Is anyone else puzzled by Pdox's half-hearted 'rollout' of Hearts of Iron IV?

[sandman2575]

I've never seen counters morph into sprites when you zoom out.  I just get a slightly different version of counters (just one counter, can't count units). 

There's a setting in Options -- "Counter Distance" or some such, IIRC. If you have this selected, Counters will morph into Sprites as you zoom *in*, just depends where you set the slider. Alternatively, you can always use 'counters only' or 'sprites only.' I always liked the 'morphing' option. But if I had to choose, counters > sprites, I agree.

[smittyohio]

I'm not getting my hopes up for HOI4....  The things I've read indicate they want it to be more sandbox, which is fine as long as something resembling WW2 breaks out or can be prompted.   I don't want to have to rely on modders to do it again.  Plus, until something resembling the Pacific War can be simulated, it's disappointing.  I also didn't like HOI3s direction as far as coordinating with allies.   Loses a lot of immersion for me if i can't absolutely count on the US and Britain to act in concert for large scale operations.

[Rayfer]

An earlier post indicated no counters in HOI4? If true, that's a huge disappointment for me, maybe even a game killer.

[ArizonaTank]

I'm not getting my hopes up for HOI4....  The things I've read indicate they want it to be more sandbox, which is fine as long as something resembling WW2 breaks out or can be prompted.   I don't want to have to rely on modders to do it again.  Plus, until something resembling the Pacific War can be simulated, it's disappointing.  I also didn't like HOI3s direction as far as coordinating with allies.   Loses a lot of immersion for me if i can't absolutely count on the US and Britain to act in concert for large scale operations.

Too much sandbox was one my biggest issues with the Making History series.  The weird political dynamics just got to be too much at some point.

I would like to see the return of controlling your allies.  Pointing to where you want to invade and hoping the AI follows just doesn't really cut it.

[Beowulf]

An earlier post indicated no counters in HOI4? If true, that's a huge disappointment for me, maybe even a game killer.

Well, apparently there are counters, hopefully they will work on all zoom levels. Take a look at last screenshot in this dev-blog :
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/hearts-of-iron-iv-22nd-development-diary-28th-of-august-2015.879058/

[Rayfer]

An earlier post indicated no counters in HOI4? If true, that's a huge disappointment for me, maybe even a game killer.

Well, apparently there are counters, hopefully they will work on all zoom levels. Take a look at last screenshot in this dev-blog :
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/hearts-of-iron-iv-22nd-development-diary-28th-of-august-2015.879058/

Thanks....you've restored my hope/faith in this iteration of HOI.

[Yskonyn]

I think they've even stated that 3D models are a thing of the past as a whole for HOI 4 and counters will be the only way to display units.

[Huw the Poo]

Well, Johan says in that post that it was a toggle.

[Ian C]

Looks like there's an 'Historical Mode' for the AI: http://www.pcgamer.com/hearts-of-iron-iv-streamlined-ww2-strategy/

I hope someone mods proper counters. The inclusion of traditional battle planning on-map and the historical mode seem to be at odds against the no-counters policy they seem determined to keep.

[Swatter]

The division designer looks very cool. Judging by that, you can tell there will be some cool detail. It also sounds like they are abstracting air power a bit more. I have been saying that for years. Good news, although I hope they work on the Pacific AI more, that has always been a big let down IMO.

[sandman2575]

new dev diary out -- about weather and terrain effects --

https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/hearts-of-iron-iv-28th-development-diary-weather-terrain.885969/

Despite some misgivings (mostly the removal of OOB), I think the design philosophy behind HoI4 is spot on:  eliminate as much micromanagement as possible, make information accessible and clear, streamline with minimal dumbing down. Podcat's vision really is to create the anti-HoI3, and that's a good thing (even though I think HoI3 became a terrific game in the end, for all its lingering flaws). 

For me, the first test of whether HoI4 succeeds in besting its predecessor will be how it handles the pre-war years. In HoI3, prewar was a necessary evil: necessary for strategic planning, but hideously boring, slow, and micro-management heavy. If HoI4 makes me actually care about the prewar by making it engaging and not just "when does the shootin' start?", that will be a real achievement.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

I love the pre-war years in HoI 3.  That's my favourite part of the game.  It's the late war grind that I find to be tedious affair in micro-management.

[Rayfer]

I love the pre-war years in HoI 3.  That's my favourite part of the game.  It's the late war grind that I find to be tedious affair in micro-management.

That's been my experience as well.

[Grim.Reaper]

I know I might be in the minority, but I am hoping they simplify things quite a bit so it is easier for me to get into so this direction is up my alley.  If they can include options for both hard core and casual gamers so that everybody gets what they want, even better.

[Grim.Reaper]

Beta enrollment now available......

http://beta.paradoxplaza.com/signup/48/