What is the proper way to manage Russia under attack?

[Der Kuenstler]

I’m new at Global and am going to use AAA program to illustrate. what is the best way to manage the German front as Russia to delay the Germans taking key cities as long as possible?

For example, do you leave one infantry in each bordering territory like this to foil blitzing, or is there something better to do? Do you just do this all the way back to Moscow?

And in a case like this, is it better to come out and attack the surrounding territories with minimal forces to get them away from Moscow, or just hunker down and buy more infantry?

[special forces]

When Moscow is surrounded i usually do small scale attacks if i can block larger forces with that, or if i can take out a better enemy unit (like a lone german tank).

Edit: actually, in your example i might just evacuate all the planes (depends on the situation).

[Gargantua]

Kuenstler,

There are never blanket solutions in axis and allies, ever.  Don’t look for them - or it’ll be your end.  There is never a silver bullet.

Like any battle in time, there are MANY different tactics, tools, and methods you can use to achieve victory.  The longer you play Axis and Allies, the more of these you will learn, and the more of these you will employ.  Eventually you’ll find which ones you prefer, and what works best for you.

That said,

AXIS AND ALLIES IS A GAME OF ECONOMICS, PERCEPTION, POSSIBILITIES, and PROBABILITIES. - And how you choose to coordinate them.

None of it is ever as simple as what’s right in front of you, and despite the very rudimentary -this is what to do in this exact situation- kind of advice, the best thing to learn, is just what to do in general.  Playing more games will always add to the choices available for you in your tool kit.  Sometimes general strategy from history can help you understand these concepts.

Specifically, in reference to your question, I want you to consider the Vietnam war for a moment.

Are you the Yankee’s?  Or are you the Viet Cong?

If you are vastly superior financially, then one LARGE battle is likely to suit you better than many smaller battles.  And you’re going to want ALL of your forces, to fight the entire piddalance of your opponent, so that you can achieve victory.

If you are the guerilla force, or being overwhelmed, you want to survive as long as possible, where/however possible, until help can finally arrive.  You also want to force match-ups, where you only face elements of your opponent, with your whole force, as opposed to the entirety of your opponent with his force.

Again, Axis and Allies is a game of economics.  You make money at the end of your turn, but you also make money, when you destroy enemy units.  The gamble is making sure through the exchange that you make more money than they did.

Specifically in reference to your second picture.

This type of stupa-stack is a tell tale sign of someone very new.  Thus - you must attack outward in every direction. (especially considering you have some planes)  Obviously there must be a german stack to the west somewhere looking to march down your throat, but there’s no sense in letting them, or the italians keep all their tanks alive, and have the freedom of mobility they want - whilst also reducing your income.

Possibly the only force I might not attack is the one in Smolensk, simply because I’d want to do well in the other locations, and force those infantry to attack me.

Also, in that situation, if you’re smart, you might even be able to threaten Karelia with liberation, by maximizing your position.  As long as no blitz can hit your capital, use your forces to threaten other targets.  Thereby forcing your opponent to react to YOUR terms, even though you have a smaller force.

It can be a game of chess… review the exchanges, and make sure that you’re getting a knight, when they get a pawn, ESPECIALLY if you are behind.  And if you are ahead, obviously you want to 50/50 trade pieces, or better, until your opponent has nothing left.

There’s alot more to it than that, but no one wants to read a book on the subject, over the forum.

[Witt]

Nice Garg.

[Gargantua]

My personal favourite Axis and Allies tactic is using -ghost- units, via the guise of mobility.

An unrealistic but simple example, an attacker has 10 transports and 20 ground units available in Java (w/ a naval base).

The defender has 100 ground units, but 4 victory cities to defend.

Obviously, the defender has  a major advantage because of the numbers… but in a strategic sense, the defender is required to spread out units in such a way, that losing a key factory, or victory city could cost them the game, suddenly the 20 ground units, is in effect, 80 ground units or more, depending on how many key locations they can hit.

Threat power IS power.

[Der Kuenstler]

Hey Garg - can you link me to a good AAA game of yours that displays your Allied tactics? I’d like to load and study it.

[WARRIOR888]

Agreed,  One or two USN carrier battle groups are a serious threat to any potential threat.

WARRIOR888

[Gargantua]

Here’s a tournament game of anniversary I’ve been playing against soundcrescent.

http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=27452.0

It’s not the BEST example, and I would argue quite easily that I’m losing the game; but for the last 6 or 7 turns, the Russians have been holding off the Japanese - despite overwhelming odds.

Also consider that for atleast the last 5 turns, the Axis have had an economic edge, BUT the allies have been able to reduce the axis total unit value count overall.

Soundcrescent is a master opponent, and I believe won the league title last year, as well as some other tournament titles.  Anniversary is his specialty.

You’ll also see at the end of this turn, how transport efficiency literally has the axis trying to defend EVERYWHERE at once in Europe.

