Dear all,
Firstly, I am aware there are already plenty of gameplay ideas for HoI5 that have been posted in a number of threads on this forum - so forgive me for opening a new thread to present another idea
I have been thinking about the potential for player directives, much like certain leaders liked to do (Hitler's directives, Stalin's Orders). That is a bit of a vague idea, but I am picturing it in a number of ways:
- Design: You could give a directive/command for the design of a new fighter plane, tank, ship etc.. Based on the researched technology, you can formulate the specifics you want from that generation fighter (e.g. how fast? what range? what type of weapons? fitting for what type of missions?). Your industry can then pitch a number of designs, say 3 options, with a trade-off of your requested specifications and maybe an unknown range in the specifications, as you are never sure how a prototype might actually perform in combat - but you will have to choose 1 and hope it delivers, or hold on to your current model and give it some upgrades (or both of course), whilst you wait for more technological breakthroughs. Specialised companies may then give a bonus in the design, much like they do in HoI4, and maybe give a bit more certainty that they will actually deliver a good figher plane. For me - apart from offering a bit more realism - this would create more replayability as you may want to pick different designs in different games, depending what war you are (planning to be) fighting, and a level of uncertainty as a plane may not perform as designed (this will become painfully clear in combat), a model might work different in another save game. All this also helps with replayability. It also gives more flavour between countries as it depends more on your industry and companies, rather than having a base level 1936 fighter.
- Warfare (planning): Although I like the way you can give orders to your armies in HoI4, directives may be a way to send orders to all armies in one go (no step back, blitzkrieg) - more or less comparable to the current 'spirits', but a bit more flexible. As well as offering a way to give general commands, directives can also be used to order your planners to come up with plans for a major operation (planning D-Day), which will then tell you roughly how many troops may be needed, give options for landing locations (the better intelligence, the more specific the number of troops and feasible locations), indicate logistical needs (landing craft, trucks, transport planes, etc etc), give indications of expected losses and stockpiles required etc.. You can then choose the plan that you think will work best and direct your industry accordingly. I am aware a lot of players like to micro-manage their armies, and I used to do the same - so this really depends on a good AI to come up with some good plans. You still have player agency by picking (maybe also adding to) the plans you like best, and have to select the divisions, air wings, ships, you would like to commit.
Anyway, 2 caveats:
- I have to say I know absolutely nothing of game design and coding, so no idea is this is at all feasible, but I just wanted to share an idea I had.
- I'm sure there may also be other areas where this can be used, but I specifically thought of it in relation to the designs and planning.
Maybe others with more experience and better ideas can build on this small idea.
And as long as I am listing my wishes for HoI5 (and assuming this will actually be confirmed and released at some point), I would absolutely love a more detailed merchant navy system. The absolute unwelcomed stepchild of HoI4's, but yet arguably - Winston would agree - the main battlefield for the UK for most of the war, and an important theater of operations in the Pacific. I don't have any specific ideas for this, but at the very least there should be a differentiation between cargo, fuel and troop transport ships, and more options for escort ships. Of course this would also mean a more in-depth submarine warfare component, which I would also be a great fan of
Happy to hear your thoughts.
Firstly, I am aware there are already plenty of gameplay ideas for HoI5 that have been posted in a number of threads on this forum - so forgive me for opening a new thread to present another idea
I have been thinking about the potential for player directives, much like certain leaders liked to do (Hitler's directives, Stalin's Orders). That is a bit of a vague idea, but I am picturing it in a number of ways:
- Design: You could give a directive/command for the design of a new fighter plane, tank, ship etc.. Based on the researched technology, you can formulate the specifics you want from that generation fighter (e.g. how fast? what range? what type of weapons? fitting for what type of missions?). Your industry can then pitch a number of designs, say 3 options, with a trade-off of your requested specifications and maybe an unknown range in the specifications, as you are never sure how a prototype might actually perform in combat - but you will have to choose 1 and hope it delivers, or hold on to your current model and give it some upgrades (or both of course), whilst you wait for more technological breakthroughs. Specialised companies may then give a bonus in the design, much like they do in HoI4, and maybe give a bit more certainty that they will actually deliver a good figher plane. For me - apart from offering a bit more realism - this would create more replayability as you may want to pick different designs in different games, depending what war you are (planning to be) fighting, and a level of uncertainty as a plane may not perform as designed (this will become painfully clear in combat), a model might work different in another save game. All this also helps with replayability. It also gives more flavour between countries as it depends more on your industry and companies, rather than having a base level 1936 fighter.
- Warfare (planning): Although I like the way you can give orders to your armies in HoI4, directives may be a way to send orders to all armies in one go (no step back, blitzkrieg) - more or less comparable to the current 'spirits', but a bit more flexible. As well as offering a way to give general commands, directives can also be used to order your planners to come up with plans for a major operation (planning D-Day), which will then tell you roughly how many troops may be needed, give options for landing locations (the better intelligence, the more specific the number of troops and feasible locations), indicate logistical needs (landing craft, trucks, transport planes, etc etc), give indications of expected losses and stockpiles required etc.. You can then choose the plan that you think will work best and direct your industry accordingly. I am aware a lot of players like to micro-manage their armies, and I used to do the same - so this really depends on a good AI to come up with some good plans. You still have player agency by picking (maybe also adding to) the plans you like best, and have to select the divisions, air wings, ships, you would like to commit.
Anyway, 2 caveats:
- I have to say I know absolutely nothing of game design and coding, so no idea is this is at all feasible, but I just wanted to share an idea I had.
- I'm sure there may also be other areas where this can be used, but I specifically thought of it in relation to the designs and planning.
Maybe others with more experience and better ideas can build on this small idea.
And as long as I am listing my wishes for HoI5 (and assuming this will actually be confirmed and released at some point), I would absolutely love a more detailed merchant navy system. The absolute unwelcomed stepchild of HoI4's, but yet arguably - Winston would agree - the main battlefield for the UK for most of the war, and an important theater of operations in the Pacific. I don't have any specific ideas for this, but at the very least there should be a differentiation between cargo, fuel and troop transport ships, and more options for escort ships. Of course this would also mean a more in-depth submarine warfare component, which I would also be a great fan of
Happy to hear your thoughts.
- 2
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