HoI4: No Step Back - The Father of Nations (Part 1)

The latest HoI4 expansion, "No Step Back," has released! And boy, there are a LOT of changes, ranging from a complete supply system rework, trains, the new tank designer, officer corps... yeah, there's plenty to unpack! We'll be playing with the reworked Soviet Union in this series, which now boasts a MASSIVE national focus tree!
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#hoi4
#nostepback
#paradox

[@PravusGaming]

If anyone puts in the effort to calculate the new "optimal" combat widths (if such a thing even exists anymore), let me know! I'm not nearly smart/dedicated enough to do all the theorycrafting for the new meta.

[@kommo1]

I prefer you going into it blind. Screw the Meta, just explore the new stuff at your own discretion.

[@OscarSommerbo]

As far as an optimal "one size fits all" combat width goes. There is no such thing any more, it varies with terrain.

[@dawnselite]

I’ve been hearing 15 widths are a decent general width

[@comradebirbyt]

Finally i see the first gameplay video after 1 day time to build railway guns

[@vytarrus]

Before you dabble with "optimal combat width", get your basics right, like what Breakthrough actually does, so you stop saying wrong things like "I need more breakthrough to overwhelm their defense" and "bigger gun = more breakthrough"!

[@h2obear466]

The idea of Pravus being a high ranking officer trying to survive and keep the union in one piece with Stalin going berserk in the back round sounds like a great time!

[@PuppetierMaster]

Sounds a lot like the Centre Committee

[@Patrick_3751]

Sounds like a prequel to The Death of Stalin!

[@ryerial7723]

Stalin: “He’s a Traitor!” Pravus: “Stalin,No,he isn’t.” Stalin: “…then he’s the traitor!” Pravus: “Stalin! No! He isn’t!” *gunshots in the background*

[@SouthernMercenary]

love that they hide the part of the focus tree you can't do now. Makes looking over it so much easier!! Great quality of life change!

[@josephdedrick9337]

It started with the Spanish Civil War rework. I'm happy it's expanding to other trees too.

[@pedrogonzaleznunez2197]

Wish it could be turned off though for when I'm just curious about the alternate branches without having to start a new game.

[@MaskedRokho]

@@pedrogonzaleznunez2197 You can turn it off in the gamerules

[@OscarSommerbo]

I can just imagine Parvus' face when he "Fires" the head of the NKVD and Beria becomes the next Head of the NKVD

[@Jacob-pu4zj]

Beria 🤮

[@canthi109]

@Nicholas Jensen Yes, lot of crimen in Stalin time is was Beria who do, even the Katyn masacre

[@CA-jz9bm]

@@Jacob-pu4zj Watch "Forgotten leaders Beria", there are 2 sides to the story.

[@daniielah.7569]

@Nicholas Jensen He was so fucked that even Stalin, who was aware of his brutality and weaponized it, didn't trust him (there was an incident where his daughter was left alone with Beria in his house and he went crazy to get her out as soon as possible, knowing what might happen to her)

[@Jacob-pu4zj]

@@CA-jz9bm No

[@The0Stroy]

That paranoia mechanic means that Paradox observes what people do in the modding community and implement some mod tested mechanics to the base game DLCs.

[@theforsakeen-9014]

they also occasionally hire modders

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

@@theforsakeen-9014 actually at this point a lot of the staff are former modders/ long time fans with the senior staff having been with the company since shortly after its founding.

[@krasnamerah1926]

@@Mankorra_Gomorrah, yep. Even Bratyn is a fan of HoI2 and now after his countless contributions to HoI4 such as German, Dutch, British, Spanish, and White Russian contents, he is gone. Probably to help CK3

[@hephsmith3738]

I caught a glimpse at one of the future focuses, and it was called "SMERSH". Sounds like something Pravus would say as he sends some attacks! "Smersh them!"

[@The0Stroy]

"Smersh" is short for "Smert Shpionom" - "Death to Spies" - what was basically soviet counter-intelligence.

[@hephsmith3738]

@@The0Stroy It's still funny.

