Playability for completely new players

[meshawa]

As the title suggests, how easy would people that have not played any paradox games would be able to get into and learn HOI4? I would like to get some friends to join the game and we all (if possible like in EU4) play as Germany and I can have them concentrate on single fronts while I manage the technology and division distribution. I just dont want to spend hours explaining too much

cheers

 

[The_Meme_Man]

Well, even EU4 took a good amount of time to learn, and Crusader Kings II was fucking complex for me when I first played it (and that game is technically easier than previous paradox games). Though I really don't see much of a problem here for you because would you not be as ignorant about how to play the game as your friends? Then you and your friends will be able to play and learn, just as long as you play on the easiest difficulty or something. That way you can get some laughs while you are at it.

Honestly, I think HoI IV is going to take some learning as well. I mean, I look at the dev diaries and just ignore the ones about supply and resources and army composition because that stuff flies over my head until I am able to actually play the game and see physically how it all works by sucking.

 

[Will Steel]

It will be the easiest HoI game to get into, yet overall it won't be that easy to get into in general. I managed to get EU4 fast only because I was an avid EU3 player and got most of the mechanisms (still don't know how trade, units and pips work though). It took me around an year to finally learn everything CK2 had, it was more complex, and it still takes me 2-3 months after every expansion to learn new playing style. My knowledge of Vicky2 is very shady even today after years of playing it obsessively.

HoI series does have an inherent difficulty, but I am sure your friends can learn it very easily compared to HoI3 (which takes months for basics) or any other HoI game. UI was a huge issue in older games and they have worked hard to fix this issue this time it seems. It is more newbie friendly than anything else.