More historical start dates

[GabaLaba]

I think it would be awesome if we could get more historical start dates like in Hearts of Iron 3. To start later in the war during 1940 or 1945 would be really cool.
It's rather disappointing that you only get 2 start dates (1936 and 1939) in HOI4, when its predecessors have more options.

I hope we can see this in the future. It would be incredible!

 

[IDGBIA]

On a stream they said that 90% of people play on 1936 and ive never seen multiplayer games using the 39 start so it probably wouldn't be worth it for them to set up new starting positions in different start dates especially considering the alternate history skew the game has compared to hoi 3

 

[Vohen]

PDX has a good reason to not implement other start dates imo, but if we have a 1939 one, I think a 1941 would be pretty neat as well.

 

[HaruhiFollower]

Adding new dates requires extra work on every patch, as the starting conditions for each have to be verified - I hope they spend the time on the "base" game instead. Alternate start dates are prime mod material though.

 

[Meglok]

I think it would be awesome if we could get more historical start dates like in Hearts of Iron 3. To start later in the war during 1940 or 1945 would be really cool.
It's rather disappointing that you only get 2 start dates (1936 and 1939) in HOI4, when its predecessors have more options.

I hope we can see this in the future. It would be incredible!

PDS has repeatedly said based upon the very low % of customers who play alternative start dates and the amount of work it takes to create and maintain these dates through every patch they have no interest in doing them in the future.

 

[klinkvon13]

PDS has repeatedly said based upon the very low % of customers who play alternative start dates and the amount of work it takes to create and maintain these dates through every patch they have no interest in doing them in the future.

Though, in games like CK2 and EU4 , it is often essential, since some country might not even exist but at some specific dates.

For hoi4, it could bring some new challenges to start at specific dates. I wonder how come it is doable for game like CK2 / EU4, over a very long time span, and not for hoi4.

 

[Louella]

earlier start dates would tend to favour collecting even more types of outdated equipment from capitulated countries, equipment that would almost never be used.

Like, 1920's biplane aircraft, which would only clutter up the air wing creation interface even more.

 

[Vohen]

Though, in games like CK2 and EU4 , it is often essential, since some country might not even exist but at some specific dates.

For hoi4, it could bring some new challenges to start at specific dates. I wonder how come it is doable for game like CK2 / EU4, over a very long time span, and not for hoi4.

It's not about being doable or not, it's about allocation of resources.
They could fix bugs and add new mechanics and features for everyone, or create and maintain a starting date for an infinitesimal part of the player base (and yes, this is a fact backed by numbers).

Can't say it for CK2, but the EU4 devs themselves have said that those start dates aren't worth maintaining as well, when the vast, crushing majority of players start at 1444 anyway.

 

[Meglok]

Though, in games like CK2 and EU4 , it is often essential, since some country might not even exist but at some specific dates.

For hoi4, it could bring some new challenges to start at specific dates. I wonder how come it is doable for game like CK2 / EU4, over a very long time span, and not for hoi4.

Because the setting for HOI4 is not over a very long time span? HOI4 is about a very specific small span of time, the start and end of WW2. Jan 1936 was probably the best date to allow the Chinese and Japanese players to set their nations for the 1937 Sino_japanese War and to include the SCW.

It's not about being doable or not, it's about allocation of resources. They could fix bugs and add new mechanics and features for everyone, or create and maintain a starting date for an infinitesimal part of the player base (and yes, this is a fact backed by numbers).
Can't say it for CK2, but the EU4 devs themselves have said that those start dates aren't worth maintaining as well, when the vast, crushing majority of players start at 1444 anyway.

I appreciate there is a very vocal minority asking for more dates. The issue is it is a very small minority. It isn't worth PDS spending time on it, as @Vohen noted above and as the head of the HOI4 project team has confirmed.

1939 (or later) Starts is pretty much giving the player whatever was done historically by each nation and forcing them to fight with that. Most players think they could do better than history and would prefer to not make the same mistakes over again.

Earlier dates than 1936 bring in balance issues. The further you go back the more variables there are to take into account. Balancing for 1936 and the alternative paths PDS is adding o each major and it's satellites has got to be a royal pain. Even with all the testing PDS does before release people are still finding conflicts in focus trees from TvV and DoD. Adding another 3 years of focuses and ways to go ahistorical is just asking for trouble. They only have so many people and resources to throw at the game, I would much rather they use them to fix and improve the base 1936 start.

If early start times are that popular you would have thought there would be a mod for them. Even Kaisereich doesn't do anything earlier than a 1936 start.

 

[AlknicTeos]

I only play first avaible start date, in hoi4, eu4, ck2, ... so no need for extra dates

 

[Vohen]

@Meglok I don't think earlier dates are even doable by the very design of the game, with one of its core mechanics (focus trees) requiring such a Herculean effort to reimplement and maintain, it'd be absolutely insane if they ever decided for it.

 

[walt526]

Yeah, the only way that an earlier starting date makes sense is if they overhaul non-military mechanics: international relations, politics, etc.

The relative lack of depth is why mods alone cannot provide a 1932/33 start: there's nothing to do other than having more time for military buildup.

 

[brisduv]

As a solo player I often played the German 1944 scenario in HOI3 to give me a challenge. Throwing the Allies back into the sea and then stabilizing the Eastern front was quite satisfying .