• I developed a highly unconventional Russian strategy against Barbarosa I named Red Skies. Makes playing Soviet Union a little funner.

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC5zN4iV9YdG5oQz9v_03bI-FR8b2SF0y


  • @dazedwit could you explain the general idea? What do you do with the 3 Russian strat bombers?


  • @Cornwallis did you watch the playlist? I bought 3 SB’s on R1, and one SB every turn after that. For the first 4 turns they bombed Germany IC’s. Germany abandoned their Major in Romania after round 3 (and only got half what he wanted to put down on round 3). The wall of SB’s kept Germany from SBR Moscow IC, since the wall of SB’s would take out his planes right after - and forced Germany not to split his army since they could picked off by the planes. Once Germany hit Bryansk, Russia sent 5 SB’s (lost one in a raid), 2 fighters, 1 Tac, 1 tank, 1 art, and i think 30 inf at Germany’s 20 tanks and his fodder.

    That battle was a blowout in Soviet favor.

    I then rerolled it with Germany buying 10 inf, 5 tanks instead of 10 tanks - but didn’t change anything about SU defense (which, if you saw an extra 10 inf coming you would have abandoned Leningrad and the Eastern Front to get more fodder in). Germany won that battle with 2 tanks left.

    I developed the Red Skies strategy to deal with Germany buying Major on turn one. I like it so much I’m prob buying 3 SB’s SU turn one most games now. Just started a new Japan strategy game and Germany did G1 Barbarosa and looking like they will take Leningrad turn two. Not buying SB’s turn one as I need bodies in Leningrad.

    For Japan strategy vid I was going to just roll and film Asia, but I’m going J1 so playing whole world to see how the strategy interacts with everything else.


  • @dazedwit not all of them. A bit too long and too much dice roling. Interesting. Cool how you try-out new strategies.
    You only bombed Rumania? Couldn´t he just built in Germany and outmass you bc buying no bombers makes it difficult for USSR to defend so if R1 you only buy 3 units then germany will have more men.


  • @Cornwallis

    Yeah, I roll out the battles (sorry if it’s boring) because that proves one way or the other whether strategy will work.

    I wasn’t worried about Germany building in Berlin. In fact that’s all they did after turn 3. Berlin is two extra spaces away.

    First series, Germany bought nothing but tanks every round. Big scary offensive juggernaut.

    SU bout 1 SB and 10 inf every turn after one.

    What these strategy vids are teaching me (among other things) is that inf is most important unit in the game. I kinda knew that with my sealion vids but Red Skies really brought that point home. Germany bought nothing but tanks - they lose. Germany buys 10 inf and 5 tanks instead of 10 tanks, they win.

    Sealion is super easy when you go all in with SBR and convoys - you remove 8-13 inf and then Battle of London is over after two rounds of rolling and you have inf left in London. I recently read on here somebody say that UK should buy nothing but fighters so Germany will go up against 7 planes; that’s going to make Sealion even easier. It will be over after one round.


  • @Cornwallis SB’s were mainly for bombing factories but they were also there for offense - or the threat of offense. Maybe turn 4 , Germany split it’s army to take two territories instead of one. The smaller of the two armies got decimated by a wall of Soviet SB’s and whatever fodder could join. Germany didn’t split it’s army again. This also kept Germany’s dark skies at bay in Romania - if they flew up, they wouldn’t be able to get all the way back to Romania and would be exposed to bombing. They couldn’t waste plains - they are needed for Moscow.

    The threat of offense is one of the biggest pros to this strat I think.


  • @dazedwit

    Could be a way to deal with a romanian factory but it is depending a lot om germany buying the factory in the first place.
    Though a baltic fleet might also be at risk from bombers.

    Cant germany put fighters in romania to intercept the bombers?

    It does take away 4 inf for every bomber.
    Or it removes 3 art each bomber which does remove quite a lot of combat power.

    IMO rolling out battles is not really a good way to prove a strat, Its better to start calculating odds or using stuff like trilpeA battle calculator if the fight is to large.
    For videos maby use low luck, it removes a lot of the dice rolling and makes a faster video. And it gives a verry good average result of combat.

