Restoring the Roman Empire in By Blood Alone!

[@Bitt3rSteel]

Pick up By Blood Alone here: play.heartsofiron.com/bitt3rsteel Seriously, Ethiopia needs all the help they can get!

[@Butta_dawgpork]

No

[@Dvot007]

@@Butta_dawgpork * ratios you *

[@Butta_dawgpork]

@@Dvot007 didn’t ask

[@Butta_dawgpork]

@@Dvot007 liked your own comment

[@thanlan]

Bro is in the future 💀 (joke btw)

[@paradoxinteractive]

Poor Ethiopia didn't even give em a chance!

[@exverge1522]

Poor Ethiopia

[@mrcleantrash2345]

Howdy

[@Kisean_Aselis]

Poor Ethiopia

[@JJ-US]

I will get your games sooner or later

[@OnionIlan]

R.I.P.

[@BritishColonist]

"these new Ethiopia mechanics are very fun and well thought out" *proceeds to cheese them and bypass them entirely*

[@Aqueox]

I honestly do not understand why the devs thought Ethiopia is a viable piece of content. It's a shitty irrelevant nation.

[@Syrath101]

They're fun if you're the Ethiopians, but to be quite honest if you're Italy they're nothing but a burden and it's incredibly easy to cheese them.

[@michaelhammers7828]

As he said, he’s a gamer, and they optimize the fun out of everything

[@justaguywhocomments56]

did my guy actually watch the video or just rush to the comments?

[@BritishColonist]

@@justaguywhocomments56 what?

[@danworks9559]

The fact they don’t start with many trains is mega ironic when you consider a major tagline for Mussolini was that he made the trains run on time

[@wowisthatgami8293]

not sure that's irony. trains on time =/= number of trains. Besides, it wasn't true anyway

[@_Michele227]

Italy had lots of trains but they were also used for civilian purposes, leaving less for the army. Also most of the military transportation was done with ships because the materials needed to be taken to Africa too.

[@flavioric]

@@wowisthatgami8293 No, the railway transportation system was the jewel of the fascist regime, and trains actually run on time. They were the main transportation infrastructure at the time because most of the people couldn't afford personal vehicles, and even if they could, they weren't suited for medium-long distances trips around the peninsula. It is probably one of the "good things" the regime managed to accomplish in order to reduce waste of time and burocracy, a terrible sickness that still affects modern italy.

[@francescoboselli6033]

@@flavioric guarda che non ha tutti i torti: anche i credevo nel mito "quando c'era lui i treni arrivavano in orario" ma non è del tutto vero: per carità sarà probabilmente stato meglio allora di adesso, ma anche col DVCE vi erano i ritardi dei treni, ma il regime puntualmente li nascondeva (cosa molto più facile all'epoca se consideri la mancanza di un sistema digitale che gestisce l'orario dei treni)

[@wowisthatgami8293]

@@flavioric no this is a very commonly debunked piece of propaganda by the regime for almost a century... The majority of repairs and improvements made after WW1 were done before they seized power (which they tried taking credit for). And there are tons of credible primary accounts of civil trains having unreliable timetables. Maybe modern Italian state has inefficient bureaucracy but at least it doesn't destroy human freedom, or kill and torture dissentients. Stop it. This is just as bad as saying "say what you want, Hitler built the autobahn". Because it's old propaganda and not fully true.

[@dantea1474]

Blitzing Ethiopia is valid and I suspect a design decision. You have two choices, grind generals and deal with the resistance game; don't grind and conqueor. This new way pretty much invalidates the Adaptable strat for Italian generals unless you want to spend massive amounts of PP. I like.

[@user-wv5wg6xv3g]

Not the PP

[@alphaundpinsel2431]

but or feature

[@thanlan]

I'm really exited for this DLC and also scared. I think the new Italian Focus Tree is something we wanted for a long time. I think that the new Ethiopian tree though, will cause Italy to lose in the war triggering a chain of events and the game going unhistorical. I think they should've thought of that, but if they haven't then, I guess its time to grind some achievements!

