Technologies, as currently configured? Darn.
I disagree that Russia needs advanced artillery. I find it less beneficial in trading territories than others I suppose. (Why trade 7 IPC instead of 6 IPC when trading territories? Aint like Russia earns enough as it is!)
I’d have to go with the following:
Germany: Against Russia: Improved Mechanized Infantry for sure! Against England: Jet Fighters
It is safe to assume Germany has 70 IPC to spend on round 2. If they are going against Russia, that is 7 Mechanized Infantry, 7 Armor. Since these guys are moving into the fray much faster than any artillery can follow, the added punch to the mechanized infantry could prove the decisive factor in any battle.
Against England, the Jets would make sinking the British fleet and keeping it sunk a lot easier. After all, Germany really does not need the LRA tech for its purposes.
Russia: Either War Bonds or Jet Fighters.
War Bonds would give Russia some extra cash it would need, and presumably, the techs would start on round 1, thus it could have 4 rounds of extra cash before being attacked. At 3.5 average result on the die, that would be +14 IPC before Germany, allegedly, attacks.
Jet Fighters would give the Russians just that little extra punch that could be invaluable when trading territories. I can’t recall the number of times I have lost a trade because my fighter kept rolling a 4.
Japan: I definitely agree, LRA couple with Air Bases would be an almost unimaginable boon to the Japanese.
United States: Shipyards and/or LRA
Same reason as Japan.
England(both boards): Rockets, Radar or Improved Shipyards.
Honestly, with London falling so easily right now, I find it hard to see shipyards as superior to radar. At least radar should improve the number of German planes destroyed during a Sea Lion attempt, perhaps giving England the victory.
Rockets could just plain be useful, if you could get enough guns out.
Shipyards would be great for Calcutta, but they don’t desperately need them as much as say Jets or Improved Factories, or whatever.
ANZAC: Improved Factories, probably. At least one could build 5 units instead of 3 in New South Wales.
Italy: I agree, shipyards to rebuild or maybe paratroopers.
At least the paratroopers could take the islands in the Med, snipe underdefended ground territories, etc. Shipyards are probably still better.
France: LRA. All you have is a fighter anyway, why not give it longer range?