Manual?

[dray]

Will there be a manual for HOI 4?

While I have other Paradox titles this is my first HOI game and a manual would nice, there is another thread in this forum but there was no official reply as to whether there would be.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Greybriar]

Will there be a manual for HOI 4?

While I have other Paradox titles this is my first HOI game and a manual would nice, there is another thread in this forum but there was no official reply as to whether there would be.

Thanks for any replies.

I, too, would like to know whether or not there will be a game manual for Hearts of Iron IV.

 

[Bridger15]

Yes: http://www.hoi4wiki.com/Hearts_of_Iron_4_Wiki

It was just recently updated from their internal beta wiki and contains a significant amount of information that appears to be valid (though I wouldn't take the exact numbers as gospel until the game comes out).

 

[Sanny]

Yes: http://www.hoi4wiki.com/Hearts_of_Iron_4_Wiki

It was just recently updated from their internal beta wiki and contains a significant amount of information that appears to be valid (though I wouldn't take the exact numbers as gospel until the game comes out).

The Wiki isn't actually the same as a traditional Manual.

But it's true that the Wiki is easier to update than something like a digital manual.

 

[Bridger15]

The Wiki isn't actually the same as a traditional Manual.

How so? As far as I can tell it's a manual that is simply organized in a much better way with hyperlinks allowing you to quickly move from page to page.

 

[Sanny]

How so? As far as I can tell it's a manual that is simply organized in a much better way with hyperlinks allowing you to quickly move from page to page.

If you compare a manual to the Hearts of Iron III wiki, you'll find it contains step-by-step strategies on each nation's page. A manual wouldn't have that kind of thing. The Wiki can be edited by anyone who has access (information may be inaccurate/incorrect) and the wiki usually contains too much irrelevant information for a user to quickly refer to. A manual is concise in comparison and it is officially written by the development studio.

 

[Bridger15]

If you compare a manual to the Hearts of Iron III wiki, you'll find it contains step-by-step strategies on each nation's page. A manual wouldn't have that kind of thing.

So it's better than the manual so far, check.

The Wiki can be edited by anyone who has access (information may be inaccurate/incorrect)

What wiki's have you been using? EU4's wiki was an incredibly valuable resource while I was learning the game. Everything it in was 100% correct. THe HOI4 wiki just got a data upload from the internal beta, and it appears if they ripped all the numbers directly from the game files.

Manuals, on the other hand, are inaccurate after the first balance patch. Constantly being updated is a *good* thing.

and the wiki usually contains too much irrelevant information for a user to quickly refer to. A manual is concise in comparison and it is officially written by the development studio.

What "irrelevant" information are you referring to? Everything I've ever read on a game wiki has always been directly relevant to the game. You should give it a shot.

The wiki was written by the devs (the beta upload). It's imply presented in a much better way. Being able to search by term makes it superior to any manual automatically.

 

[vector1]

I see, then I would direct you to the typical "beginner's" and "quick start" pages in most wikis if you want to have a more concise overview. In depth dives can be avoided by not going to the pages that you rather not know about.

HOI4 wiki is new so I wouldn't expect too much out of it just yet, but once everyone's gotten the game I'm sure we'll all contribute and update it for everyone's reference.

IMO, manuals are easily outdated and could easily be replaced by community + dev input on wikis. Whatever you get on a manual you can also get on wiki, and whoever posts the information is irrelevant as long it's accurate. The wikis are also moderated by the developers so any egregious mistakes/vandalism will be taken down so I don't see any harm.

 

[Nicolas I]

Maybe they deemed the game so easy to play (I didn't said "dumbed down") that it don't need a manual as previous HOI games.

 

[vector1]

I'm not even sure what games ship with a true to god manual (not an installation guide) given the proliferation of wikis + online guides + in game tutorials. This is one of the downsides of digital delivery but we got to move with the time. I remember buying diablo 2 with the large collectors edition and reading the included strategy guide/manual repeatedly... good times... ^^

 

[Greybriar]

When PC games switched from printed paper manuals to digital manuals, I bought a 10.1 inch tablet so I could read the manual in very much the same way as I had read the paper manuals. I still do this because I am not always online when I read a manual.

Wikis and fan sites are nice sources of information about the games I play. But I can't take them into the bathroom and read them while I sit upon my throne. Nor can I read their contents while I am lying in bed awaiting sleep.

A .pdf manual is simple to update, certainly much simpler and more cost effective than a printed paper manual. I feel that a grand strategy game like those Paradox is noted for is simply incomplete without a manual.

 

[Avatar13]

I guess I'm just old school, too. I prefer manuals/PDFs to wikis...

 

[Josephus I]

I'm not only old school. I'm plain old. I like good old fashioned manuals.

 

[Avatar13]

I'm not only old school. I'm plain old. I like good old fashioned manuals.

LOL Well, I don't consider myself old yet (only 58 here) but I'm working on it!

 

[HamHamJ]

Is the wiki written by professional technical writers working for Paradox with direct access to the dev team? No? Then it's not a substitute for a manual.

 

[dray]

I hope there is a manual, even if its digital, I don't see a reason why it can't be updated every time the game is, a wiki is all well and good but I look to a wiki for guides and mechanic explanations beyond what a manual will tell you, but an indexed up to date manual is a must for me and I don't mind paying a little extra for one, if it's updated regularly.

 

[commandercoop]

The Wiki isn't actually the same as a traditional Manual.

But it's true that the Wiki is easier to update than something like a digital manual.

they do have a beginners guide though.

Which can be considered a manual?

http://www.hoi4wiki.com/Beginner's_guide

 

[Warhammer]

they do have a beginners guide though.

Which can be considered a manual?

http://www.hoi4wiki.com/Beginner's_guide

A proper manual should also explain all the mechanics, how they work and the numbers. Right now that guide is more of a 'starting tutorial' while the rest of the wiki is not up to date in the actual meaty stuff which can be the advanced tutorial.

 

[VoodooEconomist]

If previous Paradox games are to be the guideline - CK2 and EU4 both had a pdf manual on release, as well as .pdf manuals for major DLCs outlining the changes. And they got outdated very, very quickly.

 

[commandercoop]

A proper manual should also explain all the mechanics, how they work and the numbers. Right now that guide is more of a 'starting tutorial' while the rest of the wiki is not up to date in the actual meaty stuff which can be the advanced tutorial.

True