Ok - How do I play just ONE country, like Russia?

[Lanconic]

as the title says?

[06 Maestro]

When you start the game choose the 4 player mode, then your campaign choice.
There have been observations that the ai is weaker in 4 player mode. Regardless, it is quicker and easier to play like that. It could also be said that it is more realistic in that your Allies will do what they want to-no matter how it might not support your nations desires.

[Dixie]

You can't control just 1 nation.  Even in 4 player you'll end up controlling a number of nations, the exact ones depend on who you start as. 

Playing as France for example will result in you taking control of the Western European nations (Italy, GB, Belgium, Switzerland etc) if they enter the war.  All nations east of Italy (Greece, Rumania, Bulgaria...) will be under the control of the Russian player.  I think that for the CP Germany controls the West and A-H the eastern nations.

[06 Maestro]

For practicle purposes/normal situations you are quite correct. However, player 2 nations is still easier than 4 or 5.[;)]

If one plays as Germany and does not seek Turk intervention, you will have the one country to control-same for Austria regarding other Balkan states. It is possible that France could fight the war without England-one nation to control. Granted, these are not typical situations, but those can, and do, occur.

[wodin]

I'd love it if you could just play Germany no matter who come sin on your side...and France and GB for the Allies...oh well nevermind...dealing with Turkey is always a side issue I could do without when playing as Germany.

[lordhoff]

As an oldtime war gamer (ie, board games) this comes somewhat natural to me (and I assume it can be done): Choose each nation of an alliance as a separate "hot seat" player and you be the different player for each country. Ie, with the mentioned "four-player" option, I am assuming you can take control of GB, FR, RU each individually and let the AI play the CP. It takes a little role playing of a sort - you have to think of Great Britain's interests first (as GB) and perhaps not do some things you could do if you were the dictator of the TA. I do this often - especially when an AI is particularly weak like the John Tiller battleground series.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: Dixie

You can't control just 1 nation.  Even in 4 player you'll end up controlling a number of nations, the exact ones depend on who you start as ...

How exactly do you know what nations' forces you have to manipulate?

You can cycle thru each of your nation's forces with "enter," but it won't work for your allies unless you're in an allied nation.

[calvinus72]

For your allies, use the Army Roster (provided you're playing with the Gold edition).
When no country is selected, you see all your armies (of all your controlled nations) listed inside the Army Roster.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: calvinus72

For your allies, use the Army Roster (provided you're playing with the Gold edition).
When no country is selected, you see all your armies (of all your controlled nations) listed inside the Army Roster.

I have Gold, but how do I access this roster?

[calvinus72]

You always see the roster, it's the bar on the right showing the picture of generals/armies. Don't you see it?? [&:]

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: calvinus72

You always see the roster, it's the bar on the right showing the picture of generals/armies. Don't you see it?? [&:]

Yes, I just didn't realize that's what it was called in the Gold manual pdf, but I have only seen it for forces of one nation at a time: I often use the red personnel icon on the lower right of the photos to fill my corps with reinforcements.

So I just select some "water" (de-select a nation) on the map and then I will see all the armies for all my alllies on the right?

[calvinus72]

So I just select some "water" (de-select a nation) on the map and then I will see all the armies for all my alllies on the right?

Not exactly. If you click on an area, you select also the nation to whom the area belongs. If you click again on that area, you de-select the area and the nation.