Hearts of Iron IV's No Step Back expansion and the free 1.11 'Barbaorssa' patch release next week, and we can finally look under the hood to see just how the WW2 grand strategy game is going to change. Spoiler: it's going to change a lot.
We've covered bits and pieces in the past, from Poland's rich alternate history, to the fact that the Soviet Union rework required its own design team, as well as the various army changes and armoured trains. We've also kept up with the supply rework coming as part of the free patch. Seeing everything laid out in the patch notes really hits home the gravity of this update - Hearts of Iron IV is about to enter a whole new era.
In terms of the free patch, the supply rework isn't the only thing that's being overhauled. Experience generation in the early-game now comes primarily from advisors, although active combat will still net you plenty of learnings to spend on other things, such as doctrines. Army, naval, and air doctrines used to take up a research slot, but now they are folded into the new Officer Corps view, and are now unlocked via branch experience.
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