Question about Division/Unit names

[rjohansen]

This is one of the things that I use too much time on in HOI3 and I hope will be improved upon in HOI4. How does naming of divisions function in the new game?

I use a spreadsheet to keep it organized in HOI3 - and that is one thing I hope to not use in HOI4. From time to time I also use an OOB editor instead. But still a bit time consuming, changing every name, from division to "brigade"

NUMBERS:
From what I understand you make a template, for instance an infantry division and you can choose what naming conventions that divison has, for instance: 1. Infanterie-Division

But what if you later on upgrade that division to a mechanized division? Would the name automatically become 1. Panzergrenadier-Division?

I think you should also be able to select "what kind of divisions/templates" that don't share the same numbers for instance. So that you actually don't get two of the same divisions, like you could have both: 1. Infanterie-Division AND 1. Panzergrenadier-Division

Same goes for a lot of type of divisions: 1. Sicherungs-Division, 1. Reserve-Divison, 1. Infanterie-Division, 1. Jäger-Division etc. They are the same division, but with a different name, depending on the "template" they are using at the moment. And so, two with the same numbers should not coexist. Perhaps even a "unique number setting" so that if you decide to rename/renumber a divisions, you would not be able to if it already exists. That is if is in the same "number group" of course.

NICKNAMES:
And what if you choose to use also nicknames for divisions? Does that in any way mess up the numbers - as they do in HOI3? Unless the nicknames where in that txt file from before hand that is.

DIVISION SUBORDINATE UNITS:
Will we still have the "1st Arm Brg" type of names or will these be nation specific this time? Can you also choose the naming of this depending on what division they are in?

CORPS/ARMIES:
Will be easy enough to keep tab of. As there is no OOB this time around, I guess I'll make Theaters into "Armies" and then the generic "Army" into Corps. I guess that will function allright. But it would be sweet if you where also able to set a naming convention for your "armies" so that they for instance use roman numerals and depending on units selected, where either "Armeekorps" or "Panzerkorps" etc.

 

[LordOfWar16]

This is one of the things that I use too much time on in HOI3 and I hope will be improved upon in HOI4. How does naming of divisions function in the new game?

I use a spreadsheet to keep it organized in HOI3 - and that is one thing I hope to not use in HOI4. From time to time I also use an OOB editor instead. But still a bit time consuming, changing every name, from division to "brigade"

NUMBERS:
From what I understand you make a template, for instance an infantry division and you can choose what naming conventions that divison has, for instance: 1. Infanterie-Division

But what if you later on upgrade that division to a mechanized division? Would the name automatically become 1. Panzergrenadier-Division?

I think you should also be able to select "what kind of divisions/templates" that don't share the same numbers for instance. So that you actually don't get two of the same divisions, like you could have both: 1. Infanterie-Division AND 1. Panzergrenadier-Division

Same goes for a lot of type of divisions: 1. Sicherungs-Division, 1. Reserve-Divison, 1. Infanterie-Division, 1. Jäger-Division etc. They are the same division, but with a different name, depending on the "template" they are using at the moment. And so, two with the same numbers should not coexist. Perhaps even a "unique number setting" so that if you decide to rename/renumber a divisions, you would not be able to if it already exists. That is if is in the same "number group" of course.

NICKNAMES:
And what if you choose to use also nicknames for divisions? Does that in any way mess up the numbers - as they do in HOI3? Unless the nicknames where in that txt file from before hand that is.

DIVISION SUBORDINATE UNITS:
Will we still have the "1st Arm Brg" type of names or will these be nation specific this time? Can you also choose the naming of this depending on what division they are in?

CORPS/ARMIES:
Will be easy enough to keep tab of. As there is no OOB this time around, I guess I'll make Theaters into "Armies" and then the generic "Army" into Corps. I guess that will function allright. But it would be sweet if you where also able to set a naming convention for your "armies" so that they for instance use roman numerals and depending on units selected, where either "Armeekorps" or "Panzerkorps" etc.

If you change the name of an template, all divisions made with that will automaticly adopt the name and rename accordingly. If you want differently named Divisions you either rename them one by one or simply use another template. Templates can be duplicated for free and only cost experience if you modify it.

You can rename divisions if you want to. For example 7. Panzer-Division "Geisterdivision" if you wish. You could even go as far and mod in their according symbols and choose that for their icon for example from the example above:

Brigades are just called Brigades. They dont have an specific naming, nor do they show on the map. You also cant detatch brigades and use them as independant units, but you can of course create divisions consisting of 1 brigade.