[@leannarda.wilson131]

Well the Netherlands got a filled out focus tree, just the same as many other minor nations, so I doubt it'll cause too many issues. The resistance stuff in Ethiopia post war might cause a few issues with the AI but it might be fine.

[@phat2.092]

ye i hate ethiopia tree as well.THATS why i play italy mainly in vanilla

[@christopherjones8448]

@@phat2.092 Good for you

[@livingangrycheese2668]

Don't worry, it appears it will be very difficult to win as Ethiopia, so it's unlikely they will ever win when they're AI.

[@tiringsarcasm]

I mean it would take a ridiculous amount of mistakes to cause Ethiopia to win the war so it likely won’t happen especially in historical.

[@angrybirdsandwich2334]

You should do the achievement Holy, Roman, and an Empire

[@Bitt3rSteel]

Oh,it's the first guide I'll do

[@angrybirdsandwich2334]

@@Bitt3rSteel nice 👍

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

@@Bitt3rSteel nice

[@zenith6939]

@@Bitt3rSteel As part of it, you should probably expand the Roman Empire to the point that you can do all of the coring decisions.

[@Chorutowo]

Im really exited to get my hands on Italy after the DLC!

[@Kanyeglazerr]

Yeah it’s so good I can feel it coming behind me

[@aurelian2641]

Plot twist: The kid in his basement is called Italy

[@alexanderkolchak1]

@@aurelian2641 🤨

[@fryboi4896]

@@aurelian2641 Wait😳😳

[@thedirector6297]

@@aurelian2641 😳😳😳☠️💀

[@FeedbackGaming]

4:48 MORE YOU KNOW! My brain is now bumpier. My Ethiopia wouldn't stand chance 🌍😢

[@cykagaming365]

Seeing how extensive all these new focus trees are becoming, it's making Germany feel light in focuses.

[@heathclark318]

Feather light now days huh 😏

[@elimcclellan8139]

23:14 "as they always do" I have done this like 5 times and they have never contested my demands. The strategy still works, but now I don't have Romania as fast :(

[@KaiserCrocer]

I must be in an alternate universe, Italy has focus tree!

[@idontlikerome2744]

So long, finally the meme can die in peace

[@uniedits5459]

20:00 i'm also not a specialist, but maybe if you do that early, the resistente is not gonna exist pretty much in the beginning and this is gonna cause the compliance to grow faster (i could also be wrong)

[@IamDrDapper]

It's always a good day when Bittersteel uploads

[@416KPD]

I'm excited to see the new plane designer but also kinda scared. It was very convenient spamming CAS easily without much thinking, now you will try to save up some XPs to produce basic models and it's very hard to get those especially with minors starting with little or no planes. Also honestly since tank designer came out, I haven't touched that tool because often times I'm too lazy to design good tanks or not sure it's good enough. Something new to discover though.

[@MrHel-hf3nk]

Become un-lazy then or turn the game back to an older version. :/

[@luciusrex]

i only ever use the tank designer to add more armor to heavy tanks that i attach to special forces (speed doesnt matter). This way, I add massive amounts of armor without adding too many battalions, if that makes sense. probably only doable with nations with access to tons of steel though

[@416KPD]

@@luciusrex Yeah, Steel is always an issue especially for European minors. I was playing Monarchist Lithuania (which is very OP btw if you manage the battles properly) and didn't have enough steel to maintain infantry equipment production and tanks at the same time. It got better once I beat the soviets though.

[@eliasadam2345]

You can use the auto tank designer, The AI can create better tanks for you, or you can lease designs from other countries.

[@luciusrex]

@@eliasadam2345 no they don't, how does the ai know I need more armor for my what essentially is an infantry div?

