No problem. I dont own it and havent played it. I did take the time to post the links (found them in my travels) and read them…to help you AND others that may be asking similar questions.
You might as well issue an R1 DoW against Japan; at our gaming group we generally assume that Russia is at war unless stated otherwise. So far I haven’t seen any reason in non-BM games to not opt for immediate war.
This makes perfect sense with experienced players, but I do remember a game where I, playing Russia, managed to delay a Japanese attack for quite a few turns by claiming that we had always been on good terms and that I had never done anything at all to damage Japan’s interests. :-D
Bottom line, I’ve played multiple games as the Soviet Union where I didn’t let anyone attack my units except an infantry I left as a road block. Even when Japan invades Russia turn one/two and tries to keep pushing, it still didn’t make much difference because they can only take a territory a turn. So when Germany finally reaches Moscow, almost every single unit I’ve built as Russia is there defending my capital. Sure, if time weren’t a factor, it’s a bad strategy, but I know that the Allies are going to be landing in force by turn 5 or so, so the Axis is not able to deal with the Allied pressure and overcome a huge Moscow stack.
If the allies are landing in force in turn 5 Europe is lost regardless of a large stack of inf in Moscow.
Nothing is gained in the game by removing USSRs chance to defend and making a German attack on Russia go faster. On the contrary.
The huge stack isn’t an automatic win.
Well, not having the huge stack gives the Axis a bit more of a chance to blitz and take the necessary 8 victory cities quickly.
Well - of course. And removing the Russian troops entirely would equally.
You cannot remove the turtle. You shouldn’t IMO make it easier to take Russia.
We should however figure out why turteling is so strong and address that cause instead of just the symptom.
If you make it any easier to take Russia, you’ve effectively turned Germany into a one trick pony and removed most strategy from the European board.
You never put all 18 troops on the border. This is certain death. I move three from Amur to Buryatia and three from Amur to Sakha. So if Japan take Amur you can counter. This leaves your 18 Inf safe and allows you to keep your far Eastern territories. It also gives Japan some breathing room so that they will leave you alone and go after China. You can then go after them when you either: Have American reinforcements or have enough troops East. You could also when they leave you go on a suicide attack through Manchuria and Korea and try and get as high an income as possible. i would not suggest this strategy though as when your units get killed Japan get Mech inf and Tanks to blitz through you Eastern territories and you end up having to proetect Moscow from two fronts. Three possibly if Italy join in. Of course since the turn order means you go straight after Germany you could always build your forces but if the Axis powers are smart they would preform a 1-2-3 puch in the following order: Japan, Italy, Germany so you can’t rebuild units you lose until all three powers have attacked.