Developer Diary Entry #3
If you're still reading this, I thank you, a lot of words for no real reason, anyway, time for an update on the ingame progress, gonna admit, I really didn't do much over the past 3 weeks. However, some stuff was done, as well as for story, so lets get this done with.
Map Updates
Welp, going to admit, not much as well, added the towns of Hilo, Silverhand, Stromgarde, and Valador, and found a flaw, Imperial is missing its five states, so that means text file updating, attempting to get states in Imperial by updating what states have what province, etc. Noticed a lot of the really wet areas of Kalros (Ice wastes specifically), are messed up in terms of states, as there are about 50 states there. So that will have to be fixed, won't be fun, but will have to do regardless. Pictures
How is the Military System going to work?
Oh this is going to be fun, because a meta has basically been developed on Loka, its going to be hard to break these habits, so during the pre-war period, all towns will have to find a way to break this mindset in the mind of the generals, as new technologies clash, showing the deadly nature of the old mixing with the new, specifically through the first two civil wars. (Aladra, and Sylvis Civil Wars).
Army
In nearly every country, it'll mostly be entirely be strong infantry troops. Because thats what it is like in todays modern Loka when they fight, maybe some will be seasoned. Possibly some horse units, no special units (like marines, paratroopers, or mountaineers) for these nations at first, and they won't even be available for two years, after which, they'll be getting updated faster. Tanks also won't really be available for the first two years, at least the modern version of the tanks.
However once September of 2026 is reached, most nations will be developing their modern tanks, not exactly the best, but early game is what it will be like. Not to mention for early game (2025-2029), there will be a massive production advantage for these nations, so they won't be behind on production for too long
Now how about the other branches of the Army, Artillery, Anti-Air, Rockets, and Anti-Tank. Well its going to be a bit of describing, lets start with the Artillery. Which will basically be angled TNT cannons. Designs will look like rail cannons, pulled by horses early on, from horse drawn field artillery, to then split into two branches, either horse drawn (eventually self propelled/hooked onto the back of trucks) mortars, and more advanced artillery. The artillery will have advantages against stronger units like tanks and horses, while the mortars will have advantages against troops due to their fast set up time. (You can use both, there will be support companies that combine both)
Anti-Tank will initially start off as small field cannons hauled by horses, soon being pushed into truck pulled defensive artillery, mostly used for defense, which will be important for specific nations. So if an enemy starts pushing you with tanks, get the artillery and anti-tank ready. Anti-tanks will be really cheap, but easy to lose (as in they will be fragile/lost easily if not in a province with a fort) (If in a fort, these will be more effective, however, units with Anti-Tank become more vulnerable to infantry units.
Finally anti-air. Which will basically be a bunch of firework rockets and crossbows stuck to a tow. As time goes on, they will become larger and more expensive, however, they will begin to automate (basically faster reload speed making it harder to fly planes through the area). Not really much to add here.
Finally the last major stuff about the army side, some Support Companies, the division designer will be explained later on, maybe a couple months from now. This will change as time comes. (Table at the bottom, no clue how to move the table)
Naval
Whoo this will be fun. Firstly, everyone starts off with regular boats, however, it will quickly grow into a massive industry, as only the civil war nations will have the unique boats unlocked.
Carrier
The carrier class will be divided into three unique sections. The
Fleet, Escort, and
Prototype carriers, Fleet and Escort will only be available after finishing off the Prototype phase of that class (basically imagine the real early carriers from our inter-war period). These will consist of conversion carriers, the Fleet Carriers will be the big boy carriers, large number of fighters (Elytra, Lighter than air, and heavier than air aircraft, these will be explained later on in the Air Force Section)
- Prototype Carriers: Converted Frigates (Frigates are the wooden-staffed ships, something not made for modern warfare), Converted Cruisers, and Converted Transports.
- Escort: Basically tiny carriers you can easily build, costs less than the Fleet carriers, however, will have less space for planes/elytras. Can not carry Lighter-than-air Aircraft. Requires Converted Transports
- Fleet: The main strike force, the big boy large boats. Costs a lot, but carry plenty of planes, elytras, and lighter-than-airs. Requires Converted Cruisers
Battle Line
The Battle Line is pretty much the
Battleship and
Battlecruiser, Both will work exactly like in base HOI4, however, the Battlecruiser (faster, but lightly armoured), will only be allowed to be built later on, in like 27 or 28, right before the start of the war.
Cruisers
The Cruiser class is split into two, the Heavy, and Light Cruiser, however they will have different Hulls, so they will have to be researched independently, (as a result they will also be cheaper over all).