[@grandadmiralthrawn2975]

Just wanted to say that your pronounce of italian names was almost perfect 👌

[@melksnorlol3205]

He is very good at pronouncing foreign names!

[@mbmanra]

"Yugoslavia refuses like they always do" me on my 50th attempt with they ALWAYS accepting

[@SantaClaus-kk8zr]

Like 35% sure that it depends on relations and relative power but I could be wrong. Certainly feels like it when I play.

[@RedStarIT]

As an Italian, this is Bloody Beautiful. The Focus Tree is absolutely fantastic and the names are well done, Great Job Paradox!

[@Seppe1106]

DLC looks good. The Peace deal improvements are insane and long over due! Really happy to see all the development and further enhancements, looking at how long the game already exists. Hype!

[@danolicks7490]

It's funny how it sounds like paradox is holding you at gunpoint about everything you say, I've noticed when you started caring about navy and thought about making heavy fighters, lol.

[@commscan314]

A care for navy management is quite uncharacteristic for Rome, at least the pre-Punic War Roman Republic.

[@amberm.kozlowski5944]

If Julius Cesar was alive to see this guy reform his great empire he would be the happiest man alive

[@Michael-o2s3k]

If Ethiopia didn't kill him the moment this campaign started.

[@elenaciani943]

As an Italian I'm dying for hype!

[@ecthelion1735]

Old Imperium Romanum was my first ever world conquest. I'll have to try this again with the current expansions.

[@stonedtowel]

Definitely feels like the added small RP elements breathe gust of life into the game.

[@mrr9636]

I’d love to see an Avenge Teutoberg focused run/guide where you get all the possible decision cores as Rome

[@hawkerben1158]

Air designer looks amazing, recon planes may actually be viable now that you can have multi role planes might be better than sinking all that research into radar or wasting a ship slot for plane launchers

[@kikki_di_kiwi5832]

my reaction to seeing Fiume in full Italian territory: SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!1!!11

[@belgiumball2308]

You really gotta love how every youtuber except bittersteel did ethiopia.

[@mustardorb8867]

I cant be the only one hyped for a MEDAL SYSTEM AND BATTLE INFO. THATS SO COOOLLL

[@ItalianChad98]

Paradox spoils us again with amazing content.

[@AgentM3tallion]

Great video bro, appreciate you as always!

[@KryZehk]

Did any1 else notice a high pitch noise in the background when bitter talks? Nice video as always btw, I love your content!

[@lucidtheekid]

yes. thought i was schizophrenic. had to check another video to be sure but sure enough theres a ringing throughout the vid :(

[@Т1000-м1и]

Just like deploying your divisions to decrease resistance on territyories you occupy, you should be able to deploy your divisions to increase the resistance on the territories occupied by the enemie

[@red_seven_]

Damn... Now I really want to play the BBA stuff. Excellent intro to it!

[@chengzhou8711]

Italy is tricky but very fun to play with.

[@georgios_5342]

45:43 "Reestablish the Bosphoran Kingdom" That's right. When they ask me if Crime is Ukrainian or Russian, I say it belongs to the Roman Empire

[@raippakeisari2342]

Please do a guide video specifically for the peace deal system. I think it would be appreciated by many.

[@ThePixelated_kris]

That “one more thing, CYA” absolutely killed me 💀

[@walnzell9328]

I want to see an alternate history scenario where Mussolini decides not to try and rebuild Rome, but instead tries to monopolize the locomotive industry with the best railroad technology in the entire world.

[@dvsonface1t]

I may be wrong here, but this guide might be a little dated, please let me know someone if I'm wrong but I believe when you send the ultimatum to yugoslavia they accept your demands now. But this occurrence might be exclusive to Blood Alone (I have all the DLCs except for Blood Alone, No Step Back and La Resistance) Edit: A strategy I would use is instead of worrying about score, conquer france and speed through as fast as possible using the motorized. Conquer France, and sea lion. With your lions share, conquer germany during 1941 when they gear up for the soviet union. Conquer germany, taking any states you werent able to get. Then follow up with russia.

