HoI4 Dev Teasers (previously Podcat's Twitter Teasers)

[Populus Romanus]

My suspicions that one of the countries getting a focus tree in MtG is the Netherlands grow ever stronger.

Agreed, whoever it is will most likely be a Western European democracy. One other possibility I had considered was Mexico/Latin America because of the US revamp. However, I don't think those countries were very democratic, which seems to be the focus of MtG. Low countries look like the best bet because they already said that Scandinavia would be separate.

 

[Fulmen]

Agreed, whoever it is will most likely be a Western European democracy. One other possibility I had considered was Mexico/Latin America because of the US revamp. However, I don't think those countries were very democratic, which seems to be the focus of MtG. Low countries look like the best bet because they already said that Scandinavia would be separate.

Didn't they say somewhere that it's going to be one from both sides of the Atlantic? Or that one will be a democratic country and the other won't? I really hope that's not the case though, as Belgium makes a lot more sense with the Netherlands than Mexico, Brazil or Argentina.

 

[Vohen]

Didn't they say somewhere that it's going to be one from both sides of the Atlantic? Or that one will be a democratic country and the other won't? I really hope that's not the case though, as Belgium makes a lot more sense with the Netherlands than Mexico, Brazil or Argentina.

Did they? I only heard them saying that both would be democracies.

 

[Fulmen]

Did they? I only heard them saying that both would be democracies.

I'm not sure, I just recall someone claiming podcat or someone from PDX said that. Could also easily be bull. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[LiberiusX]

Didn't they say somewhere that it's going to be one from both sides of the Atlantic? Or that one will be a democratic country and the other won't? I really hope that's not the case though, as Belgium makes a lot more sense with the Netherlands than Mexico, Brazil or Argentina.

In that case...What’s the most popular country in the New World that’s not been earmarked for another expansion??? Dominican Republic

 

[Luckierexpert]

Didn't they say somewhere that it's going to be one from both sides of the Atlantic? Or that one will be a democratic country and the other won't? I really hope that's not the case though, as Belgium makes a lot more sense with the Netherlands than Mexico, Brazil or Argentina.

While I see your point, personally I feel that the low countries (Belgium and the Netherlands, as the devs have said they're probably not giving Luxembourg a focus tree) would be better in a expansion with France. Looking at what others have said, both devs and other forum members, I reckon the focus tree will probably be Ireland and the Philippines. Both start as democracies and have strong ties to the major powers being revamped.

 

[Duke_Dave]

You all got it wrong, its Democracies taking in republican refugees from the Spanish civil war. Gives you a decision as a democracy to welcome refugees from civil wars and gives you manpower and military experience at the cost of PP and stability. Spanish civil war DLC confirmed.

 

[Sanny]

This isn't today's teaser, however I did find something on Niall's twitter here.

Seems like there have been some more map changes since the last dev diary that covered them.

Spoiler

View attachment 405013

And no work done on Scotland I imagine, the usual story...

 

[Dryhad]

I'm not sure, I just recall someone claiming podcat or someone from PDX said that. Could also easily be bull. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

16:40 "What I can hint is they're going to be in the same areas, basically [as the two revamped majors], so probably something on each side?"

 

[Iskulya]

Didn't they say somewhere that it's going to be one from both sides of the Atlantic? Or that one will be a democratic country and the other won't? I really hope that's not the case though, as Belgium makes a lot more sense with the Netherlands than Mexico, Brazil or Argentina.

I never quite understood the people wanting Belgium and the Netherlands. Why should dev resources be put toward countries that are just going to get wiped out in the opening days of the way in an overwhelming portion of games when there are other countries they could devote resources to that would be relevant longer. Even Norway is a better pick, imo, than either Netherlands or Belgium. The only case where those two countries could really be all that fun is in the super whacky, ahistorical scenarios. Otherwise they're either toppled just days into the war, or stop the germans incredibly early and then the game is over. Either way, not very fun.

 

[him_15]

I really don't want the two non-major nations getting focus tree are democratic. They are just not fun to play TBH.

 

[Dryhad]

I really don't want the two non-major nations getting focus tree are democratic. They are just not fun to play TBH.

That's exactly the reason Podcat gives for giving them focus trees, and I agree. How could Paradox make democratic countries fun to play? Well they could change the way that ideology works, or they could give them national focuses which circumvent the restrictions that make democratic countries less fun to play and/or give them other interesting decisions to make. Of course, we won't know if they've succeeded at this until we see the new trees, but it does seem to be what they're aiming for in this DLC in general.

 

[Vohen]

I never quite understood the people wanting Belgium and the Netherlands. Why should dev resources be put toward countries that are just going to get wiped out in the opening days of the way in an overwhelming portion of games when there are other countries they could devote resources to that would be relevant longer. Even Norway is a better pick, imo, than either Netherlands or Belgium. The only case where those two countries could really be all that fun is in the super whacky, ahistorical scenarios. Otherwise they're either toppled just days into the war, or stop the germans incredibly early and then the game is over. Either way, not very fun.

This expansion is supposed to have a "government in exile" mechanic, which could possibly make Belgium and the Netherlands (besides all the others) still a fun play even after capitulation.
I suppose it would make sense to couple this mechanic with nations that are almost guaranteed to surrender in the war.

I really don't want the two non-major nations getting focus tree are democratic. They are just not fun to play TBH.

Another thing this expansion is supposed to do is make democracies a more enjoyable experience, so that's that.

16:40 "What I can hint is they're going to be in the same areas, basically [as the two revamped majors], so probably something on each side?"