Destroyers
Destroyers will basically be like in base HOI4. just with models being slightly different
Air Force
Oh this will be fun, the early air force all nations start with is basically the Elytra path, two more will be unlocked once development starts in this field. The Lighter-Than-Air (War blimps), and Heavier-than-air (aircraft like in our real world)
Elytras:
In this universe, Elytras are easy to get, like not even your uncle bill doesn't have one, however, the stockpiles will slowly run out (Crypt Code will break the E-Dragon, so only one more E-Dragon can be summoned, and thats whoever has the egg. Again leading back to another questline.). Once the stockpile is used up, no more elytras. So to fix this, nations begin to start prototyping and creating their own elytra, which will basically become a jet pack with features.
Lighter-Than-Air:
B L I M P S, who don't want blimps all around? So to start, Blimps will be in three different classes,
Carrier Blimps, Bomber Blimps, and
Aerial Denial Class. Blimps aren't really known for being armored, so keep with close air support. However, these things suck up a lot of fuel ( a lot, as in, can't carry much), and will have to return to base camp
, but don't get in their way, otherwise, they can do significant damage, but they can't take much damage. How will they fly without helium or hydrogen? Well hot air rises, so a bunch of coal burning is needed
- Aerial Denial
Basically a battlecruiser in the air, slower than aircraft, so it can be attacked. However, can do massive damage to ground units, so if you own the sky, this is your CAS if you have air superiority. Can be parked on a carrier
- Carrier
As it sounds, carries a bunch of Heavier-than-air Aircraft, basically floating air field, early models can't carry that many, won't be until mid-war where they will be useful. Can be upgraded to carry more aircraft (after all, it just needs a bigger balloon).
- Bomber
Carries a bunch of bombs, more than that of a bomber, and therefore can cause more damage, just make sure there are no enemy fighters nearby.
Heavier-than-air:
Pretty much like the aircraft in HOI4, Bombers, Close Air Support, Fighters, & Naval Bombers. With carrier based as well.
Pre-War Military Build up
This is pretty simple, most nations won't have the modern military, those who do (Both Sylvi, and Aladra), will have a massive advantage early on, as they have relatively quick breaking the bonds efforts, however nations who were used to war efforts the previous way, will have an entire Custom Focus Branch, which will have to be mostly complete before they start an offensive war.
Every Town is going to have a War-Room, you'll have to expand this to be your headquarters, each town will face different problems that arise, but the general premise is the same. Once
Expand the War-Room has been completed, several branches will open up, lets look at a couple
Expand Military Headquarters
Simple enough, earns you more Political Power as you go through. Including some research slots
Expand Industrial Growth
Essentially gives you more Off-map Civilian Factories through this focus.
Kickstart Heavy Industries
Builds more Heavy Industries (Military Factories, and Dockyards), several of the focuses gives you numerous off-map factories. Including another thing, but that idea isn't fully fleshed out yet, so you will have to wait until I have it done
Air Development
Simple enough, will help develop the Air fields, Blimps, Aircraft, and Elytra Technology (As well as the weaponry onboard those aircraft)
Naval Developments
Again as it sounds, research into the Naval Side of things, which includes Carriers, Battle Line, Cruisers, and Destroyers. As well as the weaponry onboard those
Land Developments
Pretty simple as well, more tank production, more artillery, more anti-tank/anti-air, more infantry equipment production. Whatever you need on the ground, there it is.
Total Mobilization
Each town (including Civil War Towns) will start off with a National Idea, that will be replaced as this focus continues. The Civil War Towns start later into this focus tree. But as you advance, you gain buffs, and lose debuffs when you take this focus. Imagine this tree as the the tree to get rid of the Great Depression in the United States in Base HOI4. However, the last item on this tree won't be possible until Crypt completes an event in Yaddas. "Cryptite Admits Defeat".
Closing Remarks
There is so much I want to talk about, but I've already been typing this for well over 2 hours at this point, and want to get back to my life. So the basics of the military have been described. Basically saying there will be a massive industrial force that will be put into place, that will be fully mobilized by the time war strikes. After all, what Lokan Leader don't like to fight? Anyway, thanks for reading and supporting the mod. If you'd like to help me, it will be greatly appreciated, make sure to check out the Discord if you haven't already.
[Link No Longer Used]
Table
Support Companies | Effect |
Potions Kit | Adds more potions to the division, making it stronger in all fields over all, however if under supplied, will be significantly weaker due to the armies use of heavy pot usage. |
Barrage Kit | Basically the mortars and Anti-Tank, does more damage to tank and infantry units if supplied, if under-supplied, doesn't gain bonus |