[@todo1231]

They accept some like montenegro, but they refuse the last demand

[@commscan314]

Conquering France, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania is still possible by justifying on Yugoslavia and paratrooper cheesing France by rushing to exceed that 50 transport plane minimum for paradrops, and using 1 battalion paratrooper divisions.

[@Grisu19840]

So, I tried this a few times. And I just encountered a bit of an issue: the Yogus accepted. They are my puppet now, and promptly entered a civil war. Now what?!

[@marioanddj]

they really should update germany and maybe japan because they're somewhat the main character(s) if a country had to be decided as one. they should look like these new focus trees

[@1mol831]

They have a good focus tree, but South America is missing them

[@Perseagatuna]

​@@1mol831 Germany's focus tree is extremely outdated basically since la resistance

[@1mol831]

@@Perseagatuna but South American trees

[@Perseagatuna]

@@1mol831 im argentine i know what you're thinking, paradox isn't gonna do them any time soon, best bet is to go play En Union y Libertad

[@AdamSkerven]

Thanks again, your video provided some good point on achieving the goal I was working on the last few runs with Roman.

[@Bitt3rSteel]

Excellent!

[@eliasadam2345]

LMAO at Avenge Teutoburg decision, the Italians will never let that go 2 millenniums later.

[@penepenedos]

''i have them by the metaphorical ball'' the best line i've ever heard

[@krasnamerah1926]

Looking at those Mare Nostrum-related decisions, Arheo really wasn't kidding when he states that he would make events and decisions more prominent in-game than national focuses. If only i had 10$ to buy it, haha

[@krasnamerah1926]

@@chefmovkta7433, huh?

[@trygveplaustrum4634]

So, Taureor did a video for Ethiopia. I just watched it, so I keep thinking you're Ethopia. *And now I really want you to fight Taureor on Ethiopia while playing as Italy.*

[@WeatherList3821]

I'm excited to get the dlc

[@billyzm]

I wonder if you can still try to form Rome the old way, by an early war with the Allies? Food for thought. But with this new tree, I feel like one can even form Rome in a mass multiple-player game because it has just become so much more doable!

[@npswm1314]

Oh no...Millennium Dawn is going to have a fun time with By Blood Alone.

[@cake77870]

Yes, when they release their By Blood Alone compatible version by 2028

[@6th_Army]

I'm calling it now. The new air meta will involve bombers that are 100% focused on AA.

[@iktempire6757]

This DLC is so fun just to watch it, cant wait till I play it

[@danrobidoux]

The ability to get war participation through lend leasing is super strong if you have surpluses of equipment or, in my case here, fuel. Even with my navy and air force running around the clock I was capped out, so I sent Germany 200k fuel. I got 2000 points for it, instantly moving me from 45% WP to almost 70. I didn't need to bother stalling around London, I just rolled the UK and took everything I wanted.

[@ciccioinsa9644]

You're great, please continue in this way

[@ChalleonPlays]

Hyped for you getting early access I can't wait to play it myself

[@Dockboy-ie4yu]

Before the update Italy cut in half by UK After update UK cut in half by Italy

[@marioanddj]

if i decide to get the DLC before there's a sale im def using ur link, gotchu

[@Tedy419]

"Bulgaria is a leech" Trueer words have bever been sopken!

[@malcolmduncan]

Strangest sentence I've heard in relation to HOI 4, playing as Italy, 'we are more than powerful enough for it' Looks good though, im excited about this one.

[@spencerjacobsen329]

I challenge you to survive as Aussa. Probably the new hardest nation in the game.

