HOI4 Dev Diary - Bag of Tricks #1

[Snow Wolf]

Has anyone mentioned the snowflake icons next to the division fortification bar yet?

 

[XYN]

Certainly, if you look at their profit data, their 2016 game launches seems to have brought in revenue far, far above their 2016 costs (though we'll never know such commercially sensitive information for sure)

They have financial reports on their website. Don't know it is because of the Swedish transparency though, I am pretty sure public companies are mostly required to do it.

 

[LiberiusX]

Has anyone mentioned the snowflake icons next to the division fortification bar yet?

Yeh, but podcat did a :3 and moved on. I guess we'll find out next week.

 

[SeekTruthFromFx]

This is Paradox digging its own grave in effect. Since DLCs need to leave behind a base game that can pick and choose between them, or can run completely satisfactorily without them, you're left in this shitty situation where you have to try to officially sell us things that someone who isn't aware of the Paradox model (that a free extensive patch comes out with the DLC) would simply laugh at.

What's going to be the Steam page description of the feature list for this $25 DLC?

• Consolidation: You can now merge damaged units
• Map mode: The map mode makes a return and you can now ping it for the benefit of other players (even though most MP games use discord/ts for communication) (most people play single player)
  
• ........................ new sprites?

For anyone saying the Chain of Command should be DLC-paid, I wouldn't get the DLC specifically because of that. The idea of having +20 generals rather than 1 FM who can control infinite units, is just too damn clunky and inefficient.

I can see that your point has some sense, but there's definitely going to be more features than this in the DLC. The opening words of this dev diary make very clear that consolidation and minimap are "some smaller features".

And the fact that the free patch is so awesome that the DLC might look underpowered in comparison is a very good situation for us players!

 

[SrgChris]

And the fact that the free patch is so awesome that the DLC might look underpowered in comparison is a very good situation for us players!

It is, but like I mentioned, not everyone will be aware of it. As someone who has a large Paradox library, I'm fully aware of how they operate with DLCs and patches.

But if I'm a new comer to Paradox (or just specifically a WW2 enthusiast), I might be very confused by what seems like a lacking DLC (so far).

When we buy DLC, we do so with the knowledge that it supports the extensive free patching. But that's a knowledge reserved for people used to the model.

 

[XYN]

It is, but like I mentioned, not everyone will be aware of it. As someone who has a large Paradox library, I'm fully aware of how they operate with DLCs and patches.

But if I'm a new comer to Paradox (or just specifically a WW2 enthusiast), I might be very confused by what seems like a lacking DLC (so far).

When we buy DLC, we do so with the knowledge that it supports the extensive free patching. But that's a knowledge reserved for people used to the model.

Maybe their marketing can do better. On Steam ads, "The game already includes half of the DLC for FREE, pay only 15$ for the rest" or something.

 

[smurfopax]

It is, but like I mentioned, not everyone will be aware of it. As someone who has a large Paradox library, I'm fully aware of how they operate with DLCs and patches.

But if I'm a new comer to Paradox (or just specifically a WW2 enthusiast), I might be very confused by what seems like a lacking DLC (so far).

When we buy DLC, we do so with the knowledge that it supports the extensive free patching. But that's a knowledge reserved for people used to the model.

A newcomer will need 100+ hours to learn the basics. When he still wants to play he can buy a DLC, i don't see any problems

 

[LiberiusX]

I can see that your point has some sense, but there's definitely going to be more features than this in the DLC. The opening words of this dev diary make very clear that consolidation and minimap are "some smaller features".

And the fact that the free patch is so awesome that the DLC might look underpowered in comparison is a very good situation for us players!

No, it's not. If the players that pay, especially those with the expansion pass, get cheated there will be a shitstorm that will make the moaning in this thread look like a day at the park.

People will start demanding refunds or another DLC to be included in the expansion pass. Sales to those who don't have the expansion pass will be weak. Why would anyone pay for some baubles when the god stuff is free?

