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So I noted that the current defense for Russia is to pull back a lot and never let the Germans have fun. I was considering making an incentive based border requirement for the Russians. But I found in one of my online games that the solution might be more elegant making the defense obsolete.

I have a mirror game with battlevonwar. My Russians defended forward and fought for a lot of hexes. They are weaker overall but their default experience in October is 47%. Which Battlevonwar's experience is 38% and has ~700 more land strength than I do with a better airforce. Our Germanys are different. I think mine is slightly stronger since I took no damage walking up. Our front lines are similar. He is almost at historical lines. Our skills are even.

So what you say? What's the problem. Before I read players complaining that the Russians can't attack late in the war. Not sure how many versions ago this was. Or that the Allies get kicked off the continent to much. I think maybe this is the reason why. A weakly experienced Russian army in 1943 doesn't have the punch to inflict enough damage on the Germans.

Originally this was my intention after lots of testing. To let the Russians horde up and then in 1943 with a slew of new units built start attacking. But this defense I didn't expect. When these mirror games are over it will be interesting to see results. The run away defense vs the fight defense for the Russians and the default experience differences.

This is part of the deep strategy in WarPlan.

Countries with less than 50% may increase their default experience through combat to a maximum of 50% default experience.

This is a key mechanic of the game for countries with less than 50% Exp. So how does it work exactly?

You fight you have a chance of it going up. Simple. More you fight higher it can get. 50% is max. Germany is the only exception which starts at 70%.

You fight you have a chance of it going up.

But what does *fight* mean in this context?

Does it mean defend or attack or both? What is the key factor? A number of battles fought? Or is it losses taken? Or is it loses inflicted? Or some other measure?


It's a key rule. I think we players need some more info here, rather just feeling our way around in the dark.

Each combat attacking or defending in land air or sea.

I like this. It's an incentive to fight with Russian's rather than just run away, like so many do.

It's a very important rule IMO. It really needs some flashing lights about it in the rules.

Let me get this straight, fighting (ie exchanging blows in land combat) not only increases the exp of the units involved, but also increases the default starting exp of newly built units henceforth?

Yes, that is my understanding. But only up to 50%

But not only new units, replacement factors as well. That's what the rules say at least.

That is correct. One of the best ways to learn is experience in what you are doing. It is part of the strategic thinking of WarPlan. Do we run away as the Russians, fight a lot, fight a little, delay. It is the balance that is important. These have long term implications.

In my mirror game my Russians are ~15% physically weaker but 9% experience stronger than my opponent. The real test will be in 1943/1944 for balance.

Cool feature. Missed it completely, but the manual does mention it. Don't think there is a gauge or something that shows you what the current default exp is? If the game does not show things like this so you can monitor your progress, it is easily overlooked.

In the production panel. You see the default experience in the panel that has the purchase button.

Ok, great. Will check it out.