The general consensus is that the Allies have an advantage in this game and overall I think this is true. From what I’ve gathered the Central powers need to take out Russia as quickly as possible and have Germany and Austria-Hungary simply defend in the west and the Ottomans just defend for the whole game. Then Germany and Austria-Hungary look to eliminate France and Italy before the British eliminate the Ottomans. There are other details to this of course such as a German invasion of Belgium, sinking the Royal Navy in the North sea and near Canada on turn 1 etc but this isn’t the point of this post.

I wanted to suggest what I think is a good opening move for Austria-Hungary and gauge what people think of it and if the Allies can counter easily. I also want to say that this move is with OOB rules, using the Russian Revolution rule and having a house rule where Switzerland is impassable and not part of the game (I really don’t like the idea of powers being able to invade Switzerland).

I advocate an Austro-Hungarian invasion of Romania on turn 1.

Purchase: 4 infantry, 2 artillery and 1 fighter

Moves:

6 INF and 2 ART from Galicia to Romania
4 INF and 2 ART from Budapest to Romania

8 INF from Budapest to Serbia
2 ART from Trieste to Serbia

6 INF and 2 ART from Tyrolia to Venice
6 INF from Trieste to Venice

6 INF and 2 ART from Bohemia to Galicia
3 INF from Vienna to Trieste
9 INF and 2 ART from Vienna to Galicia

At the end of the combat the Austro-Hungarians will be contesting Venice and will not declare another attack there until Russia is defeated. Statistically, both Serbia and Romania will be occupied by Austria-Hungary after the mandatory one round of combat. Also statistically, Austria-Hungary will lose 3 INF in Romania during the combat so will be left with 7 INF and 4 ART in Romania. This means that along the Russian border Austria-Hungary will have 22 INF and 8 ART, which is formidable. Plus the Germans start with 12 INF and 6 ART on the Russian frontier.

I feel that this opening move really squeezes Russia and primes it for an invasion in turn 2 by Austria-Hungary (Germany will invade Poland on turn 1 with both armies from Prussia and Silesia). It also increases Austro-Hungarian production by 5 IPCs straight away and has a large force in Serbia ready to invade Albania in turn 2 (or respond if Italy activates Albania). You also get a foothold in Italy and defend just one territory from the Italians. By the time Russia is defeated the Italians will have kicked you out of Venice but then you as Austria-Hungary will able to use your whole production against them and you will easily drive them back.

Hope you enjoyed this and I await any views/opinions.

Hi thanks for your reply :)

I just wanted to say a couple of things.

Firstly, the troops from Bohemia can’t move to Poland, so Austria-Hungary would be hitting Poland in the first turn with 6 INF and 2 ART which is weak in comparison to the Russian units defending.

Secondly, if you invade Serbia with only 4 INF and 2 ART, you almost definitely won’t win the combat in round 1 and risk even losing (not in one turn obviously but I meant if you just left 4 INF and 2 ART to fight 3 INF and 1 ART and only Austria-Hungary declares attacks). So I don’t see how you can have an army in Serbia ready to respond to the Russians in Romania or the Italians in Albania. The Russians and Italians would be left open to attacking Budapest and Trieste which are worth a lot of IPCs. Some of the huge stack in Galicia could be used to hit Romania but that means troops that won’t move in to Ukraine in turn 2 so actually you end up with a situation where some of your troops will be in Romania in turn 2 but I feel that in my strategy the troops that end turn 1 in Romania will invade Ukraine in turn 2. You can also respond to the potential Italian incursion by moving quite a few of the Vienna units to Trieste in turn 1 but this means fewer troops going east. A large group in Serbia and a mere 3 INF from Vienna to Trieste let’s say is good enough to secure the western Balkans and to defend against Italy.

This isn’t meant to be a thing where I have a go at you but simply a healthy debate.

The general consensus is that the Allies have an advantage in this game and overall I think this is true. From what I’ve gathered the Central powers need to take out Russia as quickly as possible and have Germany and Austria-Hungary simply defend in the west and the Ottomans just defend for the whole game. Then Germany and Austria-Hungary look to eliminate France and Italy before the British eliminate the Ottomans. There are other details to this of course such as a German invasion of Belgium, sinking the Royal Navy in the North sea and near Canada on turn 1 etc but this isn’t the point of this post.

I wanted to suggest what I think is a good opening move for Austria-Hungary and gauge what people think of it and if the Allies can counter easily. I also want to say that this move is with OOB rules, using the Russian Revolution rule and having a house rule where Switzerland is impassable and not part of the game (I really don’t like the idea of powers being able to invade Switzerland).

I advocate an Austro-Hungarian invasion of Romania on turn 1.

Purchase: 4 infantry, 2 artillery and 1 fighter

Moves:

6 INF and 2 ART from Galicia to Romania
4 INF and 2 ART from Budapest to Romania

8 INF from Budapest to Serbia
2 ART from Trieste to Serbia

6 INF and 2 ART from Tyrolia to Venice
6 INF from Trieste to Venice

6 INF and 2 ART from Bohemia to Galicia
3 INF from Vienna to Trieste
9 INF and 2 ART from Vienna to Galicia

At the end of the combat the Austro-Hungarians will be contesting Venice and will not declare another attack there until Russia is defeated. Statistically, both Serbia and Romania will be occupied by Austria-Hungary after the mandatory one round of combat. Also statistically, Austria-Hungary will lose 3 INF in Romania during the combat so will be left with 7 INF and 4 ART in Romania. This means that along the Russian border Austria-Hungary will have 22 INF and 8 ART, which is formidable. Plus the Germans start with 12 INF and 6 ART on the Russian frontier.

I feel that this opening move really squeezes Russia and primes it for an invasion in turn 2 by Austria-Hungary (Germany will invade Poland on turn 1 with both armies from Prussia and Silesia). It also increases Austro-Hungarian production by 5 IPCs straight away and has a large force in Serbia ready to invade Albania in turn 2 (or respond if Italy activates Albania). You also get a foothold in Italy and defend just one territory from the Italians. By the time Russia is defeated the Italians will have kicked you out of Venice but then you as Austria-Hungary will able to use your whole production against them and you will easily drive them back.

Hope you enjoyed this and I await any views/opinions.