Is that correct? If so, that's really disappointing. I wanted to roleplay a lot of specific events in the WW2 timeline.
- 17
- 2
Only two start dates?
- Thread starter Riekopo
- Start date
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
They may very well add more in the future.
If I recall correctly, the reason they only have the two is that it takes a great deal of time to balance each scenario, so they won't have the ability to add more before launch.
If I recall correctly, the reason they only have the two is that it takes a great deal of time to balance each scenario, so they won't have the ability to add more before launch.
- 4
Correct. They had many start dates in HoI3 and only 2 were balanced anywhere near what they should have been.
- 8
- 1
I understand how a 1944 start date would be difficult to balance, but they could at least add a 1933 one...
- 12
- 4
no, they already said why they wont add an 1933 start date, because then the game would basicly be germany centered and be called rise of the nazi party. All you would do is quiet literaly sit around maybe building some factories and otherwise waiting for 1936 for any stuff to happen.
- 15
- 7
Eh, too early and it gets too easy to powergame, too late and you can't do much to influence the results. Adding new start dates also requires a lot of tuning to get accurate distributions of forces.
Like, I understand the desire to try and pull things out of the fire by doing a '44 game as the Krauts or Japs, but I'd bet the vast majority of players don't, so putting the effort into those is largely wasted.
Like, I understand the desire to try and pull things out of the fire by doing a '44 game as the Krauts or Japs, but I'd bet the vast majority of players don't, so putting the effort into those is largely wasted.
- 7
- 1
The reason why there are only two start dates is because over 99.9% of games played always use the earliest start date. This is true across ALL Paradox titles.
When eariler start dates are introduced (such as with Expansions for CK II and EU IV) then everyone only uses those new eariler dates.
It is simply not worth the extensive effort to map out the newer dates.
For the exact quote you will have to look at one of the early dev videos for HoI IV on the Paradox Extra youtube channel.
Johan said it.
When eariler start dates are introduced (such as with Expansions for CK II and EU IV) then everyone only uses those new eariler dates.
It is simply not worth the extensive effort to map out the newer dates.
For the exact quote you will have to look at one of the early dev videos for HoI IV on the Paradox Extra youtube channel.
Johan said it.
- 15
- 2
its quite hard to put a start date too early and expect the game to go historically without a lot of railroading, which is what HOI4 is meant to be minimising.
if you remember some things the devs said about EU3 and EU4, they actually said the 1399 start date for EU3 was one of their biggest mistakes because it was hard to simulate the change in the world from 1399 to 1444 effectively
if you remember some things the devs said about EU3 and EU4, they actually said the 1399 start date for EU3 was one of their biggest mistakes because it was hard to simulate the change in the world from 1399 to 1444 effectively
- 2
I recall reading that in the HoI2 days. Almost everyone played the Grand Campaign, I think it was called, and not without reason. I almost always did/do simply because there's no reason to play other dates. It's annoying as all get up to play a scenario after the war has started because you have to figure out where everything is, assign every leader (well I do), and determine how and if to change economic plans based on what you want to do and what leeway you have to do so. Any scenario before 1936 is "rise of the Nazis" (pretty sure I heard that back then) and any from 36-40 is "OK, how much are my warplans either screwed up or decided for me". This is leaving aside balancing issues.
- 2
The problem is, how likely are you to play say for example, a battle of the bulge start date, once you've already played it? The average user will use it maybe once, if that, and then the chances are they'll never use it again.
It requires an awful lot of effort to carry out the research of everything in the start date (territory, army, technology etc.) and then balance it well, all for just a few people to use it once and never touch it again. It simply isn't worth it. I would assume however that if there's enough demand there's probably someone out there who will mod it in anyways, so I wouldn't worry too much.
Last edited:
- 3
- 1
Or invade China as Japan, or turn Germany communist, or invade Germany as Poland or pull out of the depression as the US... There are countless things you can do in 1933. Darkest Hour had a 1933 scenario, and it was my favorite one to play.
- 6
- 2
Everyone is complaining that it would be difficult/impossible to balance and add all these scenarios, and yet Darkest Hour did them all nearly perfectly, with a large amount of events that gave even the 1933 start a good amount of flavor.
- 5
- 5
This is Paradox, not Darkest Hour. This is Hearts of Iron IV as well, with brand spanking new mechanics.
- 11
- 2
What I'm saying is that it's more than possible. And besides, you just helped me prove my point. If a team of casual modders could perfectly balance World War Two from any start date, then I don't see why a group of professionals can't do it.
- 5
- 3
I think a June 22nd, 1941 start date would be very good, and it's just early enough to still have most of the game still ahead of you.
- 5
- 1
But that leads another claim: why not just leave it to the modders? If the devs did NOT make it, then that means less time wasted on what could be used on AI balancing in general (probably the most important part of a game like Hearts of Iron, you want GOOD AI). Then the modders can work at their own time around knowing how the AI plays to make modded scenarios, considering the game will have a Steam Workshop.
- 6
Yes, leave it to the modders. Personally i would never start later than 1936, why let the game build up for you and miss out on some of the experience 
- 4
"There are mods for that" is an argument that can be used to turn down pretty much any suggested new feature. It is already up to modders to create new scenarios and start dates, it's pretty much just a matter of editing text files.
I wouldn't mind having a June 22nd 1941 start date, but honestly, I don't know how much I'd use it, either.
Alternate history scenarios, however? Like a start date where the Germans have won the battle of Kursk and are on the offensive in the east? Sounds to me like a much better use for new start date DLC .
I wouldn't mind having a June 22nd 1941 start date, but honestly, I don't know how much I'd use it, either.
Alternate history scenarios, however? Like a start date where the Germans have won the battle of Kursk and are on the offensive in the east? Sounds to me like a much better use for new start date DLC
.- 1
Fantasy and althistory scenarios? Did you see the reaction to Sunset Invasion?Alternate history scenarios, however? Like a start date where the Germans have won the battle of Kursk and are on the offensive in the east? Sounds to me like a much better use for new start date DLC
- 7
- 2
