Strategy and Wargaming

Order of Battle returns to its roots with this DLC and it expands to the icy waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, pitting the Kriegsmarine against the might of the Royal Navy and its allies.

Order of Battle: Kriegsmarine features a subject rarely touched upon by other games and never with such level of detail: you will follow the German navy in its years-long campaign to challenge the Allied supremacy of the sea.

This will put you in situations which you’ve never faced before in the Order of Battle series. You will fight as the underdog and support land operations, perform convoy-raiding missions, lure enemy ships into deadly ambushes and make extensive use of submarines. Fight through historical and what-if scenarios alike and demonstrate you are the real master of the seas!

The game will feature iconic ships such as the Bismarck and the Scharnhorst, introduces a wide range of submarines, naval bombers, flying boats, gun boats, destroyers, cruisers, and it’ll be even possible to make use of the Graf Zeppelin carrier!

Kriegsmarine will start its beta soon. We are looking for willing and active beta testers to help us finding bugs and give us suggestions. We need your help, so if you’re interested click here and join the beta.

This beta will also be the first testing phase of the new skirmish mode, a much-anticipated feature in Order of Battle.

Learn more about Order of Battle: Kriegsmarine at the games official webpage.

Paradox Development Studio and Hearts of Iron IV continue their musical synergy with Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton. Best known for their songs about real historical events and the human side of war, Sabaton has licensed ten new songs for Hearts of Iron IV, each illustrating a moment of World War II with passion and power chords.

Highlights of this second music pack for HoI4 include 40:1, a song honoring the brave but futile defense of Wizna by a Polish army far outnumbered by invading Germans, and To Hell and Back, the story of highly decorated war hero Audie Murphy and his struggles with PTSD. The full music list follows:

• Ghost Division
• Resist and Bite
• Coat of Arms
• Uprising
• Screaming Eagles
• 40:1
• Panzerkampf
• Smoking Snakes
• To Hell and Back
• The Last Battle

The Sabaton music pack is available now for $5.99 (or €5.99) at the Paradox Store and on Steam.

On July 1943, the German war machine had the chance to deal a mortal blow to the Red Army. After the defeat at Stalingrad, it was necessary to regain the initiative and secure the Eastern front. For this purpose, the German High Command massed a huge quantity of Panthers and Tigers tanks in proximity of the Kursk salient, hoping to destroy the bulk of the Russian forces in this area.

But the Soviets, knowing in advance the Hitler’s plan, created over 190 miles of depth defense to stop the Panzerwaffe and they moved their armored forces in reserve for the counter-attack.

The largest tank battle of the entire Second World War was about to commence…

Tigers on the Hunt: Kursk is a DLC containing three Campaign Game Scenarios for Tigers on the Hunt, focused on the key operations during Operation Citadel. This nice addition features a different type of gameplay from the original base game, giving the players a more challenging experience!

A Campaign Game Scenario is a much larger scenario with a lot of units on a large map. The battle lasts generally over several days and nights before the Campaign Game winner is called. To do this the Game Turns are divided into portions for Day (8 Game Turns) and Night (4 Game Turns). See more information on how it works on the official product page here.

Following the steps of the base game, Tigers on the Hunt: Kursk will make you toiling for every inch conquered, fighting against an unforgiving AI!

Tigers on the Hunt: Kursk will be available soon! Check its official product page for further information.

Reinforcements Have Arrived, eh? Together for Victory is Here.

The time has come for all the subjects of his Majesty to stand shoulder to shoulder against Fascism. Will you answer the call?

Together for Victory, the first expansion for Hearts of Iron IV (PEGI 7), is now available on major digital retailers. This add-on for Paradox’s grand strategy epic about the tumultuous years leading to and including WWII puts the British Dominions and Commonwealth nations in the spotlight.

The major new mechanic is the Autonomy system. Nations still subject to a greater power have a range of actions available to them depending on how subservient they are. A Dominion will have some constraints on its foreign policy, but will be more independent than a puppet regime. Through decisions and actions, these subjects can assert themselves and gain full independence.

