Russian Strategy

[bbrett3]

The Russian Black Sea navy seems like a decent Idea, but you can only pull it off if:
A) the Italian fleet is gone
B)  you have the $$$ to spare, which means the das Germans are reeling
and if both of these things are happening your on the road to victory anyway……

[Ó Ruanaidh]

I agree with letter A, the plan is hardly feasible with Italian Battleships and cruisers cruising around the Med, but to B I say, not necessarily. If you wanted to buy a fighter, you could perhaps get a transport instead, so that way, Germany would have to leave at least 2 infantry behind in Bulgaria/Romania, and Italy would have to garrison the Balkans and Italy itself, which ultimately pays off on the Eastern Front in my opinion.

[atarihuana]

that trn alone would be german bomber fodder

[Ó Ruanaidh]

Hmmm, so it would be, perhaps if you buy a destroyer one round, then a transport the next, that why the Germans have to decide if they want to risk losing a bomber for some Russian ships.

[bbrett3]

@Ó:

Hmmm, so it would be, perhaps if you buy a destroyer one round, then a transport the next, that why the Germans have to decide if they want to risk losing a bomber for some Russian ships.

IMHO I’d rather have 3 tanks opposed to a 15IPC navy in the black sea, which will probably get sunk

[Ó Ruanaidh]

Naturally, but that is boring and un-dynamic, we need to keep things fresh, and the enemy will be thinking “What the hell is he thinking?” Which can be an advantage, because he will not know how to react. If you know a bit about actual World War II, then you’ll know that Mussolini really threw Churchill and the Brits off balance by being so unpredictable, he attacked in Greece, and in Egypt, and other places, and the British stretched themselves thin trying to counter that. In fact, if Germany had intervened decisively in Africa after the evacuation of the British from Somalia and Greece, they would likely have knocked the Brits right out of the Med. So the same applies to this game, if your opponent is not sure what you are doing, he as to guess, and has to place forces to counter what he thinks you are going to do. Comes in handy sometimes, whereas with 3 tanks, he knows precisely what you’re going to do with them, and be easily able to counter it, as long as he has money.

[bbrett3]

@Ó:

Naturally, but that is boring and un-dynamic, we need to keep things fresh, and the enemy will be thinking “What the hell is he thinking?” Which can be an advantage, because he will not know how to react. If you know a bit about actual World War II, then you’ll know that Mussolini really threw Churchill and the Brits off balance by being so unpredictable, he attacked in Greece, and in Egypt, and other places, and the British stretched themselves thin trying to counter that. In fact, if Germany had intervened decisively in Africa after the evacuation of the British from Somalia and Greece, they would likely have knocked the Brits right out of the Med. So the same applies to this game, if your opponent is not sure what you are doing, he as to guess, and has to place forces to counter what he thinks you are going to do. Comes in handy sometimes, whereas with 3 tanks, he knows precisely what you’re going to do with them, and be easily able to counter it, as long as he has money.

I think that you have a valid point about being unpredictable, but there’s a difference between being stratigically unpredictable, and being upredictable just for the sake of it

I do see what you mean though…… :wink:

[Imperious Leader]

If the Soviets build ANY naval while the Germans continue to hold Soviet territory, then the Soviets will surely lose. They need tanks and planes and not transports or destroyers.

They used to have a guy back in 98 ( on MSN game zone) who always bought a Battleship for 24 IPC on turn one and went on to win some victories, but i think he was fluffing up his results so he can tell his grandson how he won games with Soviet Battleships.

Buying naval for the Soviets is like claiming you found the lock ness monster

[gebs99]

ive played several times as Rusia, i have never really finished agame (somebody always has to leave) but what I usually do is buy a mix of soldiers and tanks, soldiers for karelia and caucasus and tanks for moscow. I like to use what i call a “guerilla” strategy with Rusia. I usually hit the german frontline where i can kill more tanks than the ones ill lose. I always keep my units out of reach of tanks in germany then pull out and leave several territories controled by only one soldier to stall. This is usually my firts turn.

For the rest of the turns I attack the german frontline only to thin them down then I retreat from the atack and regroup on the territory my units have retreated to. in the best case you would leave germany with a single soldier in the territory o just a few units, useless ofr a counter attack, out of reach od the german capital and within reach of your new tanks un moscow.

The roll of the UK player in this strategy was also importan, the player understood my plan and helped me take finland and norway and made attacks on the german sides and in france to distract.

The point of my strategy y to causa damage, retreat, stall, basically frustrate de german player.

[Field Marshall E. Rommel]

I think the Russian Strategy is pretty simple, but hard to execute.  Russia needs a good mix of tanks as the forces need to be nimble to attack muliple positions within the Russian territory as Germany advances.  In order to slow Germany’s push into Russia, a player needs to be able to take advantage of gaps in Germany’s trail from Berlin to Moscow.  I would advise to go 2 tanks instead of a fighter anytime of the week.

Also, looking at the map and seeing the amount of men Russia starts with, the first purchase should be tilted toward armor as compared to men.  I typically go all tanks, but that may be extreme for some players.

[Pvt.Patterson]

I like the 3 tanks 4 infantry R1. It has served me well every time I use it. Then I normally cut tank production to two and buy art for the inf.
Also depending on what is left defending Ukraine I may make a R1 assault on it with 5 inf and 1 tank? maybe if they are really weak, 1-2 tanks 1-2 in 1 art. Only if they are weak 3-4 or less units.

