Dev Diary - Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack

[Best_Baseball534]

Made an account to just say this: this and the past 1 year were disastrous, laughable and embarrassing from both direction and actual quality of releases. Please re-evaluate. This is from someone who sank almost 2000 hours into this game, and bought all dlcs.

tell me about it. its been a year and a half since Arms against Tyranny was released and most of the advisors dont even have portraits

 

[czertik]

funniest thing ? some of things here were workable with a lot of potential if fully developed, while others...well, waste of time. actualy around 60% of units there will make sense in game.

bachem natter was designed and used as cheap craft to shot down us bombers, extremly short range, bud you dont need much range when you want to defend certain factories.

for oothers like helicoper tanks...wtf?

 

[vermicious knid]

I actually think the wacky models are fun, although I'll only ever use the silhouettes because I'm a strict NATO counters guy.

Will the silhouettes be available for everyone in the designer/production interfaces or will they be country-locked? I think it would be preferable to have them widely available...these prototypes are already mostly fantastically unfeasible so it is probably OK to abandon "realism" and let the player mess around with whichever one amuses them.

 

[hannibal_pjv]

I actually think the wacky models are fun, although I'll only ever use the silhouettes because I'm a strict NATO counters guy.

Will the silhouettes be available for everyone in the designer/production interfaces or will they be country-locked? I think it would be preferable to have them widely available...these prototypes are already mostly fantastically unfeasible so it is probably OK to abandon "realism" and let the player mess around with whichever one amuses them.

Based on previous post. Some are country spesific.. like the Australian helikopter tank… not sure if there are genric ones though… well if multible countries did have similar prototype… maybe?

 

[vermicious knid]

Based on previous post. Some are country spesific.. like the Australian helikopteri tank… not sure if there are genric ones though… well if muktible countries did have similar prototype… maybe?

Bummer if that is how it works out. Moddable, but anything involving images is a real pain to fiddle with.

 

[Vasherus]

I don't know from what depths of the internet they pulled these projects, but they are certainly interesting.

 

[Crecer13]

M5/T1 Tank Destroyer could well be suitable for the Airborne Troops for transportation using heavy gliders. Or, for example, the Soviet OSA-76 (as well as the OSA-3 AA with a 12.7-mm AA machine gun, the OSA-57 with a 57-mm AT cannon on the same chassis), which was also developed in the interests of the Airborne Forces. Hey, maybe it's time to add special projects for the Airborne Forces? For example, an Airborne platform from which you can create a tank/SPG/AA SPG/transporter, a heavy glider and heavy aircraft.

 

[SirBored]

Generals!

We have some good news! Prototype Vehicles are almost ready to roll out, so instead of releasing them in Q3 as initially announced, we will launch them in Q2! Yes, the Prototype vehicle pack will be dropping soon, and you’ll find some juicy details below. But first, a small disclaimer:

When our latest DLC comes out, Expansion Pass 1 will become a dynamic bundle. This means that you will get a discount for any DLCs from the Expansion Pass you already own. Good news for any holdouts! But, this also means the preorder bonuses will no longer be available in the bundle, so choose timely.

And now, for the juicy bits:

Hello generals!
@Slurpen_Paradox here again to talk about 3D art for Hearts of Iron IV. This time, I’m also joined by @MordredViking , who is one of our content designers on HoI4. We are here to bring you a closer look at the new vehicles in the Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack, as well as some fun facts along the way!

These are vehicles from a time when the arms race was in full force, and any means of getting the upper hand on the enemy was a battle within itself. Many vehicles were designed to improve on existing concepts, others were meant to tread new ground, and some were created purely out of desperation. Some of these prototypes were never built or fully developed, others reached the battlefield and were even successful to various degrees!

In some cases, we will never know what the final designs may have looked like. This is, however, my favorite part of this pack! We have had to look at the original blueprints to give you our illustrations of what these vehicles would have looked like had they been fully produced. I hope you have as much fun looking at these designs as we had making them!

These vehicles make for some fun topics of discussion. I have included the names of each one, so feel free to read up on the history of each one. We had a blast doing this ourselves!
Mordred Viking and I will make brief comments on our personal favorites as we go along!

