1836

It looks to me like the United States is bugged. Every game I’ve played they become communist or fascist, even with historical focus. I don’t have MtG. I looked at their advisors one time and they had selected the political advisors that boost those ideologies and had not picked any research or military boosters. I haven’t played the US, is there a national focus that grants those two guys?

1837

That’s pretty strange to see that with Historical Focus on. I haven’t encountered that in any of my games, but I do have MtG. I wouldn’t think that would make a different, but perhaps it does?

1838

I am addicted to this game. The state of my house is awful with pop cans and dishes lining my counters. Please someone stage an intervention until I have a spot to prepare a proper dinner.

1839

The true walk of shame; going back to the kitchen loaded down with a half dozen mugs and empty soda bottles. :D

1840

Maybe you should hold off playing more until (Insert Awesome Mod Here) is updated for MTG. It will be much better then. I hear there will also be some good changed in 1.7, so best to wait.

1841

I’m holding off until version 3.7, sometime in 2026!

1842

My real secret for not playing too much is “have a young kid”. So every hour I play is an hour subtracted from (already too little) sleep.

1843

Some members on the HOI4 subreddit have said they’ve had the same issue and they didn’t have MtG. Maybe the DLC patch borked something for those who don’t have it?

1844

I have a vague memory of people saying you need certain (MTG-only) focuses to appoint the corresponding communist or fascist demagogues. Since without MTG those focuses aren’t available, the AI may be able to appoint them by random selection. I could see there being a rule before like “if historical, don’t appoint communists/fascists” that was superseded by “if historical, don’t take these focuses that allow you to appoint communists/fascists” - a rule that only works with MTG?

All wild speculation of course.

1845

You need to find a mate friend. My wife takes care of the cleaning for me ;)

I know that sounds sexist, but I cook all dinners, so it is really not; we divide and conquer. You’ll have to excuse me whilst I go…mow the lawn. ;)

1846

I’m glad you’re addicted, @jpinard, because your addiction is feeding my addiction, lol. I’m really loving this game, flaws and all.

The naval/air game is just the right level of detail for me – not beer-and-pretzels, but not the insane granularity of War in the Pacific Admirals Edition, which models every pilot by name, every individual sub commander, every ship down to the barge level, etc. I love WITP/AE and have hundreds of hours in it, but it’s really overwhelming.

Of course, that may not stop me from adding mods to HOI4 that add more detail. Black Ice, maybe?

1847

I do have one. She does not like to do… stuff. I do all the cooking, cleaning, most of the work outside. I guess I’m a bit overwhelmed at times with my health and all :)

1848

Hey all - What country has been your favorite to play so far?

On my next playthru I’m torn between Great Britain, Japan, and the U.S.

1849

Italy and Japan are both super fun. I haven’t tried the UK since they got a new focus tree.

1850

my dream game ;(

1851

I think Germany is still my favourite to play. Closing the door on a large encirclement of Soviet troops is super satisfying. Especially since I just turtle with pretty much every other country I play.

1852

Germany is my favorite, but all of the Axis are fun to play. The problem with Allies is the defensive wars aren’t as much fun,plus if the AI gets screwed up you are hosed… You can spend many hours of the US and then have German or Japan just fail to take out France or China and the game isn’t fun.

1853

What about favourite pairings for two-player Co-op? Any thoughts? My friend and I have done a couple:

  1. Germany & Italy: The classic, and a good division of tasks if you agree to some deals first (Eg. Germany lets Italy talk the Balkans, etc). Our longest game with that pair had us trying (and failing) to invade the US via Northern Canada. It seems getting a toe-hold in Central America would be useful in future.

  2. Both playing Russia: Worked surprisingly well - one of us prosecuting a war in China before coming to assist in the main effort with Germany. Does help to coordinate huge fronts when you have two people doing it.

  3. Australia & South Africa: While fun to make both our countries socialist workers paradises, there wasn’t a lot of interaction between us and the war in Europe didn’t go our way.

Any other pairings which might be interesting?

PS: I saw on reddit once the idea of both playing Japan - one being in charge of the Army and the other the Navy. For bonus realism points, don’t ever talk to each other…

1854

USSR + Communist China is pretty fun, especially if you bump the Axis up a bit. Hungary has a really fun focus tree that can go multiple ways to fit different coop scenarios. I’ve been meaning to look into Japan + Manchukuo.

1855

It’s Germany The greatest nation in the world.