Quick! Guess what focus trees will be added in the next expansion!

[unmerged(235683)]

USSR, Finland, and Poland I think are the most likely. I would however be pleasantly surprised (and kind of hope) if the devs decided to do some small focus trees for the Soviet republics like Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan etc... but I feel that would be too cumbersome or too unnecessary. What do you think about focuses for Soviet republics?

 

[GrandVezir]

What do you think about focuses for Soviet republics?

The Soviet republics are in a unappealing situation, game-wise:

• There's not a lot of interest in them from the historical sim crowd, many of whom could be counted on to be actively annoyed by their inclusion.
• It would take a pretty amazing tree to entice the alt-history crowd. But it seems more probable that a unique tree for, say, Uzbekistan, would be significantly worse than the generic tree.
• They'd be essentially barnacles on the hull for the competitive-MP crowd. They would likely make the USSR either much weaker or much stronger, and would therefore be banned in many MP groups.

I'd say the odds are very much against.

 

[Bronterre]

Soviet union, Finland and Baltic with minor re works of others to fit with it.

Following dlcs

1. Italy and middle East\africa with tweeks to French German UK USA and ussr to match.

2\3. Scandinavia and South America probably in that order

 

[kimidf]

USSR, Finland, and Poland I think are the most likely. I would however be pleasantly surprised (and kind of hope) if the devs decided to do some small focus trees for the Soviet republics like Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan etc... but I feel that would be too cumbersome or too unnecessary. What do you think about focuses for Soviet republics?

I would be in favor that the Soviet republics could advise a small shared tree in the style of the Chinese warlords, we remember that Ukraine was very close to becoming a puppet state similar to the Croatian regime that some important fish of the Nazi regime like Rosenberg are at favor of this

 

[Crecer13]

I hope that in the Soviet rework there will be two big events that could turn the course of history in a different direction:
- Soviet - Czechoslovak agreement on mutual assistance (1935). The USSR was ready to support Czechoslovakia. But Britain and France left Czechoslovakia to the mercy of fate. Poland threatened to declare war on the USSR if it tried to help Czechoslovakia because was interested in getting the Teshin region. (by the way, I don’t remember if Poland gets this region? or it should also be added to the game). So I think this is a very, very interesting event that should be.
- Moscow negotiations in 1939. This is also a very interesting event. To achieve which should be very difficult, around which many events and negotiations should unfold.

 

[Metz]

USSR, Italy, and Poland overhauls with a new Finland tree.

Next would be a Indochina, Malaya, Indonesia, and Siam content pack.

Then a Denmark, Sweden, and Baltic content pack or a Saudi Arabia, Iran, and British/French Mandate content pack.

At some point there needs to be a tree for Brazil and Argentina with a general South America national tree overhaul.

 

[Dragonquack]

USSR, Italy, and Poland overhauls with a new Finland tree.

Next would be a Indochina, Malaya, Indonesia, and Siam content pack.

Then a Denmark, Sweden, and Baltic content pack or a Saudi Arabia, Iran, and British/French Mandate content pack.

At some point there needs to be a tree for Brazil and Argentina with a general South America national tree overhaul.

Señor Hilter!

 

[batui9]

I feel like Soviets will get a new tree and Italy will get some reworks added onto it, seeing as how they're the two majors still with base release trees.

 

[marxwasright]

USSR, Finland, and Poland I think are the most likely. I would however be pleasantly surprised (and kind of hope) if the devs decided to do some small focus trees for the Soviet republics like Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan etc... but I feel that would be too cumbersome or too unnecessary. What do you think about focuses for Soviet republics?

Jewish Autonomous Oblast ftw

 

[Fas Est]

I hope for reworked trees due to Soviets

Germany is badly missing commie tree for example and its a big gaping hole.

 

[Fulmen]

Also, I really hope that manodezombi will be the one to create the Finnish focus tree because I love what he's done with Bulgaria and Finland is a country I am really looking forward to.

The English literature on Finland in WW2 is very limited and often contains errors. I'd much rather they hired a native Finn with good access to Finnish WW2 historiography, preferably with years of study on the topic.

P.S. Not self-advertising.

 

[Dlin369]

I'm actually more leaning towards Finland being included because it would fit in with a defensive warfare rework. Poland might be included as well because 1.) It's a large minor with a lot of importance in the Eastern front 2.) Some more resistance and supply lines related things would relate well to an Eastern Front rework

 

[Zeprion]

The devs may consider to save Finland for a Nordic DLC, but I think that would be a waste considering that Finland's history is more closely tied with Germany and USSR in this time period.

So far we have this:

I hope Barbarossa adds focus trees for: USSR, Poland, Finland and Italy.

After that, there's isn't much to cover except countries that also saw action in World War II.

-> Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium.
-> Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan (the last 2 didn't see action but then again, neither did Turkey)
-> Mongolia, Tibet, Siam, Philippines.

And South America is entierly optional because they didn't see much action except for Ecuadorian-Peruvian war in 1941.