These short term hiccups like the minimap pale in comparison to the long term brand damage done by making customers feel like hey got cheated.

I will freely admit I made a mistake buying the expansion pass, but I firmly believe in the principle of "buyer beware". However, upon the release of his DLC, if I feel burned, you better believe I won't buy another DLC. I guarantee you I won't be alone.

In the long term, it will not be good for the players because PDS's customer base will shrink and the loss of revenue and reputation will harm the development of all of their games.

 

[PsychoLold]

While people were raging about minimaps, nobody seems to have noticed this:

Why is the selected Infantry division called "1. Panzer-Division" although the DD from two weeks ago stated that divisions will now change their names when their template is switched, respecting the template namelists?
Different development branch? Bug? @podcat @Pallidum @Archangel85

 

[XYN]

A newcomer will need 100+ hours to learn the basics. When he still wants to play he can buy a DLC, i don't see any problems

Given that the median playtime is less than 100 hours, it sounds like something far from optimal. Really, really far.

 

[XYN]

While people were raging about minimaps, nobody seems to have noticed this:

Why is the selected Infantry division called "1. Panzer-Division" although the DD from two weeks ago stated that divisions will now change their names when their template is switched, respecting the template namelists?
Different development branch? Bug? @podcat @Pallidum @Archangel85

A different branch most likely. A normal software project is usually developed in different branches nowadays.

 

[Had a dad]

Guys / Gals

This thread is to discuss the dev diary, not Pdx DLC policy, which has been debated ad nauseam. Stay on topic of the thread.

 

[XYN]

 

[LiberiusX]

While people were raging about minimaps, nobody seems to have noticed this:

Why is the selected Infantry division called "1. Panzer-Division" although the DD from two weeks ago stated that divisions will now change their names when their template is switched, respecting the template namelists?
Different development branch? Bug? @podcat @Pallidum @Archangel85

I'm pretty sure that's how the Germans historically named their divisions. It's not like the Americans that had 1st, 2nd etc.

edit: well I guess I was wrong??? But I swear I've seen German divisions with the 1. 2. 3. format in documentaries???

 

[Archangel85]

While people were raging about minimaps, nobody seems to have noticed this:

Why is the selected Infantry division called "1. Panzer-Division" although the DD from two weeks ago stated that divisions will now change their names when their template is switched, respecting the template namelists?
Different development branch? Bug? @podcat @Pallidum @Archangel85

Bug. The backend and database of that system is still work in progress.

 

[pvt.conners]

I find it odd that some of us are already debating the value of an as-of-yet unannounced DLC when we don't even know the full extent of what will be included in it and what will be part of the free patch.

 

[ZimmerZamm]

Is the ping going to be broken as in Stellaris ??? broken since launch btw

 

[SnakeInATopHat]

,

 

[Sanny]

Yeah whilst Archangel is completely right about the community not giving a clear consensus on what actually should be in the Expansion, I think those Devs that thought Chain of Command should be a free patch feature instead of the expansion feature over the Minimap should have been overruled by someone making an executive decision to what content goes where (Project Lead or Content Lead?), because it's just common sense as the community probably wouldn't have reacted like this if the Chain of Command was a DLC feature instead of having a paid Mini-map DLC feature.

 

[fabius]

Yeah whilst Archangel is completely right about the community not giving a clear consensus on what actually should be in the Expansion, I think those Devs that thought Chain of Command should be a free patch feature instead of the expansion feature over the Minimap should have been overruled by who ever is controlling what content goes in, because it's just common sense as the community probably wouldn't have reacted like this to it as it had with the paid Mini-map feature.

I see that. But ! What if there are other factors involved, like the possibility that the team have in mind possible later expansion to Chain of Command. As they explained before, that gives a big pull on it being in a patch instead. Whereas, minimap is what it is and less scope for possible expansion.

Also, can easily see people ranting or just respectfully venting a little that Chain of Command was in 3, and is essential so evil Pdox for pay walling.