Greetings, Generals!
Once you’ve finished catching up on the latest media, your first order of business is to review the 1.18 Patch Notes we released yesterday. If you need assistance rolling back to a previous version, those steps are included there as well.
It is now time to turn back the clock to 1936 and navigate the precarious era leading up to the Second World War. Welcome to the Hearts of Iron IV: Peace for Our Time expansion!
Key Features: Peace for Our Time
A Completely Redesigned Czechoslovak Focus Tree:
- Democratic Path: Juggle the demands of diverse political factions and lobby the Allies to honor their promises. Alternatively, carve out your own independent strategy to fortify Central Europe.
- Communist Path: Choose your allegiance between the factions of Köhler, Gottwald, and Zapotocky. You can pursue Stalinism and anchor yourself to the Soviet Union, or strike an independent path to build and expand the Czechoslovak Union.
- Monarchist & Fascist Paths: Establish a robust authoritarian regime under royal or military rule. Expand your territory into former Bohemian lands—including Austria, the Balkans, Silesia, and Poland—or negotiate a smaller sphere of influence under German protection.
- Shared Strategies: Bolster the 1935 Czechoslovak-Soviet pact, intervene in the Second Soviet Civil War, or revitalize the Little Entente with new alliance opportunities. Prioritize heavy fortifications and decentralize your arms industry, or choose to pivot away from these defensive doctrines.
- Industrial Management: Utilize a new GUI to dynamically prioritize your armaments sector. These strategic boosts are enhanced by your progress through the focus tree, and prioritization will unlock exclusive new pathways.
- Army Readiness Balance of Power: Maintain your forces at maximum alert or sacrifice immediate readiness for long-term industrial growth.
- Divided Nation Decisions: Resolve internal societal tensions through targeted investment in education and regional industry.
Additional Content:
- Fortification Breakthroughs: Utilize a new Special Project and specialized technology to dismantle enemy defenses with ease.
- New Leadership: Assume the mantle of the Vodca with fresh general portraits, country leaders, and a unique 3D unit model for Slovakia.
- German Integration: A new National Focus for Germany allows for the seamless integration of Czechoslovak Equipment Designers into the Wehrmacht.
Expansion Overview: Peace for Our Time
- Refined Focus Tree Mechanics: Monarchist, Fascist, Communist, and Democratic branches with two brand-new and one updated tag mechanic (Army Readiness, Industrial Focus GUI, and Divided Nation decisions).
- Visuals & Audio: Unique portraits for Slovak generals and leaders, over 60 reworked equipment icons, two new landmarks, two new music tracks, and two new 3D unit models.
- Combat & Diplomacy: New Special Project, a German Paratrooper Raid, and expanded cross-nation MIO/Concern access for Poland, Austria, Ethiopia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Hungary can now initiate border wars with Slovakia under specific circumstances.
Gameplay Updates (General)
- Czechoslovak Buffs: New “Healing a Divided Nation” focus, four additional Political Advisors, one Naval Commander, and specialized MIO/Concerns (Ringhoffer-Tatra for Armored Cars; Praga Aviation for Helicopters).
- Historical Nuance: Updated start-date dynamics for Slovakia, including the ‘Branná moc Slovenskej’ national spirit.
- German/Protectorate Interactions: New options for the “Fate of Czechoslovakia” event to puppet Bohemia-Moravia and Slovakia. The Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia is now fully fleshed out with unique MIOs and generals in the 1939 start.
- Diplomatic Realism: Romania can now revoke its guarantee on Czechoslovakia if Germany demands the Sudetenland.
Adjustments & AI Enhancements
We have rebalanced various MIO/Concerns (CKD-Praga, Skoda Armor, Aero) and swapped starting naval advisors for figures with stronger historical ties to the Czech Naval forces. Significant AI improvements have been implemented, making the German AI more reactive to the strength of the Little Entente and less likely to pursue aggressive war goals prematurely if faced with a strong coalition.
Graphics & Bugfixes
Czechoslovakia now features unique medals and a specialized spy agency icon. We have also resolved various issues regarding the annexation of Czechoslovakia via event and clarified territorial cession logic involving the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
To learn more about Expansion Pass 02, click the image below for complete details.
