Attacking south russia the best option always?

[akadimos]

Playing against the ai is any other strategy against russia just as great?
The southern plains are full of mmp so why try any other strategy?

[lwarmonger]

Playing against the AI there are many strategies that can win. Against a human, it isnt always the best decision.

[Helsingor]

In ‘41, the German player needs to put as much pressure as possible in the center and north, even if the main thrust is for the Donets/Caucasus/Stalingrad.
If you make too little progress in the other sectors, the northern flank of the main thrust can become to long and vulnerable.

[amandkm]

Certainly, I think you need to quickly wipe up the 'Children of Barbarossa' - the units that appear when war is declared.

[sveint]

Attack where the Soviet player is weak. Figuring out where he is weakly defending is another matter.

[akadimos]

I have played 2 games against expert ai and i find that if i pour everything south i will eventually win.
And the number of mmps is tempting

[HamburgerMeat]

"Always" is very strong language.

The most rewarding and favorable terrain for the germans is southern USSR though. Plenty of resources and clear hexes to work with. Allied players need to use fortifications, cities, rivers. and any favorable terrain have to their fullest potential

[Helsingor]

I agree that “always” is a dangerous word for such a complex game,
BUT the AI is limited in a particular way that probably does make the southern steppe a particularly good place to beat it, even when it has the extra units thanks to more MPPs at higher levels.
In my experience, the AI tends to go for the quick kill of vulnerable units, rather than trying to cut off supply and sap the momentum of the Axis attacks over a span of several turns. So its counterattacks tend not to take advantage of all the space in the south to entrap the Wehrmacht, which is how you need to win as the Russians in this sector.
In the center and north, the AI is perfectly capable of lining up units in rivers, towns and forests, and slowing the Germans down, but it’s not so good at the war of maneuver that wins in the south.