Hearts of Iron IV’s Summer Beta Gets a New Round of Doctrine and Naval Changes

Paradox has published Open Beta SE™ Update 1 for Hearts of Iron IV, giving the summer test branch another round of balance changes, doctrine adjustments, AI tuning, and bug fixes. The update is available through the Operation Postern v1.19.2.0.4cba (a448) beta client.

The most experimental addition lets players keep 25% of their invested mastery when switching Subdoctrines. The value can be modified, although the related strings and modifiers are currently localized only in English. Paradox said the feature remains experimental and may not stay in the game.

Update 1 also changes how several armored units, support companies, artillery systems, and naval doctrines perform. Self-Propelled Artillery receives a mix of restored and reduced values, while Tank Destroyers lose part of their piercing and attack bonuses. Naval balance sees changes to positioning, torpedo bonuses, submarine detection, and carrier targeting.

Players can join by right-clicking Hearts of Iron IV in their Steam library, opening Properties, selecting Game Versions & Betas, and choosing the open_beta branch. Existing beta users should receive the update automatically. Paradox asks testers to include their game version when reporting issues through the bug report forum. The full announcement is available in the Steam update notice.

Open Beta SE™ Update 1 Notes

This update focuses on Subdoctrine flexibility, land and naval balance, support-company power, and the way the AI decides when fleets should remain active or return for repairs.

Gameplay

• (EXPERIMENTAL) When switching Subdoctrines you retain now 25% of the invested mastery in that Subdoctrine, into the new Subdoctrine.
• Fixed Superstructures now also prevent from putting one category bigger guns on the Amphibious Tanks. E.g. Light Amphibious Tanks can no longer mount Medium Cannons.

Balance

• Experimental Facilities now benefit from the Infrastructure bonus for the construction speed
• Experience bonus to combat for Land Units has been reduced by 5%. Green Divisions now have -15% Combat Penalty, Trained have 0%, Regulars have +15%, Seasoned +30% and Veterans have +45%.
• Secondary Turret HMG now provides also -4% Soft Attack Penalty
• Secondary Turret Small Cannon now provides also -5% Soft Attack Penalty AND -5% Hard Attack Penalty.
• Breakthrough Penalty on the Heavy Howitzer, Rocket Launcher and Improved Rocket Launcher reduced to -2 from -4.
• Reverted Self-Propelled Artillery Combat Width Change (It is back to 2)
• Reduced Self-Propelled Artillery Soft Attack bonus from +15% to +5%
• Reduced Self-Propelled Artillery Hard Attack by 10%
• Reduced Self-Propelled Artillery Soft-Attack Progression from Artillery Technologies (Anything more than 5% was reduced to 5%, 5% boosts became 2.5%)
• Tank Destroyers Piercing bonus got reduced from 15% to 5%
• Tank Destroyers Soft Attack reduced by 10%
• Tank Destroyers and Tank Destroyer Regimental Support Progression from Technologies got reduced, including Bofors Technology.
• Massed Strike Air Spirit – Air Superiority Effect has been increased from +10% to +15%
• Helicopter Logistics Company base Supply Reduction has been increased to -15%
• Helicopter Logistics Company Supply Reductions from Technology have been increased to -15% per technology. Using Helicopter Logistics at maximum level will now provide -60%
• Engineer III – Flame Tank bonus to attack in the Urban Terrain reduced from +10% to +5%
• Engineer IV – Flame Tank bonus to attack in the Urban Terrain reduced from +10% to +5%
• Engineer IV – Assault Engineers bonus to attack in the Urban Terrain reduced from +15% to +10%
• Armored Car Equipment Cost reduced from 3.5 / 5.5 / 7.5 / 8.5 IC, to 3 / 4.5 / 6 / 7.5

Doctrine Balance – Land Doctrines

• Infiltration Tactics Adoption Bonus increased from +5% Planning Bonus to +10% Planning Bonus
• Infiltration Tactics 3 Reward, Daily Command Power Bonus increased from +0.01 to +0.1.
• Desperate Defense can ALSO be adopted if a country has at least 10% Surrender Progress AND at least 50% War Support. In other words additional options to adopt this Subdoctrine have been added. Further tweaks to this adoption requirements will likely happen in the future
• Flying Batteries 1 Reward: It now also gives +5% Soft Attack and +10% Breakthrough to the Units previously affected by this milestone
• Flying Batteries 5 Reward: It now also gives +5% Soft Attack and +10% Defense to the Units previously affected by this milestone

Doctrine Balance – Naval Doctrines

• Anti-Aircraft Cruiser Adoption Bonus: Reduced Naval AA bonus from +20% to +10%. Added +10% Armor Bonus to Heavy Cruisers
• Anti-Aircraft Cruiser 4 Reward: Bonus to Destroyer Anti-Air reduced to 10% and Light Attack to +5%
• Patrol Boats 2 Reward: Bonus to Torpedo Attack reduced to +10%
• Torpedo Primacy 1 Reward: Bonus to Torpedo Attack reduced to +10%
• Torpedo Primacy 3 Reward: Bonus to Depth Charges for Destroyers reduced to +10%
• Torpedo Primacy 4 Reward: Bonus to Sub Detection to Destroyers reduced to 15%
• Torpedo Primacy 5 Reward: Bonus to Sub Detection to Heavy Cruisers reduced to 10%
• Hunter Killer Groups 1 Reward: Bonus to Sub Detection increased to 20%
• Hunter Killer Groups 3 Reward: Bonus to Depth Charges increased to 20%
• Light Task Forces 3 Reward: Bonus to Destroyers for Light Attack and Light Piercing reduced to +5%

AI

• Increased the strength ratio when the AI decides it should send it to be set at 75% instead of previously 65%. This means AI should hopefully be able to maintain a healthier balance between when their fleets and taskforces are operating and when they should be sent for repair. We will continue to monitor the situation on the naval fronts.

The beta is still a testing branch, so these values can change again before they reach the main version. Share your thoughts on the new balance direction and the experimental Subdoctrine system in the comments.

Hearts of Iron

Developed by Paradox Development Studio

Hearts of Iron is the first ever World War II PC game of true Grand Strategic scope. The game map spans the entire world and allows players to take part in any front they choose. You can play any nation in the world, but the game focuses on the epic struggle between the great alliances of the world orders - Fascism, Communism and Democracy.

• Genre: Strategy
• Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
• Modes: Single player
• Release: 2002-12-29
• Publisher: Strategy First
• Age Rating: ESRB E / USK 12

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