[@mad_griffin1197]

Please make “we will shoot twice then go home” a reality

[@yarissathomas1816]

Im just imagining the cheeto ad with the king cheeto and him saying “When it comes to troops, CAS is king”

[@griefendor899]

yugoslavia has accepted my demands literally 20 runs in a row what am I doing wrong wtf no way this is rng

[@florianguttl2519]

Same here...no idea what to do. Doing it via normal war goal rises the world tension too much an UK always gets early involved.

[@Shiktlah]

@@florianguttl2519 Same here. 10 runs in a row, slightly different from each other , but no way. Yugo accepted demands every single time. This after last patch 1.12.5. Great work Paradox.

[@florianguttl2519]

@@Shiktlah It works when you justify war goal on Jugoslavia and Bulgaria at the same time (170 days), right when you finished your ambition on the balkans. Declare war on them at the same time, usually no intervention by the allies then. Should be around May 1973.

[@Shiktlah]

@@florianguttl2519 Ok, thanks . But You need to justify war goal on Yugo so you can't use submission decision on Yugo to declare war on Yugo and France without justify. With BBA , until last patch, most of the times Yugo refuse your demand and you can declare war. Immediately after 14 days and after "Balkans Ambition" Focus. With last patch this is not possible anymore, 'cause Yugo accept submission every single time.

[@Potatoes85858]

Oh, I see a typo in the Sultan event -- they sold it's* (it's meant to be its) coastline to Italy.

[@sstotenkopf8817]

I enjoyed this video.This look amazing just like nsb this dlc will change the game. The italian focus three looks amazing and a lot off fun. But we can all agree that germany need also a focus three like soviets or italians.

[@ReikerForge]

Germany has lots of focus tree stuff if you have Man The Guns

[@commscan314]

@@ReikerForge I thought it was Waking the Tiger that gave you the focus tree stuff.

[@ReikerForge]

@@commscan314 Shit, you right Point being practically the entire non fascist tree of Germany gets unlocked in DLC so there's lots to do on the country once it's available

[@takeeto9894]

"Oh by Blood Alone is out today, great, now I know how I'll kill 3 hours before work" Steam: This product unlocks in approximately 3 hours T_T

[@Epikcd2k10]

13:14 "fighter that can also do close ground support" yea uh thats a dive bomber with guns

[@Editnewer]

Looks like the latest patch broke the Papalstates, after reaching 60 towards the pope, it still doesnt trigger the pope taking control. Used all of the tools to gain support for him.

[@gfanikf]

My god that air wing QoL improvement is awesome.

[@LiterallyRyan_Gosling]

"Italian Romania" "German Poland" hell no

[@greaterbelgiummapping1266]

A preview this early? Nice!

[@freddederman7270]

Only downside to the auto air wings, is you can fake a deffisit, before you would make a couple air wings of 1000 and get some planes from other people

[@sonzolez4163]

Yugo keeps becoming my puppet, it's genuinely infuriating

[@MrKingfisher]

Fittingly posted a day before Italy switched Fascist in real life. Great timing!

[@teriblesoldiertv2108]

Paradox: Releasing a DLC on a Saturday so people can play it and have fun :( :( :(. Parad releasing a DLC ON FUCKING TUESDAY: :^) :^) :^

[@pizzadude8070]

Another extremely common Bitt3rSteel W ♥️

[@Chewbert]

need more trains, trains must run on time!

[@beaches2145]

with a new dlc we all are confused, ill be waiting for your papal state video.

[@TheLumpmachine]

"I don't really min-max." -Bitt3rSteel, 2022

[@ronensalathe]

If Italy was competent:

[@vaffelgris]

30:45 based and Gaddafipilled

[@KAPTAINmORGANnWo4eva]

Petition to rename "Dacia" to "Ducea" if you do Mare Nostrum with Mussolini still in charge

[@sashex3494]

I was following this and i nearly got it, and i would say i got even luckier. I had the UK guarantee Austria and when i declared war, allies intervened. But i somehow managed to paradrop 10 divisions into UK, mostly onto ports and then flooded infantry and tanks in. I managed to capitulate allies, where Yugoslavia, Romania, Czechoslovakia and Austria joined, meaning i got all of them to capitulate with capitulation of the UK. I puppeted everything and now i am really struggling with turkey because they are allied with the US and Netherlands who are super-buffed in 1943. Germany was easy.