Together for Victory also includes:

• New National Focuses: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India each receive their own National Focus Trees, bringing their history to life
• Spearheads: A new order simplifies breakthroughs in land invasions
• Continuous Focuses: Choose a National Focus to boost your nation’s capabilities over time, prioritizing one aspect of your military machine over another
• Alternate Histories: Each of the Dominion nations has alternate history branches. Lead South Africa to a Communist revolution that will end segregation but alienate Great Britain. Make Canada a Fascist state warily eyeing the giant to the south.
• Tech Sharing: Cozy up to an advanced great power and take advantage of their research progress to accelerate your own development.
• Combat Log: Extensive details on the performance of your divisions in battle are now available for you, Commander.
• Request Lend Lease: Ask for assistance from across the seas in the form of lend lease, adding new vehicles and equipment to beleaguered armies.
• New Art: New portraits for new leaders, old leaders have some portraits redone, and new unit designs and event pictures make their debut.

Enlist for a new challenge in Hearts of Iron IV: Together for Victory.

For more game information click here.

Invasion Date Set, Together for Victory Lands December 15

The British Dominions and Commonwealth states take centre stage in Together for Victory, the first expansion to Hearts of Iron IV, the hit World War II grand strategy wargame from Paradox Development Studios. And now a date has been set for the brave offspring of the Empire to show off their new uniforms.

Together for Victory will be available on December 15, 2016 for $14.99 at major digital retailers, including the Paradox Store.

This expansion is not only the first for Hearts of Iron IV, but sets the model for many future add-ons, bringing new detail and gameplay options to nations outside of the great powers. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Raj of India have been given unique National Focus trees, more leaders to choose from, and a selection of industrial corporations to add extra color to your experience.

Game Designer Dan Lind has enlisted to present a short video summarizing what you can expect.

Together for Victory also includes:

• New Autonomy System: Subject states are not merely puppets, but can have a range of action. Dominions, Puppet States, and Colonies can either work their way to total independence.
• Spearheads: A new order simplifies breakthroughs in land invasions
• Continuous Focuses: Choose a National Focus to boost your nations capabilities over time, prioritizing one aspect of your military machine over another
• Alternate Histories: Each of the Dominion nations has alternate history branches. Lead South Africa to a Communist revolution that will end segregation but alienate Great Britain. Make Canada a Fascist state warily eyeing the giant to the south.
• Tech Sharing: Cozy up to an advanced great power and take advantage of their research progress to accelerate your own development.
• Combat Log: Extensive details on the performance of your divisions in battle are now available for you, Commander.
• Request Lend Lease: Ask for assistance from across the seas in the form of lend lease, adding new vehicles and equipment to beleaguered armies.
• New Art: New portraits for new leaders, old leaders have some portraits redone, and new unit designs and event pictures make their debut.

Together for Victory is just ten days away! Mobilize your inner army and prepare for an even wider perspective on the world’s darkest hour.

For more game information click here.

Let’s Talk About Sects. Monks & Mystics Coming to CK2

The bells of the abbey summon monks to prayer while, a continent away, the faithful are summoned by a muezzin’s call. Religious practice imposes a schedule on the chaos of medieval life, and the routine adds harmony to a divided realm.

Routine and harmony. We can’t have that, can we?

Monks & Mystics is the latest expansion to Crusader Kings II, the hit medieval grand strategy role-playing game from Paradox Development Studio. In Monks & Mystics, the religious aspect of the game is further explored with new mechanics and character associations that can tie a faith closer together or render it asunder.

The major feature of Monks & Mystics is the addition of Societies – secret and otherwise. Characters can join monastic orders, secret cults and Gnostic heresies. As the society gains members, it gains power and prestige for its leaders. Societies open new actions for characters and can lead to new event paths.

Monks & Mystics includes:

• Monastic Orders: With lay offices available to non-clerical characters, monastic orders will increase your character’s piety – but they have expectations.
• Cults: Gnostic heresies may flourish and its is rumored that the worship of Satan continues in the darkened fringes of the world
• Climb the Ranks: Characters work their way up the ladder of Societies, unlocking new abilities and triggering new event chains
• Hunt for Heretics: Send your chaplain out to find secret societies that undermine the holy church and your realm. But what if the hunter is guilty himself?
• Other New Councillor Actions: Your Councillors have a fourth action that will make them more powerful and integral to sound rulership
• And much more: Assassins, archaeological expeditions, holy relics, great treasures and more

Watch the announcement trailer here.

Crusader Kings II: Monks & Mystics is coming soon to major digital retailers, including the Paradox Store.

Tigers on the Hunt has received a tremendous upgrade, bringing the game to version 1.0.51! This version aims to fix several bugs experienced by the players, making the game more realistic than ever!

You can download the update from here.

