Hearts of Iron IV’s Romania Plans Give Communists a Militia Reserve

Romania’s communist path in Hearts of Iron IV will let players prepare a militia reserve of roughly 40 divisions without raising their conscription law. The tradeoff comes when those reserves are deployed, with a penalty applied while they are active.

The militia is one part of a planned Romania-focused DLC that also includes a more detailed foreign cooperation system, military modernization and a democratic route through the country’s political struggle. An earlier preview of Romania’s branches introduced the cooperation concept and outlined several political paths.

Foreign partnerships have a political cost

In the latest developer diary, Paradox detailed how Romania can invest political power in cooperation tiers with other countries. Each partner offers predetermined bonuses, while the tier also affects certain decisions. Building a relationship requires an initial investment, followed by a smaller cost to maintain its benefits.

Hungary and Bulgaria are initially unavailable as partners because of their relations with Romania. Players can open those relationships through certain focuses or by joining a faction with either country. In the previewed interface, building cooperation costs 0.25 political power per country each day, with up to 5 countries receiving investment at once. Cooperation with others slowly declines.

Romania’s military can grow beyond its starting limits

Romania starts with a national spirit representing its weak arms industry. Military focuses will improve that spirit until it provides only positive modifiers. The branch draws on the country’s historical modernization program, proposed in 1935 by military figures including Ion Antonescu.

Naval focuses cover investment in Galati Shipyards and a first drydock for larger ships. An option to expand the river fleet instead grants a river terrain bonus, since ships of that size are not represented in the game. The air branch covers development of the IAR 80 fighter, with alternate options to retain older Polish designs or research jet engines with help from Henri Coanda.

At the center of the tree, Romania can build its arms industry and work toward domestic tank production. Buying small numbers of foreign tanks will provide research bonuses for studying their designs. Other focuses address army doctrine and organization.

Communist and democratic routes take different approaches

Romania’s communist transition can lead to a challenging three-sided civil war, but fighting it is optional. Players can also build support democratically. Once the communists take power, they can choose between factions, including the largely imprisoned Prison Faction, which is close to the Soviet Union and has been infiltrated by NKVD spies.

Communist Romania can pursue industrial projects such as expanding steel production, then align with the Soviets or take a more pragmatic approach to defending the Balkans. Either diplomatic route can gain new cores by promoting Balkan unification. The militia mechanic adds another military option: players spend weapons to prepare reserves and incur the penalty only while those units are active.

The democratic branch begins by challenging King Carol’s influence. After sidelining him, players can create a constitution that limits royal power while keeping the monarchy under his son Michael. The route also addresses corruption, including the Škoda Affair, in which the Romanian state paid suspiciously high prices for equipment and some money went to corrupt politicians.

On foreign policy, democratic Romania can turn toward the Allies or strengthen the Little Entente. Both routes offer interventionist options, including bonuses for defeating countries without causing too many casualties.

Which of Romania’s political or military options would you try? Follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, Telegram for more on Romania’s planned DLC.