What is Hearts of Iron 3 you ask? Hearts of Iron 3 is a grand strategy game made by Paradox Interactive. The game takes place before, during, after World War 2. The goal of the game is up to you, however objectives can be set by faction leaders. Throughout the game you will be reasearching technology, upgrading units, creating armies, building navies, and bombing stuff with your planes. You will have the ability to use diplomatic actions, sabotage nations with spies, govern your nation politically, and fight one many theatres. Did I mention you can play as any country on the map? The game can support up to 32 players and gameplay is in realtime so you don't have to wait for anyone.
Factions
The Allies
The Allies support the ideas of freedom and democracy and protect the ideas freeworld. Countries who are members of the Allies are protected by a universal mutual assistance treaty. If any member of the Allies is attacked, all members consider it an attack upon all of them and are automatically considered at war with the attacker or the attacking faction. Allied faction countries require more consumer goods during peacetime, but less during wartime.
The Axis
The Axis are aggressive and tend support conquest of the smaller nations to grow. Axis members have the ability to declare “limited war” upon another country. They may attack another country without inviting their faction members to join them, which allows them to keep the territory for themselves and not share in the victory spoils. If the country gets into trouble, they may still issue a Call to Arms, which invites their faction allies to join and help them. Axis countries also have fewer restrictions on when they can declare war, and get a bonus when fighting in enemy-owned provinces which are claimed by the Axis country.
Comintern
The Comintern are a group of nations who support Communism and Socialism. Because Comintern countries are so closely joined ideologically, they pool their resources for the common good and are able to trade resources with other Comintern members without using money. Comintern faction spies also get a bonus to their effectiveness.
Neutral
You have the option to not join a side and do your own thing.
GameplayGameplay is slow at first, but once the year 1939 hits the action starts to come. The game is loosly tied with actual historical events so you see things like the Spanish civil war, the Finish-Soviet Winter War, and the Pearl Harbor attacks. Like an Rts you will be commanding units, instead you will be commanding regiments, brigades, corps, and army groups, and armies. Control units yourself or have ai command them through an HQ. Play against people or AI.
Media
Where to Buy it?
On steam ofcourse. It is $10.00 on steam.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/25890/Are there DLC's?
Yes there is. Each dlc adds new content to the game and actually improves gameplay. All DLC's are avaible on steam. It should be noted that once you install a dlc on steam that it impossible to disable it, so if you have a friend who has vanilla and you have a DLC like For the Motherland it will not be able to play with him. (If you guys know how to disable expansions and DLC's that would be great.)
Is this a game I can pick up and play and be good at?
Depends on how familiar you are with Paradox's games. I would say there is learning curve to it and it will take a few days to get gameplay down and understanding of how the gameworks. Don't worry though there is a nice community around to help you.
Other links
Game websiteSupport and System Requirements