Also I like to move the karila art to Arch with the Moscow art and 2-3 inft in Arch.

[alwayswin]

Russia starts with plenty of infantry in 1941, the first two purchases should be mostly attacking units, I like to buy a bomber first turn with two artillery and two tanks, this allows for several R2 counters. No the bomber doesn’t defend well but its range is critical for trading territories with Germany. There’s just so much you can do with that bomber on all fronts. If you are playing with NO’s you may even be able to buy a second and then if you happen to get paratroopers (not unlikely since Russia has to go with chart 1) you can cause serious problems for the Axis. Never push too far ahead, let the Germans come to you and then slide in the back door with the UK and US.

[REX]

I can’t be the only one executing The Russia bomber strategy?

Its really boring, but effective. The strategy is based on that Germany never will take Russia. If you feel unsure of it try it with fighters instead as they can defend russia in worst case scenarios.
What you do is, you buy one Bomber each round. Fill the rest of ipc with mainly infantry and if it adds up, 1 or 2 tanks. This way your bombers will stack up and become a powerful weapon, ready to strike wherever its necessery. Together with infantry you dont lose that valuable tanks to counterattacks and you still have great attacking power.

And even in the 5th round when you find yourself with 4 bombers, buy another one. Stay consistant. Someone said that attack is the best defence. Was it right or wrong?

[bongaroo]

Go for it, I’d love Russia to be putting 4 less Inf down each turn as Germany.  I don’t think you would have enough fodder to trade territories for very long and Germany would start to get the upper hand as far as the Income balance goes.  By round 5 Japan should be showing up from the South as well.

I don’t think buying a bomber a turn is a good strategy at all.  I’ve seen Russia buy a few fighters to help in trading along the front and I could understand a bomber but not 1 a turn.

[REX]

Well of course it depends on the situation. If germany is threating Moscow then you wont build a bomber, that turn. But lets say both Germany and Japan is in safe distance, you will never be disappointed with your Bomber. The Vision with the Russia Bomber Strategy is to gain air supremecy with Russia. 1 bomber every turn is maybe to exaggerate but its something you should always strive for. And believe me, it pays off.

[Patton+]

I may not be very adaptive, but ahhh…

also I don’t play with NO’s (they are a optional rule), and I don’t really like to throw money away on tech.

I still say men and tanks win the war, I generally build 3 tanks and 5 men on R1.  then proceed to build my best 8 from there on out.  t2 is usually 2 tanks 6 men (oh yeah, arty’s aren’t a unit in my book, one too many bad experiences with them  in the past), turn three… well it’s adaptive but it depends where the Germans have got themselves. turn three is where I take stock…

am I gonna be alone, are the allies set up to start landing on France, how much longer till japan shows up?  T3 is usually when I start to take Russia on the offense if she is gonna have one.  if everything is in play the Germans have got themselves in deep enough into russia that she won’t be able to retreat fully.  The UK and USA are making demands for the german affection, this is the turn I would probably build all tanks and start pushing out… as for as the turns after that… back to superior men builds with a few tanks… let’s not forget the japanese are prolly only 2 turns out from being a sever threat…

anyways, men and tanks are very boring but in my opinion the most effective.  I mean can russia ever have enough men?  also nothing beats the hitting and defensive power of a tank dollar per dollar… so yeah just men and tanks, lots of both, but mostly men.

also turn one… while it is pain full, it generally helps save American fleet … I like stacking all 7 inf in the far east.  I call it bait, I mean what Japanese player would pass on eating up all those tasty Russian infantry?  it usually changes up what japan would  like to do otherwise… if you roll well you can sometimes get a fighter… but generally your gonna lose and lose bad in that bait fight.  also if your lucky you can draw japan up from the southern route to your capital, to the northern one which is a 5 territory track for her infantry.

[REX]

I like the 7 infantry bait thing. If Japan ignores them too long, they will create problems. I once walked them thruogh china and India and they walked all the way back to causcasus even if it was only two men left at the end. Two brave men.

[Jennifer]

Oh, oh! I know!

Russia: Cruiser, Carrier, Infantry, Save 1 IPC
England: Land 2 fighters on Russian Carrier

(Assuming you build it in SZ 4 with your Submarine so the British Fighters Can land there!)

[bbrett3]

@Cmdr:

Oh, oh! I know!

Russia: Cruiser, Carrier, Infantry, Save 1 IPC
England: Land 2 fighters on Russian Carrier

(Assuming you build it in SZ 4 with your Submarine so the British Fighters Can land there!)

Now I know your probably a waaaaay better strategist then me, but this just sounds like too much of a risk to me.

[Jennifer]

@bbrett3:

@Cmdr:

Oh, oh! I know!

Russia: Cruiser, Carrier, Infantry, Save 1 IPC
England: Land 2 fighters on Russian Carrier

(Assuming you build it in SZ 4 with your Submarine so the British Fighters Can land there!)

Now I know your probably a waaaaay better strategist then me, but this just sounds like too much of a risk to me.

Yea, it was a joke. :)

But just imagine how funny it would be done IRL!  Betcha I could take off my shirt, pull this stunt, and still have a slightly decent chance to win the game (since my opponent would be staring at my chest - I hope - I could pull all his tanks off the board without his knowing it!  Thus, I would have a slightly decent chance to win! hehe.)