That does change the situation though, as I'd believe it wouldn't make much sense focusing on BEL while leaving NED untouched, and vice-versa, so if the two nations are truly one closer to the US and the other to the UK, then the Benelux is definitely out.

While I see your point, personally I feel that the low countries (Belgium and the Netherlands, as the devs have said they're probably not giving Luxembourg a focus tree) would be better in a expansion with France. Looking at what others have said, both devs and other forum members, I reckon the focus tree will probably be Ireland and the Philippines. Both start as democracies and have strong ties to the major powers being revamped.

While I disagree that BEL and NED would need to go together with France (it is my completely baseless believe that the next expansion will either rework the USSR and Poland or France and Italy, with the second one being a Mediterranean focused expansion with new FTs for Spain, Greece and Turkey), Ireland the the Philippines do seem to fit the theme, both being technically democracies and having a lot of naval action happening all around them.
With that said, it would seem odd to me that they would focus on Ireland with so many nations that actually had an active role in the war still with generic FTs, and I don't know how to feel about the Philippines, being a puppet of the US and all, I can't imagine the role PDX would have them play out in all of this.
Also, of the four new FTs, having the Philippines being the only one to experience the government in exile mechanic would seem a bit strange to me.

 

[Dryhad]

That does change the situation though, as I'd believe it wouldn't make much sense focusing on BEL while leaving NED untouched, and vice-versa, so if the two nations are truly one closer to the US and the other to the UK, then the Benelux is definitely out.

The trouble is, this limits the number of possibilities severely, especially combined with the other hint that the new trees will be in democracies. Norway's another good option given the relevance of the naval revamp to its invasion, but has the same problem in that it would be reasonable to expect all of Scandinavia to be looked at in one go. So where does that leave us? Spain? It's possible but I'd rather see it saved for a DLC which expands the political system so as to better represent the internal divisions of the civil war. If we're going to take this kind of thinking has a hard line I think the only European democracy left is Ireland, which could be interesting but enraged a lot of people the last time I brought it up (with basically the same rationale). Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Netherlands without Belgium or similar, because there just aren't that many other options if we make these assumptions.

 

[Fulmen]

I never quite understood the people wanting Belgium and the Netherlands. Why should dev resources be put toward countries that are just going to get wiped out in the opening days of the way in an overwhelming portion of games when there are other countries they could devote resources to that would be relevant longer. Even Norway is a better pick, imo, than either Netherlands or Belgium. The only case where those two countries could really be all that fun is in the super whacky, ahistorical scenarios. Otherwise they're either toppled just days into the war, or stop the germans incredibly early and then the game is over. Either way, not very fun.

Oh I agree. But even though the Low Countries are always banned in MP, which is all I play in HoI4, I kind of still would prefer them getting trees over e.g. Allied Mexico (which is usually not banned).

I'm hoping it'd lead them to being allowed as Allied nations without unbalancing the teams too much. I.e. giving them the chance to have a decent game from their colonies but also without enabling them each to field e.g. 10 light tank divisions come 1940, as is the case now (which is why they're always banned).

 

[Vohen]

The trouble is, this limits the number of possibilities severely, especially combined with the other hint that the new trees will be in democracies. Norway's another good option given the relevance of the naval revamp to its invasion, but has the same problem in that it would be reasonable to expect all of Scandinavia to be looked at in one go. So where does that leave us? Spain? It's possible but I'd rather see it saved for a DLC which expands the political system so as to better represent the internal divisions of the civil war. If we're going to take this kind of thinking has a hard line I think the only European democracy left is Ireland, which could be interesting but enraged a lot of people the last time I brought it up (with basically the same rationale). Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Netherlands without Belgium or similar, because there just aren't that many other options if we make these assumptions.

Yeah, I guess it really depends on where you're willing to draw the line.
But since it's all speculation, each guess will be biased towards that person's line, so you can't really make it to be right or wrong either way.
I myself would not imagine BEL without NED, or Norway without Scandinavia, but for it to have meaning (or not), it will only depend on where the devs draw their lines themselves, so only a dev could answer truly if it makes sense to believe in a "BEL without NED" or whatever else.

 

[jpapple]

I suppose it would make sense to couple this mechanic with nations that are almost guaranteed to surrender in the war.

I actually think this mechanic is going to be combined with all democracies so we shouldn't rule out any nations because we think it is or isn't getting a focus tree cause this is an all-round democracy mechanic

 

[Duke_Dave]

I mean all these comments came long before there was any substantial work done by now they could have changed planes and just make 4 NF for Scandinavia and Finland.

 

[pvt.conners]

I mean all these comments came long before there was any substantial work done by now they could have changed planes and just make 4 NF for Scandinavia and Finland.

Podcat has continuously reiterated that there will be 2 new focus trees for nations as well as a rework for the USA/UK.
It's pretty much confirmed at this point.
There is no changing plans drasticly this deep into development without going into managment hell.

The only things that might change is that certain mechanics will be reworked more or less extensively/dropped entirely according to time constraints/deadlines and what have you.

 

[Trpaslik]

They said it will be two majors plus two minors each near one of those majors. I never saw any mention about those two minors being democracies.
That being said my bet for now is Netherlands and Mexico.
Netherlands can be played even after capitulation by some interaction with dutch east indies (for example by taking control of this puppet) and its fleet still being operational (and in reality still fighting in the war).
Mexico or Phillippines is a toss for me, with Mexico having edge due to planned American civil war and its possible influence on it. Of course this is more of a fantasy scenario, but if they are planning American civil war...why not?