    Sometimes dice get funny that doesnt mean a strat is good or bad, germany can roll snake eyes on the AA defence of the major. That would not mean bombing is never a good idea.

    Also trying strats against yourself does often lead to tunnel vision. The enemy behaves like you expect because its you. When i first started playing before i got on the forum we missed out a lot of powerfull ideas and strats just because me and my friend never thought about that option.

  • 2025 2024 '23 '22 '21 '20

    I would think long and hard before adopting this strategy. If the Russian player buys 7 bombers over the first 5 Turns all they are doing is guaranteeing an Axis victory.

    1. No smart Axis player is going to build the Romanian Major Factory. This strategy, known as the Romanian Rush, provides for a greater G6 attack on Moscow. However, it actually provides a weaker G7 attack so most players will not use this strategy.

    2. If you want Russia to be aggressive buying 4 infantry, versus 1 bomber, provides more offensive firepower than 1 bomber does.

    3. A smart German player is not going to split their main attack so having bombers to “pick off a second area” is worthless.

    4. A smart German player is not buying tanks. They are buying infantry + artillery on Turn 1, then lots of mechanized infantry and some tanks the rest of the time.

    5. Having 7 bombers on defense versus 28 infantry is self explanatory as to why that is a bad idea.

  • '21 '20 '19 '18 '17 '16

    Who doesn’t love a Russian strat bomber or two?

    Spending the equivalent of 20 infantry on five strat bombers is insanity if you want Russia to live until turn 10 or so. Every single infantry matters.

    I do see advantage to Russia having a strat bomber – combined with a fighter, it could actually slow down Germany’s approach to and assault on Moscow by using strategic bombing against German-held ICs in Leningrad and Ukraine, forcing Germany to spend extra money to build units there that can be pumped into the offensive against Moscow.

    If Germany tries to thwart this strategy by positioning fighters to protect those ICs, Germany then has to spend money building those fighters so as not to deplete the air cover for Western Europe. (Wait, you say, Russia has fighters – true, but if Russia loses them they can’t afford to replace them.)

    There are two problems with this idea that I see:

    • The US and UK are far more able to afford a spare strat bomber or two to be based in Russia. The UK is also probably sending fighters to bolster the Russian defenses, so those fighters could actually allow this
    • Germany is probably going to build those extra fighters anyway to bolster the eventual attack on Russia.

    Personally, I would stick with the infantry. A UK bomber can be escorted by UK fighters that have a meaningful chance of either forcing the German player to just accept strat bombing damage or to potentially trade German fighters for UK fighters (always a good deal for Russia).

    The UK can’t reliably get infantry and other ground forces to Moscow. They CAN reliably send fighters and strat bombers. Infantry are better produced locally, and by buying strat bombers you’re weakening the very core of your Russian defense.

    Marsh


  • @MarshmallowofWar

    the purpose of this strategy, besides being heretical, was to try to develop something where Russia could stand alone without the allies coming to the rescue. And I actually bought six bombers. 3 bombers, 1 bomber 10 inf, 1 bomber 10 inf, 1 bomber 9 inf.

    All those bombers performed several functions that altered how Germany wanted to get to Moscow.

    • The Major IC in Romania didn’t place a single unit after turn 3 (and didn’t place a full load on turn 3 thanks to bombing). You could also bomb Berlin IC if you choose.
    • Germany forced to keep it’s entire force together to avoid having small pockets wiped out by Red Skies. For this strategy you want Germany to keep it’s large force together in one territory so you can finally attack with your six bombers, tank, art, and 30 inf.
    • Germany couldn’t risk trying to bomb Moscow IC. Planes can’t follow the army as they can’t land in newly conquered territory. Army couldn’t split up to protect them because of Red Skies - so they mainly parked in Romania waiting for the Battle of Moscow. Germany had a ton of planes and quite a few bombers. They were going to take Moscow if and when that battle came.

    For all future games I will at least be doing a version of Red Skies. Buying 3 SB’s turn one every time.

    I rolled this strategy two different ways.

    • Germany buying 10 tanks for Romania G2. Germany got wiped out just outside of Moscow.

    • Germany buying 10 inf for Romania, and 5 tanks for Berlin. Didn’t alter Russian response. Germany won this battle with 2 tanks remaining.