The Japs just broke through and finally got a hold of Persia.  But if the Russians can hang in there, and Germany cracks, the economics will all change, and the Allies could pull off a win.

[Der Kuenstler]

OK thanks!

[Spendo02]

Garg’s points hold a lot of water when playing as Russia.  You want to pick your battles, not your opponent.  The easiest way of doing that is, as Garg said - creating a threat through Mobility where no advancing stack is safe.

Generally as Russia you want to take advantage of the threat Armor from the rear and Aircraft from AB’s.  I think that is why there is a push for a Bomber for Russia, because a purchase of a second Bomber plus the aircraft Russia starts with (2 Ftr, 1 Tac IIRC) equates to 2 Ftr, 1 Tac, 2 Bombers and if you add some Inf as fodder Germany you all of a sudden have the ability to strike just about anywhere with 2 die at 3, 3 die at 4 and Germany has to slow its advance or risk losing fodder and exposing Armor far from reinforcement.

Remember, a fair trade with Moscow and Germany is going to be equal amounts of Infantry due to as Garg alludes to, projection of threat.  Germany is rarely willing to expose Armor w/out infantry/Mech supporting it.  Trading 8 Inf for 8 German Inf and exposing Armor forces Germany to delay or retreat until reinforcements arrive - far from the front line.  All the while, Moscow is putting another 8 Inf on the board in either Moscow or spread around on its Minors and retreating its Aircraft far from the frontline.

[Gargantua]

Well said Spendoo

That brings up a good point, Personally, my primary target as the Russians on the eastern front, is German Infantry. I find that if the Germans don’t have any, they don’t win.  And they get forced into trading artillery or better for my infantry when I choose so.

They also don’t gain from the artillery advantage.

Good observation.

[Guest]

Sometimes I find it fun to strafe for a round and kill some German infantry, then retreat without actually taking the territory.  For instance in your second picture you might take Bryansk, Tambov and Samara to kill the tanks, plus Vologda to prevent him retaking Samara.  But what about Smolensk?  Suppose you attack it with 6 infantry attacking @1 versus the 3 Germans defending @2.  Odds are you each lose 1 infantry, which might not be so good, EXCEPT if your plan is to actually HOLD Bryansk.  If you put him in a position where he has to attack it without sufficient infantry cannon fodder he may end up losing tanks.  A half dozen infantry and an AA gun might be enough to deter him attacking it with just those 2 tanks from Archangel with 2 infantry rather than 3 (and no planes because he’s scared of that AA gun).  Give him crummy options.  Personally I find the strafing stuff makes Russia a lot of fun.  It can be gambley though

[Gargantua]

Strafing is a VERY important tactic aswell.  Especially when you are in position, that you can build into your strafing force.

This is even more effective in naval engagements.

[zanetheinsane]

The general strategy of “1 inf blocking, retreating stack behind it threatening counterattack” is the basic building block of Russia’s defense against Germany.

The thing to keep in mind about 1940 Global is how ridiculously large the distance is from Germany to Russia. The closer Germany gets to Russia, the more dangerous the Russian counterattack becomes simply because Germany can’t replace lost units with any relative speed, even if they’re using transports to ferry troops to Leningrad.

Any chance to strike back with good enough odds to strip Germany of their infantry cover means by the time they get to Moscow they risk naked tanks and fighters against a large force of defending infantry. Having enough artillery within your counterattack forces will be key.

Just moving your forces back toward Moscow every turn and waiting for defeat will almost always get your capital sacked.

[Cow]

Well, it depends honestly… on how many turns you want russia to survive, obviously exchanging units and making bank serves you in the long run.

I don’t like leaving 1 infs in spots… italy nutcrackers and there is nothing you can do anyway. As long as Bryansk can counter attack a german stack you are good… if you fall back to moscow, put what you need on moscow and some stuff in the back of moscow to counter in many spots.

but yeah russia is full of suck… they don’t get enough air to do skirmishes effectively.

[Der Kuenstler]

This is a little off topic, but when trying to relieve Russia as the USA or UK, I find that I am often able to land a few troops on Africa, Europe or Finland within a few rounds, which Germany then turns around and squashes, sinking the small navy also with all its German planes. Is that worth it to annoy Germany, or do you generally wait until you have enough units to take and hold what you attack? (which may take too long to save Russia)

[Witt]

I think every little attack is a diversion of German resources, so worth doing. If you do not land places, you allow Germany a free run at Russia.
North Africa has to be done. The  most annoying place For the Allies to land if you are Germany,  is Norway. Sometimes you cannot take it back as  and it can spell the beginning of the end for Germany.

[Gargantua]

every little attack is a diversion of German resources

Truer words may never have been spoken.

[Gargantua]

There is a problem though Der Keutnstler if all your fleets keep getting wiped.

[Der Kuenstler]

Well if I wait until I have built enough carriers and BBs etc that will withstand an air attack near Europe, then it can be too late for Russia or Japan gets ignored and too strong.