Question for Sid. Russia Active

[Buck Beach]

I have been thinking over this issue and while it could never work for me due to the game I play, I am very much interested (not in an argue-mental way) in how this effects your game? It would seem to me that Japan would be overwhelmed having to battle on yet another front. Also, I can only imagine the negative effect this would have on Russia, at least in real life, having to fight on another front. How do you compensate for these issues on a game basis, or do you?

[mlees]

 
 
From the RHS handbook, pg 15, Russians inactive:
 

[font=verdana]g) In all Russian Passive Scenarios (CVO, RPO and AIO), the Axis may[left]not invade or attack the Soviet Union in such a way that the Soviets[/left][left]are not activated. If ANY attack is made on the Soviet Union by a[/left][left]human Axis player, that player must insure that Soviet activation is[/left][left]triggered by also invading in the right place to cause that to occur.[/left][left]Basically - both sides have to act like they are not at war in the North![/left][left]You cannot be setting planes to attack - land or sea - in range of the[/left][left]Soviets (or vice versa). If you do attack - you may be at war! So -[/left][left]there are problems with this: as IRL - and I do not apologize for them:[/left][left]that is the point entirely. Work them out. Until you cannot do so any[/left][left]more - and then you ARE at war![/left][left] [/left][left]I recommend setting fighters as interceptors - or even CAP - or both.[/left][left]It is legit to intercept enemy raids - so do so - that is defensive.[/left]I recommend forbidding enemy air activity over own land or waters -[/font][font=verdana][left]but tolerating recon flights (which risk being shot down - and being[/left][left]shot down I do not consider a basis for war - although it is a technical[/left][left]state of war). You may forbid recon if you wish - ANY plane over my[/left][left]territory means we are at war - but I don't think that is the way it was[/left][left]IRL - nor indeed the way it should be. But it is YOUR game - your[/left]opinion is the one that counts!

 
Pg 16, active Russians:
 [/font]

[font=verdana]Active Russians is a gift to the Allies. It means the Japanese must[left]really have a real garrison - including air force - in the North. It means[/left][left]the Japanese do not have a monopoly on deciding when there is war in[/left][left]the North. It means the Japanese are not restricted to a particular[/left][left]opening hex - or the Russians remain frozen even when attacked. It[/left][left]means the Soviets can control construction and deployment - and can[/left][left]feed outlying bases by sea. It means the Russians can move ships to[/left][left]different places - even the USA - and merchants SHOULD BE moving[/left][left]to the USA and back regularly - they did IRL. So the Soviets should be[/left][left]very polite and helpful in exchange for all this - and should not allow[/left][left]any air attacks on anything. Maybe recon though - say one plane one[/left]time per day - or less.

 
I presume that the players set the parameters (i.e. house rules) for when the Russians "activate" as an active war power, and when the other (active) belligerents may base out of the Soviet areas.
 
RHS handbook link: http://rhs.akdreemer.com/RHS%20Handbook/ (PDF file)[/font]

[el cid again]

The intent is NOT to cause a war in the North early in PTO WWII.

But the intent IS to create concerns about what is done in the North - for both sides - and also to permit the Russians to control construction, ship supplies and units to remote bases - and to redeploy as intelligence indicates THIS war might make appropriate. It also is to EVEN OUT the problem the Japanese can start a war ANY TIME, but Allies can not.

I set Russian aircraft at ports to attack any ship or sub within one hex - and tell the Allies that - we don't need to make a high level decision for war - if you come withing 60 miles - you will be sunk - and then we will think about if we are at war or not? I also forbid attacks on ships en route to Kamchatka from Russia or the USA. But I do NOT move Soviet subs at all - keep them locked down - and this is not an option - they will attack if sent to sea. I do NOT set bombers to any mission except training, recon - or those 1 hex range ASW/ship strike missions from ports. I do NOT invade Korea, Manchuria or Inner Mongolia. The problem occurs if Japan invades the Aleutians - and mostly they don't do that. I want to deter that - so I don't mind if I encourage no invasion of Alaska. But if they do - how do Soviet AKs transit the area? You have to work that out - or not work it out - just as IRL.

As time passes, war is inevitable. But WHO will invade is not known - nor exactly when - and I love that sort of uncertainty. It is much more like real world campaigns than players knowing "the attack must occur on or after x and can not occur before that." I don't think Japan should get free security in the North - nor the Russians be forced into an impossible situation - which often occurs in a passive scenario.

[el cid again]

A problem with Eussian passive scenarios is they can not have any Soviet subs until summer 1945. IF Japan starts a war it gets a free shot sub free - and there are enough based close enough to matter big time. But code is stupid and treats these subs like USN - they are very aggressive in spite of nominally "inactive" Russians. Active scenarios can have the subs - because a player is keeping them in port - unless for some reason that is not appropriate. In the event of war - Russia has them. Knowing that may deter war for a while - Japan may want to wait until it has escort vessels, ASW aircraft, etc.