    Infantry is the most important unit in this game.

    Anyway, I just love having fun coming up with new strategies I haven’t seen before. Some work better than others. I roll them out and see if there is any merit to them. Youtube gets to see my failures too. I just finished a series for Japan strategy I shared here last night.


  • @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    And I actually bought six bombers. 3 bombers, 1 bomber 10 inf, 1 bomber 10 inf, 1 bomber 9 inf.

    I already stated this idea was not a good one. However, I am curious as to your purchases.

    How is Russia buying as stated by you above?
    R1 = $36 - save 1
    R2 = $42 (Russia can only have a maximum of $38 if not at war)
    R3 = $42
    R4 = $39

    All of the above is more money than Russia collects unless Germany is attacking on G1, not sending a warship to SZ125 and not taking any territory. If that is the case, then your strategy, while already heavily flawed, depends on a 2 year old being your opponent.


  • @AndrewAAGamer
    I played Germany super aggressive- (Cobra Kai route) to see if Red Skies would work against a determined Germany. Germany attacked on G1. so 37, 42, 42, 40 (may be off a dollar on last one but still 1 SB, 9 inf). Everyone raves about Cobra Kai so I did that. No idea how strategy would hold up on the northern route.

    When I decide on a strategy I stick with it. I sacrificed a tank on R2 to take back Bessarabia and give Moscow one extra turn to stack up.

    With this strategy, one option you have is to pull out all your bombers (maybe a tank?) when Germany is one space away - then bring them back in with the Siberian troops to take Moscow back next turn and cripple Germany for at least a few turns.


  • @AndrewAAGamer said in Red Skies:
    If that is the case, then your strategy, while already heavily flawed, depends on a 2 year old being your opponent.

    I am always up for a game. I will even use some of my strategies against you.


  • @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    Germany attacked on G1. so 37, 42, 42, 40

    Why, may I ask, is Russia collecting $42 on R1 with Germany attacking on G1?

    Germany puts a sub in SZ125. Takes Baltic States and Eastern Poland. At best Russia is going to take back Baltic Sates. That gives Russia $36.


  • @AndrewAAGamer

    are you dumb? 37 is not 42

    3 bombers = $36

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 9 inf = $39

    Yeah, magical mystical sub can to to SZ125

    I spent every Germany dollar on tanks and SB’s, and nothing else until G5 (which some inf thrown in with any extra dollars). Buying a sub to send up there takes one tank off of Eastern Front. I played Germany as ferocious offensive juggernaut to see if Red Skies could hold them off. And I went cobra kai so ignored Baltic/East Poland.

    Luckily I was able to destroy the 2 year old I was playing against. He was way better at the game than you.


  • @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    @AndrewAAGamer

    are you dumb? 37 is not 42

    3 bombers = $36

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 9 inf = $39

    Yeah, magical mystical sub can to to SZ125

    I spent every Germany dollar on tanks and SB’s, and nothing else until G5 (which some inf thrown in with any extra dollars). Buying a sub to send up there takes one tank off of Eastern Front. I played Germany as ferocious offensive juggernaut to see if Red Skies could hold them off. And I went cobra kai so ignored Baltic/East Poland.

    Luckily I was able to destroy the 2 year old I was playing against. He was way better at the game than you.

    Russia spends $36 on R1 because it starts the game with $37. By saving $1 and collecting $36 that gives them $37 for their R2 Purchases. So again, how are you getting $42?

    Only by NOT moving the German sub, the magical mystical one you seem to be forgetting about, in SZ124, to SZ125.

    All of your purchases are too high because you played Germany extremely poorly. And, even if they were correct, it wouldn’t matter. Spending $72 of Russian money on bombers instead of infantry is sheer lunacy.


  • @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    @AndrewAAGamer

    are you dumb? 37 is not 42

    3 bombers = $36

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 9 inf = $39

    Yeah, magical mystical sub can to to SZ125

    I spent every Germany dollar on tanks and SB’s, and nothing else until G5 (which some inf thrown in with any extra dollars). Buying a sub to send up there takes one tank off of Eastern Front. I played Germany as ferocious offensive juggernaut to see if Red Skies could hold them off. And I went cobra kai so ignored Baltic/East Poland.

