• In that case, it is a purely tactical situation.

    Allies NEVER attack with less than devastating force in order to preserve their units since the Axis starts out with more.


  • Hey Jen, I’ve tried that, and one of my friends has tried that against me. It’s been very effective both times. At the very least, the absolute least, the forward russian aggression slows Germany and Japan down long enough for Britain to interfere. I really think Britian is the key to that plan, a factory in India and transports in the Atlantic can work very well with Russian forces on the mainland, and hopefully hold out long enough for the US to tip the scales somewhere.


  • In the Tournament game I just completed, Russia DID go very offensive in the West (on Germany), but was defensive in the East.

    It worked, because Germany did some non-standard opening moves, so the extra Russian pressure was decisive.

    However, had the US and UK not been poised to capitalize on that extra offensive push, it leaves Russia spent, and in about 2 turns it can be reduced to 8-12 IPC’s with minimal losses to the Axis.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Russia almost has to go ballistic on round 1 at least.  Especially given you have a primo chance to kill off a German fighter before he can consolidate.

    However, I think if you do keep the offensive, you have a strong ability to lock up German forces so Africa is easier to claim and, if you are offensive against Japan, you can keep them backed up giving ground to them pretty slowely…but then again, I’ve only played AAR about 5 times now - against humans.


  • I have to wonder, Jen, if you’re one of the proponents of the 3-way Russian attack on R1. Attack Belo with 3 inf 1 arm, W. Russia with 6 inf 1 art 1 arm, and Ukraine with 3 inf 1 art 3 arm 2 fighter. All of your battles are above 50% of succeeding, and if the dice are good you wind up taking all 3 territories. If not, you thin out the Germans quite a bit. That to me is Russia going ballistic. I’m not a believer of it myself, but there are those who swear by it even if it doesn’t totally succeed.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    No, but I like the idea now that I’ve heard it!!!

    Actually, I go W. Russia with a blocker in Karelia and Ukraine to get a German fighter.  The three way might be a bit too taxing on attack forces, meaning I have to build 8 infantry instead of some offensive ground units to cover the loss and I’m going to be out all of my tanks.


  • Bah who needs tanks. Mass more transports as Russia  :mrgreen:

    I remember there used to be a time when I would build 6 artillery with Russia on R1 lol. I was like hmmm Russia has so many infantry to start with why not go a bit offensive?  :wink:

  • Moderator

    @trihero:

    I have to wonder, Jen, if you’re one of the proponents of the 3-way Russian attack on R1. Attack Belo with 3 inf 1 arm, W. Russia with 6 inf 1 art 1 arm, and Ukraine with 3 inf 1 art 3 arm 2 fighter. All of your battles are above 50% of succeeding, and if the dice are good you wind up taking all 3 territories. If not, you thin out the Germans quite a bit. That to me is Russia going ballistic. I’m not a believer of it myself, but there are those who swear by it even if it doesn’t totally succeed.

    Not a big fan of this.  I’m a big proponent of less battles, more force and limiting the effects of dice.  Even if all three battles are 75% to win in favor of Russia, that still only gives you about 40+% to win all three.

    I’d only consider that in LL, where you are a little more certain to take all three.

    However with a 6 bid - 1 inf Lib, 1 inf Belo, you can eliminate the Belo part of this attack on R1, thus negating this move altogether.


  • I’m definitely not a fan of it either. I would also rather have less attacks but much more security in numbers. Like you pointed out, a bid in Europe negates it. And it’s about 44% chance to take all 3 territories, so there’s a good chance you had to retreat in one of them. It only leaves W. Russia at 90%, so if you’re in those 1/10 games where you fail, you’re pretty much doomed.


  • And I think that it has been proven on these boards that even a “win” in West Russia with above average Russian Losses is a pretty serious hole for the Allies to dig out of… let alone LOSING in West Russia due to spreading Russia too thin on the R1 combat front…


  • Aye, that was something that caught me as well.  Even if you win them all, now you are in three spots in Germany with no real hope of defending any of them.  Once Germany pops through you’ll be in dire trouble trying to set up another decent offensive.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Equally as bad is stacking W. Russia and not doing anything else.

    Why give Germany an extra fighter?  You have plenty of ability to kill it off with minimal losses and Germany really is not in a position to rebuild it.  Especially if they buy a carrier!


  • @Jennifer:

    Equally as bad is stacking W. Russia and not doing anything else.

    Why give Germany an extra fighter?  You have plenty of ability to kill it off with minimal losses and Germany really is not in a position to rebuild it.  Especially if they buy a carrier!

    WHy can’t Germany just rebuild another fighter down the line after a couple rounds? It’s not as if there’s anything stopping a person if they’ve got enough infantry on the board to add another figther to the arsenal.  As long as a person isn’t spread too thin and can spare $10 bucks, buy another fighter.


  • I would not be inclined to do all three battles on the E. front as Russia. Losing 5 units in WRU is a blow enough just when doing two and I remember a few games where I didn’t take WRU on R1 trying to do Belo, UKR and WRU and having serious troubles from then on out.


  • I am a 2 battle R1 person…
    West Russia and eitehr Belo or Ukraine.

    Some determining factors for me on which of the 2 to try…

    1.  Has a bid been placed in Belo?  If yes, Belo is out.
    2.  Am I going to fight early and hard for Egypt?  If so, Ukraine is in.


  • If I see a bid in Belo, I will send 1 tank there in addition to the 3 inf and 1 fighter from Karelia.


  • I tend to just hit Ukraine instead :-)

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Ukraine makes more sense to me.  You can kill a German fighter!  That alone is worth any risk you have.


  • You don’t miss all those tanks you send to Ukraine? Killing a fighter in Ukraine may not weaken the Africa front much if there’s a bid there  :-(

  • 2007 AAR League

    Which forces do you use for Ukraine and WRU assuming those are the battles you do. I am assuming that if you are attacking Belo you are using all inf and figs so you don’t lose offensive.

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