Ok, so a decided to create a thread entirely dedicated to the strategy of the U.S.S.R. (throughout either called Russia or Soviet Union). I was wondering how one could successfully resist Germany while also putting up a good fight against Japan. For starters,
Assuming that Germany has attacked Russia and gained land, I suggest a player make immediate and vigorous counterattack, or on the other hand retreat farther back. The one big advantage Russia has over Germany is that if Germany pushes to far to fast, Russia will be able to throw their new units into the fray next turn, while Germany’s reinforcements have to wait some time to come up from Germany.
So, I advocate a strategy of trading space, and letting the intial German offensive exhaust itself, then fall back on your factories, where units created in a timely fashion, would then pounce on their outnumbered adversaries and hurl them back.
I was also wondering what your ideas for a first turn build would be, I myself prefer the idea of 3 Tanks, and 5 Infantry, the infantry to defend one of your precious factories, and the tanks to give your already plentiful Infantry some hitting power, and therefore counterattack potential, to the overwhelmingly technologically superior Germans (in terms of aircraft, tanks, and artillery), though I also believe if you plan on a stalwart defensive instead of an “aggressive defense,” that Infantry and Artillery combination is excellent.
Now comes Japan, I wonder what you guys think should be done about the Rising Sun. I myself had liked the strategy of building an IC in Soviet Far East in previous game editions, though it was highly risky against good Japanese players. The AE has killed this plan though, because all lands in Siberia are worth only one, and it is hardly worth 15 ICP to pump out one unit a turn, when Japan can quickly overwhelm you.
Therefore I propose that a defensive line should be set up to the somewhere in Siberia to the East of Moscow, and that Japan should be made to pay dearly for its gains in Siberia, and that troops should be placed in Moscow, to bolster this line, once Japan starts creeping up to territories that are actually valuable.
An intersting strategy suggested to me by a friend also deserves some examination, what if the Russians constructed a Black Sea Fleet? Nothing major, the Soviet Union can ill afford battleships and carriers when the Germans are pounding at the gates. But destroyers every now and again, with some transports. Since there is a good chance there will always be some troops in the Caucasus, Germany and Italy will have to constantly worry about a lightning Russian descent on the Balkans or Bulgaria/Romania, or if the Axis are being careless, Italy itself. In this regard the U.K. can help immensely, and the Germans and their Italian buddies will be forced to hold valuable troops back to defend against this.
So the question for that is, is it cost effective? Is it worth building the ships, or will the Axis find it cheaper to defend, then Russia to threaten? I am intrigued by such responses and thoughts as you trusty forum members can conceive of.