I totaly agree on the naming of armies, allthough you could of course rename the front they are active on into whatever you want and it will show on the frontline and the arrows of attack.

 

[rjohansen]

If you change the name of an template, all divisions made with that will automaticly adopt the name and rename accordingly. If you want differently named Divisions you either rename them one by one or simply use another template. Templates can be duplicated for free and only cost experience if you modify it.

Yeah, I believed that, that if you change template, the name also changed. But what about the numbers? There should not coexist both 1. Infanterie-Division and 1. Sicherungs-Division for instance.

Mod in icons seems hard... If you are not able to do so from in game? Like you can upload custom image in-game?

Too bad about the "brigades" though... I love the names in HOI3 - just for flavor.

 

[LordOfWar16]

Yeah, I believed that, that if you change template, the name also changed. But what about the numbers? There should not coexist both 1. Infanterie-Division and 1. Sicherungs-Division for instance.

Mod in icons seems hard... If you are not able to do so from in game? Like you can upload custom image in-game?

Too bad about the "brigades" though... I love the names in HOI3 - just for flavor.

It will might aswell start at 1 again with them, yes, since it is an new template.

Modding the icon isnt really hard. The example above for example i took right from the wikipedia site of the 7. Panzer-Division and it was already cut out, thats why you see no background on it. You can do the cutting easiely with photoshop or other picture editing programs. Alternative you can of course do what i did and seach for them online like on wikipedia and such. It will most likely be the case of simply putting them in an specific folder.

 

[Pathfinder12]

Yeah, I believed that, that if you change template, the name also changed. But what about the numbers? There should not coexist both 1. Infanterie-Division and 1. Sicherungs-Division for instance.

Mod in icons seems hard... If you are not able to do so from in game? Like you can upload custom image in-game?

Too bad about the "brigades" though... I love the names in HOI3 - just for flavor.

As I have understood it modding in new icons won't be any more difficult than putting a jpeg in a folder and it will automatically be loaded in the game when it starts, but I could be wrong.

I think by 'brigade' LordofWar16 is actually referring to battalions (the equivalent is called regiment in britain and a couple of other places), which make up brigades, regiments and divisions. You know how there are 25 slots in the division designer? well each one of those slots are battalions. And you can think of each column as a brigade. So if you want your division to be brigade size (by NATO standard), just fill four slots in the first column with infantry and name the division "infantry brigade" and voila! You have now a brigade, both in name and real life composition. Want a USA regiment? Fill only 2 slots (battalions) and you've got it. A NATO standard division is usually made up of 2-4 brigades which in my mind would be 2-4 columns where 4 slots are filled, which makes 4*4=16 or 2*4 in the case of a light division with only 2 brigades.

Now what makes this system exciting is the idea that you can create highly customized division/brigade/regiments.

One idea might be a heavy mechanized division consisting of 2 tank regiments and 2 heavily armed motorized/mechanized brigades and a self-propelled artillery regiment. This would consist of the first two columns being filled in two slots by 2 battalions of heavy tanks (this is just for flavor, you could just fill the first columns with 4 tank battalion, which would equal two regiments (2*2=4), but in my mind that would make one brigade in appearance and since we want to simulate two regiments we fill the first two columns with two battalions), the 3rd and 4th column would each contain 4 Motorized/mechanized battalions and the final 5th column is filed in two slots with self-propelled artillery battalions (assuming such exist).
Then we name the division "heavy mechanized division"

Another custom division that I have in mind for my Sweden game, where manpower will be low, is a lightly manned, but heavily armed division consisting of 3 light brigades of 3 infantry battalions (3*3=9) and one light brigade of 3 artillery battalions (or just a regiment of 2 battalions). This way I hope to be able to maximize my bang for the manpower in regards to soft attack as I help Finland fight the soviet infantry hordes(!).

a third might be a late super heavy panzer brigade where the first column is filled by three battalions of super heavy tanks and the second column is filled by 1 or 2 mechanized infantry. This would have 3+1(or 2)=4(or 5), roughly the equivalent of a brigade.

The combinations are almost endless!

 

[Pathfinder12]

It will might aswell start at 1 again with them, yes, since it is an new template.

Modding the icon isnt really hard. The example above for example i took right from the wikipedia site of the 7. Panzer-Division and it was already cut out, thats why you see no background on it. You can do the cutting easiely with photoshop or other picture editing programs. Alternative you can of course do what i did and seach for them online like on wikipedia and such. It will most likely be the case of simply putting them in an specific folder.

