Investment options

[Paul Vebber]

What investment strategy should paul follow?

Hold off buying tanks and FBs to research better capabilities as fast as possible(10 RPs per turn) ilitia and arty (4 militia to 1 arty) Buy 2 factories to help build up later - and 1 supply each turn

Wait on investment and build a strong combined arms army witha ratio of 4 militia - 2 inf - 1 arty - 1 armor - 1 fighter/FB (alternating) wait to buy factories - buy 3 supplies to stockpile

Steady investment (say 5 per turn, vice 10) spread out over inf, armor and arty and focus on 6 milita - 2 inf - 2 arty - 1 armor 1 fighter ratio.

Research investment starts at 1 per turn and increases 1 each sucessive turn (1 , then 2 then 3 RPS in a given tech). buy 1 factory. Buy 2 supplies (10) per turn.

supplies and militia show up the turn you buy them (1 PP buys 5 supply points). Our troops are able to scavenge 20 supplies per turn off teh populace (every one else can scavenge 50 on "challenging" level)

inf and arty take 2 turns (2PP). Fighters take 3, armor 4, and FBs and HBs 5. Facotries 6. IT cost two population teh turn a unit is created to man it up (not a problem for us yet - it can become an issue later.

When a unit is damaged in combat, if it can trace a route back to a facotry it teleports to teh assembly line at the "half way point", except for militia who die if damaged. So you have to leave some capacity once the invasiion begins to fix your broken stuff, or youhave to "out things on hold" until you free up PPs.

You can disband things on teh production track, but only get half teh investment back (so its not a good idea IMO to disbd teh heavy fleet in Leningrad

[Joel Billings]

I hate to muck up things, but I have never once bought a militia unit for the Russians. They get around 40 of them free when Germany invades and they cannot hit anything but other miltia so all they are good at is holding ground. Eventually they will all be killed and the Germans will take no losses, even from a winter counter attack. If you were going to buy militia and artillery, I strongly suggest you build a lot more artillery than militia as they can cause casualties, while the militia can shield them somewhat and hold the ground. If you can't cause casulties to the Germans, you will have a very hard time. Of course, like anything in this game, until it's tried, we won't really know how good a strategy it is.

[Becket]

I'm with Joel, that's my favorite strategy. However, I know that IDrinkBeer feels strongly about going the militia way in lieu of artillery in Leningrad.

[Paul Vebber]

OK, Option 3 is the winner here. I'll the results posted back tomorrow.

[IDrinkBeer]

However, I know that IDrinkBeer feels strongly about going the militia way in lieu of artillery in Leningrad.

Yes, Yes and Yes. Leningrad is the only place I will build militia and only before the Germans invade. If you build infantry/arty there you can ( and will ) get blitzed in the opening attack. Do not give up Leningrad without a major fight. If you lose Leningrad the Finns are activated and your Northern front collapses. Lend Lease will suffer as well.

The other most important region to defend ( besides the obvious one, Moscow ) is Kursk. If you look at the map it is probably the most strategically important spot in Russia. Control by the Germans puts an awful lot of regions behind Moscow in jeopardy. If the Russians maintain control the Germans will not be able to thrust into the Caucusus (sp?) without exposing their army to the significant risk of being cut off.

Just my two cents...