacific will be the focus for the Expansion after this one.

 

[BigPET]

THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY!

 

[codeGnave]

Sorry, but you simply disregard bugs present from day 1. The biggest being "Ai division shuffling". In 4th week after release me and some others posted savegames and comments on AI shuffling.

We got so far: a patch for a patch for a patch, which tried to fix a bug it didnt fix. After almost a year the time is imho over to present a potential fix fo the AI as a major giift with a wrapping aka voila - here we are.

I'm pretty sure the response is and has always been 'we are working on it, it is very difficult, please have patience.'
podcat mentioned in this very thread that they are working on AI issues. What issues do you think he is talking about, focus tree choice for Brazil?

 

[jmurray27]

Will you simulate the evacuation of polish troops thru Romania as was the case historically?

 

[Gwydion5]

Unfortunately it is a valid point. Simply since the community is biased.

I disagree. Their point is meant to deflect and mitigate the current disapproval as being equal to something that is absurd. I highly doubt even one person would've complained about focus tree's for axis minors if this DD was about say Air Warfare. Even if I am wrong and one or more community members did make such a comment, that comment would not have the same legitimacy or support as what is being expressed here. So no, it's not a valid or relevant point to make *to what is happening here.

EDIT: Everything after the *.

 

[Gamer_1745]

I really like the need to manage your country. War is a political act and politics & national events limited what the leaders could do.

Internally, Romania also had a number of issues, first and foremost King Carol’s attempts at steering the country. A devoted hedonist and a less-than-devoted husband, Carol was a constant source of scandals, while also considering himself the only person fit to run the state. You will have to learn how to handle him, which requires time and resources, both of which are in short supply. On the other hand, Carol has a unique new ability allowing him to recruit ministers at a lower cost. Whether or not you want to keep him around is up to you.
View attachment 256017

Now from a story telling point of view at what level are we playing the game? I know you have said at the level of Churchill, Hitler & Stalin before so we should not micro things too much, but I do know if that is the story telling point of view. I am also not sure how you view King Carol as just a Head of State and you are playing as Head of government or are you playing as a minister managing the Head of State/Government?

I have been very conflicted on this & the story telling in the game. I am not sure if it even matter as will players care you are jumping back & forth in preservatives from event to event?

On the photo. Is that just a generic protest photo or one specific to this event? I would think a photo of the mistress would be nice to see if she is hot enough to be worth the trouble.

Yes, these are the things I think of.

 

[lihp]

I think that after so many posts in this thread that you have made your point. You are not happy with the DD, you want more info on the AI. There will be more info in further DDs. I am sure they will eventually get to discussing improvements to the AI. Patience. Also, try not to attack everyone on the forums. Those attacks get boring and you seem to only use them to continue your rant, and as I said, we get it yer unhappy.

Thanks for pointing out your impressions young Padawan.

Since you didnt see it completely:
1. DLCs in other PDX games add new mechanics aka Art of War, El Dorado,... while the base Ai worked fine from day one besides minor hickups.
2. DLC in HOI IV add... new focus trees and some stuff, which most (eg in case of TfW) wont even see.

So there is a gross difference from what I and others expect to what we receive. Point is: there is no point for NFs for minor, when the AI for major powers is broken.

 

[jmurray27]

Would love to see some resource foci in the focus trees for the balkans as additional resources could be obtained with some government focus. But hey it looks like you already have that covered!

P.S. when you finally do a focus for Hungary and Bulgaria, please give them some cores to their lands. Claims are just terrible. If Bulgaria had cores, I would play it more.

 

[Gwydion5]

Huh, I haven't really had those issues. Germany tends to do rather well (even beating the Soviets at times. I mean I do use some mods, but the only one I can really think that would effect it that much is the Increased Resources mod (and even then, it mostly effects Africa, SE Asia and South America, I don't think I've ever seen Germany run out of steel in vanilla). Now they do seem to over-commit and then get steam-rolled by the allied invasion, but that's sort of accurate to real life, so it's not so bad.

Yeah we are speaking specifically about non-modded HOI4 in 1.3.3. Mods definitely change things and I would/will use them, but I kind of want to see the core game working better before going down that road.

 

[WarPie]

I assume the next one is about Hugary.