[@The0Stroy]

@@hephsmith3738 Yeah.

[@Nostr00]

@@The0Stroy ironic is that it was made out of white Inteligence officers

[@tomseigle7127]

There are now 5 differant tile sizes Plains/Desert base: 90 +25 p angle Woods/Jungle base: 84 +42 p angle Urban base: 96 +32 per angle Hills base 80 +40 per angle Mountains 75 +25 per angle Plains/Desert are the most common with Woods/Jungle being a very close 2nd. You are virtually gauranteed to always be able to attack/defend from 2 tiles on any frontline, its usually a 50/50 for 3 tiles, and rare to get 4 tiles but not uncommon if your/their line gets broken. With that being said the most optimal "one size fits all" is either 25 width or 30 width. 25's fit perfectly on Mtn tiles and out perform 30's on W/J, on P/D they loose out in small engagements but on larger battles of 4 tiles of attack and higher they outscale, and finally 25's under perform in urban combat where 30's almost always outperform 25's. 30's boast 5 width more division stats than their counterparts which means in a 1v1 they "should" win out. Mtn tiles are 30's worst match up but if you can attack a mtn tile from 3 tiles at 125 its your best bet. On W/J they have a sneaky matchup if attacking/defending from 2 tiles at a width of 126 they have their best match up here. (2 tiles A/D is the most common matchup and in my limited testing the ai will attempt to push you regaurdless of combat width if the ai has supply and equipment) P/D is 30's bread and butter 1 tile 2 tile and 3 tile attack/defense 30's always have a good matchup and this is where ~40+% of fighting takes place. Finally 30's perform well in urban combat nearly filling the whole width in most engagements. (96=3 / 128=4 / 160=5 / 192=6) Another factor to consider is if you prefer pure stats over reinforcement ticks. 30's being larger have better individual stats and you'll have less of them = Easier/less Micro. 25's being smaller have less stats but you can usually fit one more Division per combat, which for reinforcement cycling makes heavy micro much more worthwhile. Especially with the new officer Corp where you can directly influence combat tactics that favor deep battles with fast reinforce/recovery rates. TLDR, 30 width and 25 width are easy good template sizes until advanced level metas are developed

[@Patrick_3751]

29:03 *Hovers over Yagoda* "This guy is causing issues......... Yeah I don't like you for any reason. We need to get rid of this guy. We need to get rid of this guy soon! He sucks!" Pretty much the exact same reasoning Stalin used to purge Yagoda in real life! LOL!! XD

[@celionovais6273]

In real life he purged Yagoda because he lost the control over the Purge and Yagoda started to purge some of Stalin's supporters in the USSR countryside, so he purged Yagoda, lmao. Then his fellow georgian, Beria became the NKVD and then the KGB head, untill Kruschev assumed after a coup against Malenkov (the guy came after Stalin's death) and purged Beria... I guess the "paranoia" thing with Stalin was because he was afraid to end like Robespierre during the "The Great Terror" of the post-revolutionary France. Robespierre sent thousands of people to be beheaded, even some of his former Jacobin allies and in the end he was beheaded... well, I guess Stalin put an "objective" to don't end like him, that's end in another "Great Terror" anyway.

[@history5792]

Pravus: “Well of course it’s going to have to be the USSR…” Me: “Typical, of course you play as the country the DLC is based around, how original…” Pravus pulls out THAT HAT Me: “SLAV’SYA OTECHESTVO!!!!! NASHE SVOBODNOYE!!!!!”