Here are the high-res close-ups of these vehicles:

View attachment 1287043

*The Modra Revolving Tank was designed with a rounded rotating hull that would deflect incoming projectiles.

*The “Grasshopper” was a tank designed to combine the newly developed helicopter designs with the power of a tank. However, this design was swiftly dropped due to a multitude of design issues.

*The Czech Skoda SK 13 was the German answer to the looming fuel shortage towards the end of the war. This vehicle was actually coal-powered.

View attachment 1287044

* The “Praying Mantis” was an experimental machine gun carrier prototype that was tested for use in the British Army. At a glance, it looks quite futuristic, even though it’s anything but from the crew's point of view. Its fighting compartment can pivot up and down to lower its profile or shoot over terrain!
* The Jasquet Articulated Tank is a caterpillar-like tank designed to move over the trickiest terrain. Part of the idea is that if one cabin loses traction, the others would help push it along over hills and other obstacles thanks to its “bendy” design.
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* The Giacomini Entrenchment is an interesting design that sticks out among other tanks. The tank features an entrenchment mechanism in the front. The design is unique, and the designer’s identity and nationality remain quite mysterious.

View attachment 1287046

* Water was always going to be a barrier to a proper tank blitz, and it’s remarkably difficult to get a tank to float properly. How about just turning it into a submarine instead? The Biemmi Naval Tank, stealthy and practical!

* So-To Anti-Tank gun carrier. It’s a moving hull with a cannon on top. Why overcomplicate things?

* The Moto-Guzzi Semovente is a tank that features two tracks that can move up and down completely independently from each other. This enables it to move forward along sloped terrain!

View attachment 1287047

* I want a tank with a big gun. I said a BIG gun! The 2B1 “Oka”. Perfection.

* The “Cobra” Light Cross Country Combat Vehicle (quite a mouthful), this vehicle featured multiple designs with different types of armament. This is our illustration featuring the four large caliber cannons!


View attachment 1287048

* The M-V-Yoh is an American tank with a very interesting design. A crew member would sit inside the back of the turret and man the small MG on top. If you look closely you may also have noticed that there are backup tank tracks inside of the main tracks. These would provide friction if the main tracks would break.​

We also included some interesting plane designs for the people who prefer air combat! However, we can’t guarantee that all of these planes are safe to fly..

View attachment 1287049
* Belyayev DB-LK is a plane that is designed for people who don’t want to fly alone! This design features two cockpits as well as gunner seats in the back!

* Bachem Ba 349 Natter, The pilot in this aircraft would be launched into the air, and the plane would steer itself for a short period of time. After that, the pilot would take control of the aircraft and fly as close to the enemy as possible in order to launch multiple rockets into the enemy aircraft. This aircraft did not feature any landing gear, so it was up to the pilot to eject from the aircraft once the mission was complete!​

Let’s wrap things up with a taste of how some of these vehicles look and behave in-game:

View attachment 1287050
Can this thing really fly?

View attachment 1287051
The mantis stalks its prey..


View attachment 1287052
Rockets away!

View attachment 1287053
It’s a caterpillar! It’s a snake! No.. It’s.. a tank?!

View attachment 1287054
Don’t let your dreams be dreams!​

That’s all for now! Thank you all for joining us through this brief look at some of these crazy and cool vehicles of the past. I hope you have as much fun using them as we had making them!

Until next time, generals!

Except for the Bv 141, Natter, XB 35, and the A.W. 52 these are beyond stupid. This is what you are wasting time with Devs?

 

[wagnerleung0079]

Can it be an in-game feature where special projects and researches produce prototype equipment as they progress, like in real life?

 

[Deadreckoning]

This is a sad end of the HOI4 franchise. I am a longtime grenadier with thousands of HOI4 hours logged on steam. When I want a sci fi game I play Stellaris. What is Paradox thinking?

