How to teach HOI IV to a friend new to the genre?

[Bruce]

So three of my friends have huge interest in Hearts of Iron IV and the type of strategy game that it is and are all going to be buying it to play in the weekend. They aren't retarded and can learn fairly quickly and feel that me teaching them is going to be much more effective than them watching youtube tutorials and trying to understand what they are doing. So I have taken to having a MP game with them this weekend and trying to teach them along the way.

I need some advice from you guys on how I should teach the game to them and the main stuff that I will have to teach them (So I don't forget)

Also, should I have them play countries that would be my allies or try and have them all on the opposite side?

Thanks Guys,
Sincerely,
Chris

[Josh]

I never played a Hearts of Iron IV game in my life until about two months ago.

Completely clueless as to how to play and very difficult to learn.

Once you know what to do, it's so simple.

If you're willing to spend the time teaching them every single part of the game, then they'll understand it a lot faster.

If you're lazy and just explain the basics, well the basics don't help you do ♥♥♥♥ in this game. Need to understand everything to be able to win.

[Josh]

Main things to teach:

Naval invasions (always a problem with new players)

National focuses/research

How the trade screen works

How diplomacy works and all its interactions

How the recruit and deploy section works (reinforcement priority, upgrade priority, the deploy instantly line etc)

How unit templates work, what support companies do for templates, how to duplicate a template

How combat works (combat width), explain the modifers (low supply, encirclement, attacking form multiple directions, air support etc)


How the air force and air bases work (explain new air wings, how to set reinforcement limits, ace pilots, how to order air missions)

How the navy works, how to send newly constructed ships to an already existing fleet, how to conduct missions for each sea region and what those mission accomplish, how to split a fleet and how to create a new fleet, how to set a new naval base as your home)

Probably a tonne of stuff I missed too, just this came off the top off my head.

[Bruce]

Thank you !

[Josh]

Also if they are learning, I'd have them on your side vs the AI, not vs you haha.

[Bruce]

I'll make sure they're on my side, thank you for the help

[Lukkyb]

make one play as germany and the other as ittaly becasue they are esaier starting nations and you play as some other nation this will help them early on

[oootto92]

Having experience in plane simulator games makes the introduction to competitive MP really easy.

[Ваня]

1. Always be on standbay to answer questions.

2. I've found it's easier to watch them and give advice than it is to play at the same time. Sometimes I've taken the observer role. Sometimes I've played as a coop partner. Sometimes they've started a steam broadcast and I've watched. There are a lot of questions you'll have to answer. Best to focus on helping first.

3. You can't explain everything all at once. Sometimes you have to let them make small mistakes. Give them a bit of advice on assigning military factories, but let them do it in a less than perfect way. Give them advice on assigning air wings, but let them do it in a less than perfect way. Let them do things inefficiently or you'll spend all day paused answering more questions and explaining more things than you ought to.

4. Picking what nations you all play as is a bit tricky. If you think they're ready to go at each other having no idea what they're doing, then go for it. However more than likely it will be an easier learning experience if you mitigate some of the challenges. You can do this by playing complimentary nations. This can prevent the AI from making horrible decisions because you all are doing it instead. You can also try playing classic enemies but as allies. For example you can play as some axis nations and US but turn the US fascist.

[Bruce]

Thanks to everyone for the help

[ST Hélios | No Game No Life]

Personally, I would do the following : enable coop, everyone hops in a country and you start explaining techs docs ect and let them have fun with the army, it's the best way to avoid major ♥♥♥♥ ups and salt mines imo

[Bruce]

I personally play Germany and enjoy playing them the most, Ill get someone to play Italy and the others to play USSR and Great Britain and see how it goes. If it doesn't go great then I'll figure something out. Thanks for help!