    Luckily I was able to destroy the 2 year old I was playing against. He was way better at the game than you.

    @dazedwit Your ad-hominem attacks are not appreciated. I know @AndrewAAGamer and he’s an amazing player, probably one of the best in the world. Before you get moderated before these personal attacks, I just wanted to warn you against them.

    Marsh


  • @MarshmallowofWar said in Red Skies:

    @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    @AndrewAAGamer

    are you dumb? 37 is not 42

    3 bombers = $36

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 10 inf = $42

    1 bomber, 9 inf = $39

    Yeah, magical mystical sub can to to SZ125

    I spent every Germany dollar on tanks and SB’s, and nothing else until G5 (which some inf thrown in with any extra dollars). Buying a sub to send up there takes one tank off of Eastern Front. I played Germany as ferocious offensive juggernaut to see if Red Skies could hold them off. And I went cobra kai so ignored Baltic/East Poland.

    Luckily I was able to destroy the 2 year old I was playing against. He was way better at the game than you.

    @dazedwit Your ad-hominem attacks are not appreciated. I know @AndrewAAGamer and he’s an amazing player, probably one of the best in the world. Before you get moderated before these personal attacks, I just wanted to warn you against them.

    Marsh

    I’m sorry, why are you ignoring his PA’s on me. He’s been a complete dick to me in multiple threads. I’ve ignored him up until now. I’m just trying to have fun convos about the game we all love.

    And don’t worry, since he didn’t accept my challenge to a game and acted like a dick again (and why I finally hit him back) I finally blocked him. He and one other guy seem to be following me around and acting like dicks for no reason. I’ve ignored them both until today. I’m surprised the other guy hasn’t shown up yet.


  • @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    I’m sorry, why are you ignoring his PA’s on me. He’s been a complete dick to me in multiple threads. I’ve ignored him up until now. I’m just trying to have fun convos about the game we all love.

    I would be shocked if @AndrewAAGamer had actually made a personal attack against you. You, on the other hand, have shown a deep immaturity and lack of experience in the game.

    Disagreeing with your ideas is not disrespect. If he is disagreeing with your ideas, it’s because of the depth of his experience has taught him that your ideas are probably based on what works against inexperienced players.

    And don’t worry, since he didn’t accept my challenge to a game and acted like a dick again (and why I finally hit him back) I finally blocked him. He and one other guy seem to be following me around and acting like dicks for no reason. I’ve ignored them both until today. I’m surprised the other guy hasn’t shown up yet.

    I have no idea why he would accept your challenge. Inevitably he would defeat you and then you would almost certainly insist that you got “diced”. However, so far the only person I’ve seen acting disrespectably is you.

    If you want to play a top tier player, improve your play. A good start to that would be listening to their opinions.

    Marsh


  • @MarshmallowofWar said in Red Skies:

    @dazedwit said in Red Skies:

    I’m sorry, why are you ignoring his PA’s on me. He’s been a complete dick to me in multiple threads. I’ve ignored him up until now. I’m just trying to have fun convos about the game we all love.

    I would be shocked if @AndrewAAGamer had actually made a personal attack against you. You, on the other hand, have shown a deep immaturity and lack of experience in the game.

    Disagreeing with your ideas is not disrespect. If he is disagreeing with your ideas, it’s because of the depth of his experience has taught him that your ideas are probably based on what works against inexperienced players.

    And don’t worry, since he didn’t accept my challenge to a game and acted like a dick again (and why I finally hit him back) I finally blocked him. He and one other guy seem to be following me around and acting like dicks for no reason. I’ve ignored them both until today. I’m surprised the other guy hasn’t shown up yet.

    I have no idea why he would accept your challenge. Inevitably he would defeat you and then you would almost certainly insist that you got “diced”. However, so far the only person I’ve seen acting disrespectably is you.

    If you want to play a top tier player, improve your play. A good start to that would be listening to their opinions.

    Marsh

    Yeah, his last post to me was that I was playing against a two year old. Yeah, that’s not a pa.

    Don’t bother replying. I was having a nice convo with you until now.

    And I’m up for a game with anyone. I have complete confidence in my abilities in this game.

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