 

[Dlin369]

The devs may consider to save Finland for a Nordic DLC, but I think that would be a waste considering that Finland's history is more closely tied with Germany and USSR in this time period.

So far we have this:

I hope Barbarossa adds focus trees for: USSR, Poland, Finland and Italy.

After that, there's isn't much to cover except countries that also saw action in World War II.

-> Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium.
-> Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan (the last 2 didn't see action but then again, neither did Turkey)
-> Mongolia, Tibet, Siam, Philippines.

And South America is entierly optional because they didn't see much action except for Ecuadorian-Peruvian war in 1941.

Looking at that map Italy looks kinda screwed in terms of DLC potential now that Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey got their own pack. I guess they could do Austria and get a decent tree out of it. But the other related choices (Albania and Ethiopia) don't have a lot of industry and don't last that long. Maybe they will make Egypt-Sudan start a British puppet and also create mandates for Syria and Jordan?

 

[Zeprion]

Looking at that map Italy looks kinda screwed in terms of DLC potential now that Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey got their own pack. I guess they could do Austria and get a decent tree out of it. But the other related choices (Albania and Ethiopia) don't have a lot of industry and don't last that long. Maybe they will make Egypt-Sudan start a British puppet and also create mandates for Syria and Jordan?

I was kind of hoping for an Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey DLC.

Now that Battle for the Bosphorus is released. Italy is isolated like Romania following the fall of France.

I don't think Austria, Albania and Ethiopia focus trees are worth it. No offense to the people from there, but they don't last long in the game. Italy's best short is to be included in Barbarossa in my opinion, since they also took part in the fighting.

Egypt would be cool to start as a colony. Much like India, but we already have Freegypt achievement. I'm with you on this one, but I don't think they are going to change the achievement.

 

[Dlin369]

I was kind of hoping for an Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey DLC.

Now that Battle for the Bosphorus is released. Italy is isolated like Romania following the fall of France.

I don't think Austria, Albania and Ethiopia focus trees are worth it. No offense to the people from there, but they don't last long in the game. Italy's best short is to be included in Barbarossa in my opinion, since they also took part in the fighting.

Egypt would be cool to start as a colony. Much like India, but we already have Freegypt achievement. I'm with you on this one, but I don't think they are going to change the achievement.

Idk if Italy would be in Barbarossa - there’s definitely some overlap if they go for subideologies as a theme, but I think USSR has a lot of nearby countries to work with. Plus from a business perspective PDX probably wants to use Italy as its own expansion to bring in more money.

Maybe they’ll do what they did with France and make collaborationist Italy and “Allied Italy” separate focus trees

 

[Fulmen]

Maybe they will make Egypt-Sudan start a British puppet and also create mandates for Syria and Jordan?

Federal states are not in the game, therefore logically political entities with considerably less autonomy should not be in the game.

 

[pheonicia]

I could see egypt eventually being added because of the elements that actively tried to collaborate with the axis, but I doubt it would be any time soon and certainly not the next patch. Maybe alongside italy and general polishing of north africa.

 

[Dlin369]

Federal states are not in the game, therefore logically political entities with considerably less autonomy should not be in the game.

What’s added and what’s not is based less of a consistent logic of autonomy and more based off what makes for fun gameplay. Manchukuo and Menjiang have little autonomy, probably less so than a US state. Meanwhile Germany’s Bohemian protectorate is represented as an annexed state. Egypt was no longer a formal protectorate by 1936 and were able to sign treaties as an independent nation (if under British influence). Gameplay wise Egypt changing sides could also alter the direction of the war for the Suez.

For the Middle Eastern mandates, all achieved independence within the game’s 1936-1948 timeframe and had distinct local rulers on top of their dejure mandate/protectorate status. Swaying them could add a facet to Italian gameplay and provide decent alt history content

 

[Fulmen]

What’s added and what’s not is based less of a consistent logic of autonomy and more based off what makes for fun gameplay. Manchukuo and Menjiang have little autonomy, probably less so than a US state. Meanwhile Germany’s Bohemian protectorate is represented as an annexed state. Egypt was no longer a formal protectorate by 1936 and were able to sign treaties as an independent nation (if under British influence). Gameplay wise Egypt changing sides could also alter the direction of the war for the Suez.

For the Middle Eastern mandates, all achieved independence within the game’s 1936-1948 timeframe and had distinct local rulers on top of their dejure mandate/protectorate status. Swaying them could add a facet to Italian gameplay and provide decent alt history content

I'm aware of all this, but disagree with the "potential" adding such entitities would bring. I'd also call the PDX logic of inclusion more based on arbitrariness than any true measurement of "fun", but maybe that's just me.

While Manchukuo and Mengjiang indeed don't meet the autonomy threshold, unlike Malaya, the DEI and RKs, they at least had some pretense of being independent states, had limited international recognition and both had militaries that took part in the fighting of WW2, mainly against the Chinese. The Egyptians on the other hand, while nominally independent, essentially did not possess an army and did not take part in the fighting of WW2. In HoI4-terms for all intents and purposes, Egypt remained a British protectorate in the same fashion as Nigeria or Uganda.