Yeah, as the Flash report showed Austria has to attack south by rule (Serbia), it doesn’t have the strength to mount and sustain attacks to both the east (Romania) and the west (Venice) on its first turn. If they do (as Flash did) they just have two very weak fronts going that will halt the CP advances because they are spread to thin. They have to pick which side to go offensive round one, and Italy is the better strategic target (as Oz has pointed out). It cuts down that front to one territory, they can get German reinforcements if needed, and Italy gets less income. Romania (east) will still be there turn two. If the Russians stack it you can double hit them making it much easier for the Germans to gain advantage over the Russians. If they activate Romania with a nominal force you can crush it w/Austria, and reinforce w/Turks. Russia will be hesitant to counter attack w/Germans coming across from the north (could get cut off).
In the bigger picture I think the CP as a whole must come up w/strat early on to dig in on one front to set-up defenses at strangle points (in enemy territory if possible), and go offensive on the other. If they don’t then the CP as a whole will see the same thing as A/H did, two weak fronts collapsing. I think they need to pick a side, and roll with it, but also take advantage of tactical errors on the other side if they get a chance.
It makes sense for A/H to gain ground in Venice round one to dig in. Then being patient waiting for the Turks to catch up to triple hit the Russians starting on the second turn (Germany will probably have a foot hold in Poland). The way the game is set up it is much harder to attack when multiple powers are def together. Russia is pretty much alone w/only minimal English support that may not come in time (there won’t be 10 English ftrs def Moscow in this game LOL). I like how Flash attacked the Brit navy to attempt to slow down British reinforcements coming into France, or the Russian north through Scandinavia BTW.