Hopefully, some crafty modder will make and share beautiful icons that matches the original backgrounds and has the symbols that where used by each respective major and some of the minors. And hopefully the devs will give a nice menu where you can switch between them...

 

[rjohansen]

It will might aswell start at 1 again with them, yes, since it is an new template.

And that would be very wrong. Hope you can somehow make a "number group" so that there wont exist both an 1. Infanterie-Division AND 1. Sicherungs-Division for instance. That would totally mess stuff up in my opinion.

Yeah, I was thinking of the Brg in HOI3 when mentioning names, I know the new Division Designer is way more advanced this time around, and from the looks of it, absolutely amazing. But I still would like individual names, if not for any other reason than flavor

 

[rjohansen]

Also, it's not Photoshop I am afraid of, it would be easy enough to cut out icons, however, might be time consuming. But to use them. Could you upload icons "on the go" for instance, or they have to be in a folder with a text file pointing to an ID and such... If the latter, it will perhaps not be complicated, but too much hard work in my opinion. As such a solution for only work for already existing ones (1936 start) - when you build new ones, they will probably get random ID's. I could be wrong on that though.

And hopefully the devs will give a nice menu where you can switch between them...

So yeah, a menu, IN GAME, would be preferred

 

[LordOfWar16]

Hopefully, some crafty modder will make and share beautiful icons that matches the original backgrounds and has the symbols that where used by each respective major and some of the minors. And hopefully the devs will give a nice menu where you can switch between them...

the icons can be cut out in a way, just like the one i posted above, that all that shows is the symbol itself without any background. Thats why you can see the blue background from the forum in that symbol.

The devs actually already showed the menu, where you can already select tons of icons made by paradox for each division. All you would have to do now is putting the images in the right folder and they should show up in that list if it works as usual. Alternative some people surely will make some mod in the steam workshop that adds tons of historic symbols etc.

Also, it's not Photoshop I am afraid of, it would be easy enough to cut out icons, however, might be time consuming. But to use them. Could you upload icons "on the go" for instance, or they have to be in a folder with a text file pointing to an ID and such... If the latter, it will perhaps not be complicated, but too much hard work in my opinion. As such a solution for only work for already existing ones (1936 start) - when you build new ones, they will probably get random ID's. I could be wrong on that though.

If it works like most other titles that allow you to use custom images you probably only need to drag them into the according folder and probably just rename it. I guess what you mean by "uploading" is an function to select images from your pc in the game? That certainly would make things a bit easier, but not nessesariely be less "work". I cant imagine why they could be bound to a start date, since they have nothing to do with dates.

I of course dont know exactly how the developers allow you to do it, but that is the most common and easiest way that most games use.

 

[rjohansen]

If it works like most other titles that allow you to use custom images you probably only need to drag them into the according folder and probably just rename it. I guess what you mean by "uploading" is an function to select images from your pc in the game? That certainly would make things a bit easier, but not nessesariely be less "work". I cant imagine why they could be bound to a start date, since they have nothing to do with dates.

I don't know how it will work though, but I compared it to images in another game, Football Manager, there every photo (player, logo etc) needs an ID - "easy" enough for existing players, but what about generated ones.. It would be the same here, if an division has an ID and you would have to match that with a symbol, easy enough perhaps, but what about divisions not built yet.
But if you where able to just drop the symbols in a folder, and then it would be accessible within the game, it would be easy and work great.

 

[LordOfWar16]

I don't know how it will work though, but I compared it to images in another game, Football Manager, there every photo (player, logo etc) needs an ID - "easy" enough for existing players, but what about generated ones.. It would be the same here, if an division has an ID and you would have to match that with a symbol, easy enough perhaps, but what about divisions not built yet.
But if you where able to just drop the symbols in a folder, and then it would be accessible within the game, it would be easy and work great.

That game got an horrible implementation then. Several games including Galactic Civilization do it like this:

"You add your own images by placing the images in your Documents\My Games\GalCiv3\Factions folder. Place your images in the appropriate folder. Leader FG’s should be 1920 x 1080. Portraits and logos should be 128 x 128."


Edit: ok i found out how HoI III does it with portraits atleast. Inside the gfx folder you find 3 folders. Events, Portraits and Tech. Inside the portrait folder you have tons of .tga images that are named L1-L1520700. It will most likely be slightly different in HoI IV for unit icons, but you most likely just need to rename the file accordingly.

There will be an dev diary about modding which will answer your questions for sure.