 

[stefffff1871]

These won't replace any of your existing or default models. They are selectable only by opting-in to changing a model design on a piece of equipment through the equipment designer (including the non-NSB version if you only have that).

will we also get more 2D art, especially for those vehicles? and maybe more 2D art overall, there are alot of vehciles missings, and the countries lacking a DLC have only a limited amount too choose from

 

[Herennius]

will we also get more 2D art, especially for those vehicles? and maybe more 2D art overall, there are alot of vehciles missings, and the countries lacking a DLC have only a limited amount too choose from

Arheo confirmed here that the vehicles come with 2D art:

Dev Diary - Prototype Vehicles Unit Pack

Generals! We have some good news! Prototype Vehicles are almost ready to roll out, so instead of releasing them in Q3 as initially announced, we will launch them in Q2! Yes, the Prototype vehicle pack will be dropping soon, and you’ll find some...

forum.paradoxplaza.com

 

[Umbosch]

I'm know some of the tanks from World of Tanks. So I'm wondering if Wargaming isn't sneaking in here to avoid selling us the rest in the boxes for Christmas. They're slowly running out of historical tanks. Have you thought about collaborating on the next Battle Pass? Although, given the Warhammer franchise, I'm hoping for a Japanese Ork crew. The Type 97 Chi-Ha could finally be the first (autoloader) Japanese artillery.

 

[Metz]

That halves the player added value of all the work you're doing.



I don't think EU4 style peace deals are the only way to achieve that while also remaining true to the game's core premise.

What about a diplomatic option to demand cores from another country? Or a cool down for the national decisions that let you ask for X state? Sometimes it is a bit RNG and if they say no then that's it. But what if you are stronger or in a faction a few months later?

 

[him_15]

I would prefer 2D arts all day long.

 

[Slurpen_Paradox]

- Could we get a list of which countries will have access to each 3D model?
- Are these all the new vehicles being added?

Good feedback! These are all brand-new models.
I have added the country names and flags under each vehicle here so that you can see who has access to what:

Keep in mind that changes may still happen!

 

[Le Vengur]

Good feedback! These are all brand-new models.
I have added the country names and flags under each vehicle here so that you can see who has access to what:

Keep in mind that changes may still happen!

Would it be possible to have all the UK models added to the commonwealth states as well?

They're quite lacking in content and you wouldn't really have to change the roundels or skins.

You've also added the T43E1 to the USSR even though it's an American vehicle.

 

[stefffff1871]

Good feedback! These are all brand-new models.
I have added the country names and flags under each vehicle here so that you can see who has access to what:

View attachment 1297634
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View attachment 1297636
View attachment 1297637
View attachment 1297638
View attachment 1297639
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Keep in mind that changes may still happen!

now that germany gets a Skoda tank (probably after fate of czechoslovakia) can we expect some events that unlocks the Panzer35(t), Panzer38(t) (and maybe even the Hetzer)? to be able to produce them

and some general idea, such unit pack is nice and all, and people who dont like it can just ignore it but please dont ignore standard 2D artwork, more random units poictures too choose from for all countires (planes, tanks, ships, etc) and please also more vanilla country leaders, it is really annoying to have asian puppets and they all have the same leader face, some more variety in 2D art would help the game a lot

 

[Swegmastur337]

Love the models! Thanks for adding the country tags. I enjoy chosing tank models, the newer opens have been such high quality.

I echo the other comments, expanding the models to more countries. Those in the Commonwealth or those who heavily licensed tanks. I.e if I am playing Hungary and in faction with Germany, I would like to use the panzer IV model. I believe more options and flexibility is always a better game play experience.

Further when will we find out the release date?

 

[Ossiv]

now that germany gets a Skoda tank (probably after fate of czechoslovakia) can we expect some events that unlocks the Panzer35(t), Panzer38(t) (and maybe even the Hetzer)? to be able to produce them

and some general idea, such unit pack is nice and all, and people who dont like it can just ignore it but please dont ignore standard 2D artwork, more random units poictures too choose from for all countires (planes, tanks, ships, etc) and please also more vanilla country leaders, it is really annoying to have asian puppets and they all have the same leader face, some more variety in 2D art would help the game a lot

Hetzer model would be a really welcome addition for Germany, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland. Germany used it during WW2, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland after the war. Germany's light tank destroyer is now only represented by open top (Marder) models, it needs a closed roof (Hetzer) version also.