[@Hassy171717]

11:01 ... au contraire my good sir! I'm sure you will manage to play "perfectly sub-optimally"!!! :)

[@DarknessSon1]

Omg i cant wait for more of this series + instant like for the hat XD

[@craniusdominus8234]

The Mulbery harbour (floating dock platform) is unlocked by researching the 2nd Naval invasion tech. In fact, a lot of important things are now unlocked by existing techs that you wouldn't actually be expecting. Obviously, the Mulbery harbour is one example. Another would be tank guns, which are unlocked by previous artillery, anti-air and anti-tank techs. Yet another example is the improved tank radio, which actually is hidden behind the 1940 RADAR tech

[@yeetmcskeet5093]

The gun makes sense because you are making better weapons by testing them and as a result you get better things

[@jacthing1]

The tank guns being unlocked by previous artillery tech makes sense considering they would be kind of similar in a way. Just one is mounted on a armored vehicle

[@seraphina985]

@@jacthing1 To be fair so does the Mulbery Harbour to my mind, Naval Invasion is exactly what the British developed them for. Their whole purpose was to supply the large invasion forces at the landing beachheads until such time as a suitable deep water port could be captured intact. Wise plan especially since the *intact* part of that is a risky proposition to rest your plan on, scorched earth tactics ie destroying, looting, sabotaging or otherwise rendering useless infrastructure or anything else of value to the enemy while retreating was always a very real possibility in real world warfare anyway.

[@Algebrodadio]

IMHO, the "No Step Back" expansion makes this game SO much better. I like that doctrines are purchased with experience. I like that your general staff generates experience. I like that we can design our own tanks. This game is so good now. Also ... there are little help videos now (really important for noobs), and the 20w / 40w meta has been nerfed - also good.

[@MediPL]

The focuses that reduce paranoia seem to have the values chosen so they pay for themselves. For example Socialism in One Country is a 35 day focus: 5-weeks of +2/week increase reduces the value by 10 as well.

[@jaywerner8415]

SOOOOOO Many "Restore the monarchy" trees. Meanwhile Italy still has the same stock focus tree. No, the meme of Italy will never die.

[@SkorpionDoorman]

The Paranoia Mechanic adds great potential for immersion, it really makes you feel like you're one of the generals trying to make sure Stalin's happy so he doesn't purge too many people and also puts you on the edge of your seat in fearful anxiety, cause if you see a general or advisor you like whenever the purging occurs, there might be a chance they'll end up as Stalin's victim(s) the next time you check and thusly ruin your plans.

[@redblarin8030]

I have never played HOI4 but I absolutely love watching all the series!

[@doctorale666]

Never too late to begin, its an excellent game.

[@TacoTuesdayIsEveryday]

"A nation at peace isnt gonna somehow become experts in experienced warfare" FeedBackGaming:" Thats where your wrong%

[@sampletext5959]

Unironically excited even though I don't even play HOI4. The new rendition of "March of the Defenders of Moscow" (which was immediately recommended to me after I went to the home page, not joking) got me ACTING UP!

[@Obsdragon]

You know, a Sid Meiers Beyond Earth or Sid Meiers Starships play through could be really cool...

[@dl0g09]

You've been scrooling for a while Hm Take a seat comrade Eggs are almost ready

[@cdcdrr]

>Pravus tries to get rid of Yagoda Would you say that you want him... out of the picture?

[@sfjuhispst8144]

The right oppositiin is actually the easier option, because you can assasineta Stalin and "peacefully" coup his successor. You can keep Stalins paranoia really low, which saves many generals from the purges.

[@user-bx2tm8ip5d]

love your video and the ushanka!!

[@erickeese7367]

I like the bits of history you put in

[@okaymuscian4466]

Noooo... the one time i want him to go alt he doesn't...

[@PravusGaming]

Don't worry, there will be plenty of alt runs in the near future. :)

[@crit-c4637]

@@PravusGaming Tzarist focus has a really cool civil war mechanic involving the paranoia clock. But I've been seeing a lot of content creators doing that for their first run, so this is a nice change of pace. Also some of the northern Slavic countries (Poland to Estonia) might be interesting too.

[@tigeriussvarne177]

Nice Ushanka Comrade. Praise Pravus.

[@joeclone345]

I’ve played this a few hours and I gotta say the new Soviet focus tree is probably my new favourite in the game. It’s just soo well done and the decisions and mod-able advisors are really neat

[@krasnamerah1926]

Welp, time to follow your live walkthrough again. :3 Praise Pravus!

[@frescaac5029]

Great channel!

