GAME MANUAL - Steam

HEARTS OF IRON DARKEST HOURThe Democratic -Authoritarian SliderThis slider represents anation’s political pluralism -whether it is highlydemocratic, highly authoritarian,or somewhere inbetween. When combined withthe setting of your PoliticalLeft-Political Right slider, thiswill determine yourgovernment type and thedefault ministers who will rulethe nation. Your level ofdemocracy will have a largeimpact on your ability todeclare war on a nation. Themore democratic you are, themore provocative orbelligerent another nationmust be before your public willallow you to declare war onthe offender. The populationsof democratic societiesgenerally expect higher levelsof consumer goods and aremore upset when their governmentplunges them into war;however, provinces that areoccupied by a democraticnation are somewhat lessprone to dissent as they aregiven more freedom ofexpression.The Political Left - PoliticalRight SliderThis slider determines thegeneral political leanings ofyour nation. When combinedwith the setting of theDemocratic-Authoritarianslider, this will determine yourgovernment type and theministers who will rule thenation. It can also have asignificant impact on yourrelationship with othercountries and may limit theallowable settings of several ofyour other domestic policysliders (see GovernmentTypes below).The Open Society - ClosedSociety SliderThis slider determines themeasure of freedom enjoyedby your citizens. An opensociety is somewhat moreprone to national dissent andgenerally has a more difficulttime countering enemyintelligence activities, althoughany conquered provinces willhave a lower level of partisanship.A closed society is betterable to repress partisans andcounter enemy intelligenceactivities, but is more likely tohave trouble controllingnational dissent. Scientistswho work on projects for opensocieties also tend to requiresomewhat higher levels offunding.The Free Market - CentralPlanning SliderThis slider affects aspects ofyour economy. Free marketsocieties enjoy reductions inthe cost and time required tocomplete production ordersand upgrades, not to mentionthat they generate more cashfrom their IC allocation toconsumer goods, thoughdemand will be higher, too.Scientists will also earnconsiderably higher salarieswhen working on researchprojects. A more regulated,centrally governed economywill offer lower salaries to theirscientists but the cost andtime required to completeproduction orders andupgrades will be greater.While consumer demand willbe lower, correspondingly lesscash is generated from ICallocations to consumergoods.Mobilization-DemobilizationThis slider determines thelevel of militarization of acountry, ranging from havingno armed forces at all to a fullymobilized population. Inparticular, conscription lawsinfluence the time, cost andstarting experience ofproduced units. Mobilizationreduces the cost and timenecessary to produce units,but increases the researchtime and reduces the availableIC and extracted resources(as workers and researchersare taken from labs andfactories and conscripted inyour army). Higher levels ofmobilization have biggerpenalties, so it is better tokeep this as low as possible,especially at peace.This slider cannot be manuallymoved by the player, but it canbe moved only by decisions.These decisions let youchoose the conscription lawsor mobilization levels andeach step taken towardsmobilization will grant you aquantity of manpowerproportional to the manpowervalue of your nationalprovinces.The Hawk Lobby - DoveLobby SliderThis slider indicates therelative strength of the pro-warversus the pro-peace lobby ina nation. Nations with a stronghawk lobby will enjoy reducedproduction times and costs,while more peaceful nationswill enjoy a better return on allIC allocations to consumergoods and often enjoy asomewhat more acceptedinternational diplomaticposition. You will find that apublic that favours a morehawkish political stancevolunteers more readily formilitary service and won’t haveas much dissent when theirgovernment under-funds itsconsumer goods allocation.The Interventionism -Isolationism SliderThis slider determines anation’s interest in being partof and interfering in the largerinternational community.Nations that actively involvethemselves on the world stageenjoy fewer restrictions and68