2 more mystery Paradox titles

[JasonPratt]

Re: HoI4, I just don't see how it could be improved significantly enough to warrant a new one yet. Vicky3 obviously could use a CK-makeover. Not sure that would parse right in WW2 times.

Re: Nero and Armstrong, any new hints today yet? How often do those come around?

Re: CK DLC, if it turns out to be (more) Dark Ages backplotting, that would be great -- the Old Gods already goes back to 867 (which I had forgotten because I don't think I have that DLC yet, and haven't even gotten around to playing CK2 yet) -- but it would still have to be a massive DLC to go back another four hundredish years (at least) in order to link up nicely with "Nero" being Roman Empire up to the fall of Rome. Although I supposed "Nero" could have DLC planned to cover any remaining gap forward (up to the rise of Islam for example, if the new CK DLC goes back to that point).

That being said, if it isn't more Dark Age backlinking (say to the rise of Islam), I don't know what it would be. The Mongols were already introduced (as was the essentially viking kingdom of the Rus) and while technically there was more land in Asia to consider, the Urals make a reasonable limit to that, so why exactly bother? Same for sub-saharan Africa -- it just wasn't much of an issue historically during this time period in relation to Europe, the Med, western Asia, and the Persian Gulf regions, partly because it was too inconvenient to get there.


(Before anyone asks, the main reason I haven't played CK2, aside from having other stuff already, is romantic: I know how much the woman I might have married would have adored this game, and I know she did eventually like it when her husband finally got her into it, so while I'm technically happy for them I'm naturally sad by association. :( I realize this is an irrational reaction, but I can't quite get over it yet.)


Re: EU4 hint, seems like a lock for East India Company (and various notions associated with that).

[undercovergeek]

Armstrong Hint 6 - http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?750533-Hint-6

'Sweden is on the map'

Nero Hint 6 - http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?750532-Hint-6

'This will be a giant announcement'

Im liking the sound of Nero

The actual reveal is 4pm GMT

[sandman2575]

SPOILER ALERT:

"Nero" = new Norse inspired RPG called "Runemaster"

"Armstrong" is indeed... HOI 4

https://twitter.com/PdxInteractive

[steve58]

www.runemastergame.com

Not much there yet, other than an announcement trailer.

[undercovergeek]

hmmmmm.............

i see now the reason for the massive whisper campaign - to drum up pre-announcement excitement before the meh real life announcement

HOI4 im excited about but the trailer might as well be the ad campaign for the History channel - no gameplay, unless there isnt any yet

The RPG, not my thing, my best wishes for all its success but im not that bothered

I suppose you play HOI, CKII and EU and get caught in the map and gameplay theyve created - i think everyone was looking for a fantasy CKII/EU or at least something grand strategy

[sandman2575]

The HoI4 announcement trailer is indeed lame and pointless.  Need to see some game screenies!

[Ian C]

It will be interesting to see if it's EU IV with a HOI skin tacked onto it. I wonder what new systems are being brought to the table.

[JasonPratt]

It will be interesting to see if it's EU IV with a HOI skin tacked onto it. I wonder what new systems are being brought to the table.

Yeah, don't care about graphics at this point, HOI3 was good enough. What serious game upgrades will there be? (And why "Armstrong"?  ??? Why the apparent mid-Cold War era references?)

Runemaster, okay, nothing against it in itself. Trolling the fans with "nero" though is evil.  >:( Instead of being curious in the actual product, I feel nothing but disappointment that we won't be getting an official EU(4):Rome after all. At least HOI4 has an established fanbase who will rejoice despite the lack of a new Cold War Clausewitz engine game. If I was the lead designer on Runemaster, I'd be a bit pissed at having my shiny new IP undermined like that.

[undercovergeek]

It will be interesting to see if it's EU IV with a HOI skin tacked onto it. I wonder what new systems are being brought to the table.

Yeah, don't care about graphics at this point, HOI3 was good enough. What serious game upgrades will there be? (And why "Armstrong"?  ??? Why the apparent mid-Cold War era references?)

Runemaster, okay, nothing against it in itself. Trolling the fans with "nero" though is evil.  >:( Instead of being curious in the actual product, I feel nothing but disappointment that we won't be getting an official EU(4):Rome after all. At least HOI4 has an established fanbase who will rejoice despite the lack of a new Cold War Clausewitz engine game. If I was the lead designer on Runemaster, I'd be a bit pissed at having my shiny new IP undermined like that.

ha, yeah - they knew exactly what they were doing with the 'Nero' tag - im surprised there hasnt been more rage over there, all though old timers were quick to point out that the project name has never referred to the contents of the game

[Wolfe1759]

hmmmmm.............

i see now the reason for the massive whisper campaign - to drum up pre-announcement excitement before the meh real life announcement

My thoughts exactly, I'm somewhat less than excited by what has been announced.

Though I might still pick them up when they reach the inevitable 75% off 3-6 months after release if they prove to be any good. 

[Kushan]

all though old timers were quick to point out that the project name has never referred to the contents of the game

They do have a point. Just because the code name was Nero doesn't mean it corresponds with the actual game theme.

Re: Runemaster - They had me at Vikings and norse mythology.

Re: HoI 4 - Yawn. WW2, been there, done that. I can understand Paradox wanting to keep refreshing their four flagship titles. Considering Vicky 2 got a major expansion a few months back it made it unlikely it was going to get a sequel this soon. Might pick it one up on sale but I doubt it will see much play time. The time period doesn't hold my interest any longer.

[sandman2575]

Re: HoI4, I just don't see how it could be improved significantly enough to warrant a new one yet.

Wow couldn't disagree more.  I love HoI3 to death but it is flawed in many ways.  Pdox has still never gotten naval or air combat right, for example. And I for one really want to see them expand and refine the army AI control features -- integrating the "battle planner" so that it could actually be used to plot and implement operations, rather than be pure window dressing. 

With HoI3 going on 6 years old now, it is the right time for a re-boot.

[Greybriar]

....With HoI3 going on 6 years old now, it is the right time for a re-boot.

Six years!? Where has the time gone! Three years passed between HoI1 and HoI2 and four years passed between HoI2 and HoI3. I've been playing the Hearts of Iron series for nearly twelve years! I hope Hearts of Iron IV implements the best of all the previous versions.

[Arctic Blast]

Definitely interested to see where Runequest goes. Not an HoI fan, but it's a big announcement for fans of the series.

As for all the 'the whole point of this campaign was to drum up interest', well...no sh*t. That's the point of every preview and pre-order campaign ever. I really don't get why it would be disappointing or anything of that nature.

[sandman2575]

Six years!? Where has the time gone!

Yep, and I remember the frustration and gnashing of teeth (which I fully participated in) for months after the initial release like it was yesterday.

Since it seems HOI4 won't come out til Q2 2015 or so, yeah, it will have been a long time between HoI installments --