[@jakebolger6248]

Another great vid

[@GlassJoe1337]

Thank you for the upload

[@lammabearded3913]

finished your italian empire series. excited to see you playing the new russian pack!

[@legueu]

"My ideas and action are and always were guided my Stalinism" Pravus 2021 (just believe me ok)

[@faseb386]

I love your hoi4 videos pravus xD downloaded the game but played poorly , just enjoy you playing

[@flavivsaetivs5738]

A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one

[@sld1776]

Tanks: as the Soviet Union heavy chasis seems like the better option, if only because you have the chromium for free. That's one of your few advantages over Germany.

[@RubberToeYT]

Pravus doing hoi4 👌, always amazing

[@Mroscar10583]

Can’t wait!

[@supernova-jo2jc]

Nothing to say. Just nothing. A beautiful video.

[@masterunknown6236]

Yessss!!! I love historical path... No more alternate universes

[@mihaichis5369]

No Step Back: lets goo

[@Sunday_fits]

Not one step back, ahhh I love it

[@conq1273]

Trulyba game improving updates

[@shantagarg1806]

YES PRAVUS FINALLY GOT THE NEW EXPANSION PRAISE PRAVUS AND THE MOTHERLAND

[@Mia-W2]

Thank. God. They finally changed how army doctrines were researched. So glad they no longer have to take up a research slot.

[@gabemobley3851]

Praise Pravus

[@iplaybadguys1457]

Yes!

[@BlackKnigth323]

Ah yes, the "STOP PURGING EVERYONE" run. I'm not good, I might say I'm below average and so far I've only managed to get him to purge like 5 people by 1939 and I'm almost done with Stalin historical focus tree, in hopes I get rid of that paranoid mechanic lol

[@msmith1890]

This will a great campaign.

[@allmightyturtleduck5408]

Love the hat!

[@kingzero3098]

Nice.

[@kidstravelandtoyreviews2826]

Cool keep making videos

[@iustinus9138]

Pravus, when you found an intelligence agency call it KGB, in reference to the real life soviet intelligence agency

[@DippKlippGuy]

That was founded after Stalin's death, this is the NKVD's time to shine light in the counter-revolutionary dark

[@Global_majesty]

Paradox should've add a mechanism for a guard battalion in penal division with penal battalions where if there is not enough guards penal divisions disband as the penal guys escaped and desert

[@lilschlagen]

The hat killed me lol

[@dambo8416]

“There’s paranoia mechanics that look fun and interesting” - they are the complete opposite of that 😩

[@kazz_0234]

Sooooo HYPPEEDDD!!!

[@S7E_Siriel-Privat]

Holy fck the spanish civil war is gonna get abused to hell with the doctrine changes XD

[@johannesphanoto4337]

The left and right path doesnt have paranoia? Truly the advantage of canon history

[@SolitaryLark]

You don’t have to pick Salin to get the paranoia mechanic.

[@standardissue9029]

Can't wait to get home and play this new DLC.

[@grayemn1409]

u home?

[@standardissue9029]

@@grayemn1409 Ridiculous how this update takes 4 hours to download for me.

[@oracle372]

same

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Comrade Pravus desperately tries to maintain the Union as Stalin places further responsibility and threats upon him

[@simonfrederiksen104]

I hope Italy gets some love soon. Siam has more stuff at this point

[@Zee3po]

The Great Purge is finishing that part of the focus tree isn't it? The Zinovyevite Terrorist Center focus was the beginnig of the great purge historically, i.e. the start of the "show trials" where Stalin made his political opponents say that they were guilty of all types of crimes and then had them killed... so I'm assuming once you finish that part of the focus tree, the Great Purge will be over

[@crazywarriorscatfan9061]

Whoo hoo! RAILWAY GUNS RAILWAY GUNS!!!

[@sopheakpannhabou3139]

The french focus tree has a focus on it that reduces The amount of your political power needed to be spent on the economic law by half if you form the popular front and go down the reform the labour law of France called dirigime. Though, I would rather do the national champion first.

