Developer Diary | The Dutch East Indies
DEV DIARYMajor rework for the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) featuring joint focus trees with the Netherlands and a new Princely States autonomy system.
Key Changes
- 1New joint focus trees for Politics, Economy, and Military shared with the Netherlands
- 2Soetardjo Petition mechanic determines the path between Loyalty and Revolution
- 3Resource Contracts system allows leasing resources for factories and weapons
- 4Princely States system introduces new autonomy and coring mechanics for the archipelago
- 5Volksraad decision system for passing autonomy laws and managing Dutch vetoes
- 6New occupation mechanics including surrendering to Japan and later seizing independence
- 7Netherlands focus tree adjustments to balance the new joint investment options
- 8Joint military rewards where the originator gets full benefits and the partner gets half
- 9New 'Seize the Opportunity' focus to switch political branches mid-war
- 10Export limit national spirit added to represent Great Depression economic struggles
All Changes
🏳️Factions(5)
- newDutch East Indies: Added Princely States (zelfbesturende landschappen) as non-core states with high compliance and no resistance.
- newDutch East Indies: Added multiple methods to integrate and core Princely States via generic and political focus branches.
- newDutch East Indies: Added a national spirit that heavily limits the amount of resources available for export at the start of the game.
- changeNetherlands: Trimmed the colonial investment branch to accommodate the new joint focus tree.
- buffNetherlands: Reduced several South America investment focuses to 35-day completion times.
⚙️Gameplay Systems(6)
- newResource Market: Introduced the Resource Contracts system, allowing the leasing of resources to private companies for civilian factories and equipment.
- newPolitics: Added the Soetardjo Petition event, triggering a vote after 140 days to determine political alignment.
- newVolksraad: Added the Volksraad decision system to pass laws for autonomy and petition progress.
- newVolksraad: Implemented a veto mechanic for the Netherlands to block Volksraad petitions in exchange for political power refunds to the Indies.
- newAI Behavior: Added a modifier to increase AI likelihood of taking joint focuses via specific advisors and focuses.
- newFocus Tree: Added a state modifier reward for focuses that would core a state that is already cored.
🌳Focus Trees(7)
- newLoyalist Branch: Added a joint Politics & Economy focus tree shared between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies.
- newMilitary Branch: Added a joint Military focus tree covering Navy, Army, Military Industry, and Air sub-branches.
- newLoyalist Branch: Implemented a 'race' mechanic for capstone focuses where the Indies can declare independence or the Netherlands can seize colonial industry.
- newOccupation Branch: Added the 'Resisting Occupation' branch, unlocked when invaded by a major power.
- newRevolutionary Branch: Added the 'Seize the Opportunity' focus, allowing a mid-game switch to the Revolutionary branch if Japan controls less than 70% of its peak territory.
- newFocus Tree: Added the 'Republic of Indonesia' and 'Economic Integration' post-capstone focuses.
- newFocus Tree: Added the 'Netherlands-Indonesia Union' focus, available exclusively during wartime.
Summary
Overview
This developer diary introduces a comprehensive overhaul for the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) in Hearts of Iron IV. The update focuses on the complex relationship between the colony and the Netherlands, introducing shared focus trees and unique economic challenges stemming from the Great Depression.
Political & Economic Systems
The political path is defined by the Soetardjo Petition, a 140-day event that determines if the nation remains loyal or pursues revolution. A new Volksraad decision system allows players to lobby for autonomy, while the Resource Contracts system manages the archipelago's vast rubber and oil exports.
Military & Occupation
The military branch is now a joint tree shared with the Netherlands, where both nations can contribute to and benefit from naval, army, and air improvements. New mechanics for Japanese occupation allow Indonesia to surrender and later 'Seize the Opportunity' to declare independence if Japan begins to lose the war.