The highly anticipated first DLC for Hearts of Iron 4 is finally available. Check back for more in-depth coverage on all the new features, but in the meantime, here’s a look at some of the new Achievements available in this update. Paradox has always been a little cheeky with its achievements, but with this batch they go above and beyond. Many of them will obviously focus on the Commonwealth Nations as that is the huge push of the DLC. Below are a few of my favorites and how to get them.
Braaaaains!
‘As Canada, complete the Send in the Zombies focus.’
When I first saw this, I got very excited for Paradox Grand Strategy Zombie Outbreak Game. (Legit great idea for a game, no one is allowed to steal it!). Alas, the title actually refers to the Conscription Crisis of 1944. Canadian conscripts who refuses to serve overseas were called ‘Zombies,’ since they were neither alive nor dead (In the sense that they were conscripted but couldn’t join the fight in Europe).
District 9
‘As South Africa, have 9 civilian factories in Transvaal.’
This one is a little easier to decode. A clear reference to the film District 9, Transvaal is the historical name of the province Johannesburg, the setting of the film. Nine civilian factories in one province is no insignificant feat. It will take time to develop the province enough to even house nine factories, not including the time to build them.
Our Words Are Backed With Nuclear Weapons
‘As India, develop and deploy a nuke. You must have the Quit India Movement national spirit.’
This one is a reference to another grand strategy series by a different company, Civilization. A quirk of the code in an early Civilization game led to a Ghandi that was by default the most peaceful Civ in the game, but upon developing nukes became a terrifying war-mongering, nuke-dropping monster. Pretty self explanatory. How to achieve – Just bear in mind you need strategic bombers to drop nukes. I always forget, then have to rush to develop them after my nukes are ready to go.
Crusader Kings
‘As South Africa, finish the ‘A King for our People’ focus and take Jerusalem.’
This one is of course named after Paradox’s fantastic medieval Grand Strategy Game Crusader Kings. This one would be very tricky to do without a dedicated playthrough for the achievement. To unlock ‘A King for our People,’ you must go down the path of diplomatically severing South Africa from the United Kingdom. After doing that, you have two ways to unlock: A national focus that sparks a civil war, or a ‘South Africa first’ path creating a fascist leaning independent state. King Edward must also be exiled from England, something you will have no control over. After all that, you can take the ‘A King for our People’ focus, then goes the not insignificant task of conquering Jerusalem.
It's 1812 All Over Again
‘As Canada, take and hold Washington D.C.’
A reference to the War of 1812 when British forces took D.C. and partially burned down the white house. This is another one that probably requires a dedicated playthrough. You’ll need to get Canada independent and ideologically opposed enough that it could even declare war on the U.S. Then you have the much harder task of taking the capital of one of the strongest countries in the game.
The weapons of the Third Emu War
‘As Australia, use a nuclear bomb on core Australian territory.’
Self explanatory but I couldn’t leave this one out.
Check out the full list of new Achievements here.