[@masterunknown6236]

Man i love hoi4

[@sld1776]

The one division training trick still works. It just isn't as effective.

[@sean6649]

Thank you yes yes yes yes 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@agactual2]

I tried playing No Step Back for about 5 minutes and thought "nope, gonna need a tutorial first"

[@jaysvideos9107]

Supply made the game so much more harder and fun to play lol, I did an Italy campaign and I didn't prep libya for invasion and I got bogged down at Algeria because of it (I capped france so no vichy france)

[@toxicblizzard1855]

So real life tank design has come into play for ww2 tactics

[@E.Cheese]

I love the name of the DLC 'No Step BACK' seems like a policy that'd be in the great war

[@walterengler5709]

Stalin Power -- ACTIVATE! And yes that Supply Mode map is something they should have had from day 1 in the game lol.

[@gavinthegreatgavinthegreat97]

Well the supply system has been completely overhauled, and they did have a supply map before

[@Santisima_Trinidad]

I'm willing to bet that superbuffed light tanks will be the meta. Very cheap, low supply cost, and the superbuffed nature will let them consistently break enemy infantry.

[@JanneRanta]

The paranoia mechanic is for all the political alignments. So you dont have to choose Stalin for it.

[@nooblike4618]

Just a question, may I know the classical music played at background 26:40? Thanks!!

[@comradestalin9444]

The man in the thumbnail looks very much like me, what a handsome man.

[@milanstanic5017]

the word plays need to staaahp

[@OscarSommerbo]

That hat will cook your brain...

[@brandoncampanaro7571]

Hey @pravus, one of your tags is ww1 was that intentional?

[@primastanislaus9184]

Man the Guns should have been this comprehensive ngl...

[@brianlempa]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I heard WW2 was considered the "War of Logistics" or something along those.

[@CaptainKillroy]

Breaking News! Chenarus and Livinoia have started debating their independence with the rest of the Russian Federation. I mean with UN forces in the country itself dealing with the viral zombie like outbreak caused BY the Russians due to there contaminated shells the debate is on the table. Whether or not it will go anywhere is up to debate. -Tansberg Tribune

[@user-vf6ge4mp9p]

[@furiousone942]

I know what you mean about the changes. This could almost qualify as HOI 5. lol

[@159Revan]

Hoi4, Stalin simulator. Love it.

[@toastertubbo]

merry christmas, comrades

[@christiancalzadilla7146]

GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN

[@sirdeakia]

YESSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS TRAAAAAAAAAAAAINSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[@gamingfox9845]

Well ... I sucked at the supply system now and that's ... a lot different .... I guess even less tanks for the Changeling Blitz then. I'll call Trimmel he'll be thrilled ...

[@gavinthegreatgavinthegreat97]

New supply system is easier for me

[@alexthedork705]

Hold on am i the only one wondering why this is called the father of nations this is the motherland

[@Homeminboss]

Italy still waiting for a better focus tree Rip

[@1kvolt1978]

Me, an old wise communist, after taking a drink of vodka and firing up a Belomorcanal papirosa: "Comrad, you'd better put back that big red star on your ushanka before our commisar noticed. Otherwise you'll find yourself chopping down trees in the Eastern Cyberia in no time..."

[@user-iq9er4yq8k]

Does anyone know how I can fix the map definition error on hoi4? I've tried multiple things; Running as administrator, clearing my user directory, enabling and disabling mods, and nothing seems to work. Anyone have any suggestions as of that may work?

[@falloutgod4762]

Exciting! But I am so pissed I can’t play because my computer bricked and Best Buy doesn’t know how to fucking notify you when they are making progress. So far it is still being fixed after 20 days. And it is a hard drive that was barely broken! The only problem is the computer freezes after 15 minutes of use!

[@gavinthegreatgavinthegreat97]

Best Buy isn’t very good

[@przemekmarek2404]

will you do poland next?

[@spritemon98]

He doesn't really need a navy since he's already connected to the majority of the world lol

[@epicurius1]

People who never make mistakes are boring!