Greetings, everyone! It is time for another installment of our Dev Corner.
I’m Jamor. My journey with the studio began in 2017 as a producer for titles like Stellaris and Imperator, and I’m delighted to have returned to the team as a designer for Hearts of Iron. Hearts of Iron 2 was my introduction to PDS titles, and I have nurtured a lifelong fascination with the history of this pivotal era. It is a genuine privilege to contribute to a project so personally meaningful to me.
One of my primary objectives for an upcoming release is to refine the mechanics surrounding airborne troops. While these units have been a staple of the game since launch, their current implementation suffers from several practical limitations:
- Procedural Hurdles: Executing an airborne assault requires a tedious sequence of manual steps: planning separate operations, orchestrating the logistical nightmare of matching jump-capable troops with transport wings, and waiting for the ambiguous air superiority thresholds to trigger the drop. Often, you find yourself leaping blindly into the unknown.
- Lack of Visibility: Paratroopers effectively “teleport” onto their targets with such subtlety that both the attacker and the defender can easily miss the event entirely.
- Fragility and Balance: Airborne units often suffer such catastrophic damage and disorganization upon landing that they become essentially toothless. This pushes them into the realm of “gamey” VP sniping, which is why they are frequently restricted in multiplayer circles.
- Immersion Breaking: Perhaps most frustrating is the total annihilation of elite formations. It is disheartening to watch a legendary unit—like the 101st Airborne—vanish in a single game tick due to a botched drop. Losing thousands of specialized soldiers, along with their artillery and engineers, simply because of a rigid mechanical system is both anticlimactic and illogical.
I would like to open the floor to your thoughts:
- What other shortcomings or frustrations have you encountered when using airborne troops?
- How would you envision these units being overhauled to create a more rewarding airborne experience?
Please share your suggestions in the comments section below!
Understanding the Distinction: Dev Diaries vs. Dev Corners
For those who may be wondering about our communication format, we utilize two distinct types of developer updates:
Developer Diaries
- Typically appear closer to a release date.
- Provide granular insight into features that are largely finalized and entering the polish phase.
- Feature a wealth of imagery and in-game screenshots.
- Offer a forum for Q&A and community feedback on potential oversights.
- Allow for minor adjustments or the scheduling of future patches, hotfixes, or War Effort content.
Developer Corners (like this one)
- Focus heavily on gathering community feedback on specific design concepts.
- Are concise and centered on a particular topic.
- May be light on visual assets.
- Discuss concepts that might arrive in future updates, though nothing is set in stone.
- Are intentionally agile; if a developer wants to solicit feedback, we claim an upcoming Tuesday or Thursday slot to engage with you directly.