Bug fixes:

• Russian SU 122 now has HEAT rounds (ISU 122 now does not have HEAT rounds)
• Fixed 1024×768 resolution issue for Log Window being too big as well as the Pop up window was not positioned properly
• When firing with an Ordnance/AFV vs target hex that only has AFV, the Infantry Target Type button will be disabled on the Target Type Dialog
• An AFV was sometimes stuck in a Close Combat/Melee even after Close Combat Segment was over
• Broken+ personnel unit in a Brush Hill hex is cannot be interdicted since Brush is not a clear terrain
• Broken+ personnel unit in a Woods Hill hex is cannot be interdicted as Woods is not a clear terrain
• AI, personnel unit firing with Flame Thrower will not now crash the game

Read the full changelog here.

Hi everybody! In case you missed it, War in the East, one of the greatest wargame of all time, has been updated to version 1.09.00!

You can download the update from here.

Version 1.09.00 Patch Notes

New Features
1. Scenarios and games saved under this version will not load under older versions of the
game.

Bug Fixes
1. Fixed a bug where it was possible to gain access to enemy units and alter some of their
parameters.
2. Fixed a bug where units could receive more replacements than asked for if there was a
surplus of resources (all were used and dispatched to units).
3. Fixed a bug where units could retain more matched equipment than desired. They will
now immediately return enough not to exceed 125% of TOE needs (this limit scales with
MAX TOE down to 100% for MAX TOE set to 80% or less).
4. Fixed a bug where formation inventory was not displayed correctly if the list of units in
the first tab was sorted.
5. Fixed a bug where self-propelled weapons, armored cars and self-propelled artillery were
displayed in the infantry tab of formation inventory, even though they were included in
the AFV totals.
6. Fixed a bug where an empty unit details window was displayed after closing
Commander’s Report in some circumstances (only when using regular exit button).

Twenty years have passed since the end of the first Weltkrieg and, despite many efforts to prevent it, a new and more terrible conflict has broken out.

Once again, Europe is the main battlefield! Here the armies of Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union will clash for supremacy and survival! Only those who can establish an integrated strategy will succeed in managing multiple fronts at once, until the final victory comes!

Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe puts you in charge of the Axis or the Allies – allowing you to command all aspects of the war. Enormous effort went into the creation of a very intelligent AI and your computer opponent is capable of prioritizing fronts and making good strategic choices, saving experienced troops from hopeless battles and exploiting every weak spot in your line!

Allocate resources to construct or upgrade new units, build fortifications, develop your navy or air force, invest in logistics, research, diplomatic pressure and much more. Deal with a vast range of historical events, while always keeping the big picture in mind.

Both experienced wargamers and newcomers will find much to love in this beautiful WWII wargame!

Check out the release announcement video here.

Grab the game now!

Blitzkrieg, the latest expansion for Order of Battle: World War II, is out now on PC, Steam and Mac!

It brings Order of Battle to the main European theater, and for the first time in the whole series you’ll be in command of the fearsome German armed forces.

Covering the first two years and a half of World War II, you’ll first test your mettle against Poland in the September of 1939, then it’ll be Denmark and Norway, followed by an invasion through Belgium and to the heart of France. After a brief detour to the Balkans and Greece, it’ll then be the turn of launching the biggest invasion of history against Soviet Union…

We wanted to take on the European theater with a bang: adding over two hundred new units and several new core armies, Blitzkrieg is a massive expansion. The Artistocrats studio worked hard to feature the blitzkrieg strategies properly in this campaign. Play through 12 accurately balanced and detailed scenarios and test your strategic ability against a greatly enhanced AI. Only brilliant and organized commanders will prevail!

Blitzkrieg is accompanied by a patch to the base game, and it introduces two main features: the Specialization System and the Import Tool.

Now you’ll be able to win points by winning missions and completing secondary objectives, points you can spend in a specialization tree in order to customize your army and unlocking new unit types. And the best news is that every single campaign now has a specialization tree, even those which previously didn’t, like Winter War!

With the new Import Tool, you’ll be able to carry over your core army from one campaign to the next. Right now it’s only possible with the Boot camp linked with the American campaign, and the two Japanese campaigns Morning Sun and Rising Sun. We are obviously looking forward to link Blitzkrieg with future German campaigns.

Those two main features come with a ton of fixes and balance changes. You can read the full changelog here.

Watch the release trailer here.

What are you waiting for then? The tanks’ engines are roaring – get Blitzkrieg now!