[@GreenKnight32]

And so dies the greatest meme in hoi4 history. Goodbye terrible Italy.

[@Aerozona23]

30:50 i thought you were gonna say strengthen noble priviledges

[@nauvelty]

I would say that tanks and artillery are very good for making huge breakthroughs and such if dabbling with an enemy like the Soviets or France. However, every man to his own.

[@willsrpi]

I'm following the guide closely, but Yugoslavia accepted the ultimatum. I wonder if somethings been changed in a recent update.

[@Zandszzz]

Same bro yugo keeps on accepting

[@jasonchesser192]

Thank goodness you did this video. Havent logged into game for a week or so. Yesterday I found my saved game wouldnt load. Started a new one and said what the heck is this. Didnt even notice the DLC. Yeah I pay attention sometimes.

[@randomhitmusic]

i love it when u read italian text cuz ur voice sounds so goofy

[@Theweebspariah]

I played against a broken Italy like I believe they had 18mill man power

[@zenith6939]

If anyone is wondering, you can still play Italy like Germany, although it’s a bit harder now. You can still take down France and Britain before or slightly after 1938. I haven’t done much experimenting with Italy yet, but I will say that if this is the approach you are taking, DO NOT go far enough in the political focus branch to unlock the Balance of Power. The Balance of Power essentially screws over Italy for rapid expansion and declaration of war. I’m pretty sure that an experienced player can still have the territory needed to do the old Roman Empire decision before 1939. Edit: actually due to Switzerland’s spirit that makes wargoals take very long to create, I don’t think that it is possible to get its territories before 1939. Also, I’m pretty sure if you don’t want to have to blitz Ethiopia in 70 days, you can just defeat Britain early and the Ethiopian exile government should cease to be, though I am not sure.

[@commscan314]

The Balance of Power isn't much of a nuisance for me, at least. It's still relatively easy to steamroll the French, Brits, and Balkans, and circumvent its issues entirely, other than the gradual drain on army XP that worshipping Mussolini like he's Augustus Caesar causes.

[@Agent-wp3yi]

They shoudve added Roman Republic too like a mix with ,,democrasy'' to give it some meaning in the game

[@solgerWhyIsThereAnAtItLooksBad]

This has me so giddy, you cant even understand

[@DoofusGoofus414]

I love this new DLC, especially the Airframe because jets had no use back in barbarossa because you had them so late they wouldn't make a difference but now you can design them like flying Tanks omg

[@sahilhossain8204]

Hmmm yes lore of every Italy run in Hoi4 by blood alone runs ever be like:

[@jamond7044]

If ethiopia is a puppet, the mission of compliance strength does not come out

[@georgec.5682]

I like Paradox Games, I have played CKII (and a little bit of CKIII as well), EUIV and just a little bit of Victoria II, but Hearts of Iron IV is WAY TOO COMPLEX, Military/War Wise, Man, It's Overwhelming - I have no idea where to start ... I really enjoy your videos. Thank You.

[@Tbpoilspill2010]

Yeah it take a lot of time to get into, just keep trying poland til you get it, then it's like a dream come true

[@jaredtheamerican1776]

About to use this guide so thanks Bitt3rSteel.

[@ragjr992]

love how KZbin decided you're watching a video in 1080p guess what I'm gonna say the video is 1080p but only give you 480p

[@d_all_in]

Change your settings to disable Auto resolution. Set it to high quality.

[@ragjr992]

@@d_all_in I did and I also physically changed the video quality to 1080p and it was fine for maybe half the video before it reverted to 480p while saying the video was 1080p

[@overload4748]

best part about this dlc is that switzerland has a focus tree