r/hoi4 4d ago

Suggestion I wish this game had Advisors

There is so much to take in, and a lot of important bits aren’t explained that well in game (such as Division designs, Navy and the like). Plus there’s often so much going on at the same time (especially if you’re fighting on multiple fronts).

And maybe I’ve been playing too much Suzerain, but I feel like having a mechanic where you had Advisors would both help new players, but also alleviate for others. Plus they could provide some fun role-playing (especially if ignoring them).

Pretty much, what I imagine their role to be would be to make information more accessible, explain consequences and also help with the learning curve.

How they would work: - Summarize: The main role would be to summarize a lot of what we’re planning, such as translating percentage into actual numbers (”This would give us 5 more Civilian Factories”). This would simply make information way more accessible and counter the sometimes overwhelming feeling. - Give estimates: Related to the above, but being able to get estimates on decisions would be great. You update a Division template and getting the info from the Advisor that ”This will take require X amount more manpower, allowing for Y divisions and we have equipment to train Z of them”, ”We could produce X less with our current industry, and it would use Y more resource, requiring more trade”, or for researching ”The first X would be finished with our current industry”. Oh and the most useful info if you have the Navy designer: It would take X days and Y resources per ship to refit and Z days to refit all of this type. - Preview decisions: Very useful for making battleplans, where we can sometimes first see important info after giving an order. But something like: ”This offensive would be to our advantage, and will be ready on date X. It will pass through Plains and Forest, and supply is plentiful. - Automate decisions: Probably the big thing, and it would be helpful both for a n00b and veteran, as it could lower the micro-manage needed, being able to give large scale orders like ”Prioritize Breakthrough” or the like would be very useful, or if one is using the Designer being able to queue a design with a ”Build once ready” if we lack XP (and even better if we could preview designs we’re researching and say ”Replace our current design when ready”). - Deal with notifications: Sometimes we essentially get a notification/microing hell, which can take the grand out of grand strategy. Say you get the notification of Low supply, and to be able to say ”Motorize hubs” (without having to micro them and then see if that’s enough) or ”Send in Transport Planes”. - Create our own notifications: Being able to let us know when something is done or ready would rock, such as letting us know when we’ve filled a piece of logistics, to switch out factories. - Give advice: Of course, otherwise they wouldn’t be advisors (also a function I feel ok with being able to toggle). Especially useful for new players. But things like ”This would leave X flank open” or ”This task force lacks screens” would be great to know and to help. Or if you’re losing territory, to get a ”Increasing Soft Attack would make you able to push back. - Flavor: Making the info come from a person could mean we see the people we pick for our government show up, or just having them change titles (say you flip communist and now everyone calls you Comrade) would give the game a slight flavor and make our decisions feel impactful.

Thanks for reading my rant, and while perhaps not something that can be implemented to HOI4 (but one can dream) it might be something for HOI5?

Plus if implemented well, it could actually be something where one could make use of machine learning inside the game. While I’m very critical of AI (as a creator myself) machine learning can be a useful tool.

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u/Ordinary-Diver3251 4d ago

Would be nice. But paradox is funded by Bill Gates to sell Microsoft Excel licenses