Dealing with Russia as a non-Western power

[TheDanish]

In my current (non-Ironman) game as Ming, Russia has finally formed and is heading east. By all internet accounts, Russia is a terrifying, manpower-heavy force and doubly terrifying for non-Western empires. Right now I'm two mil tech levels ahead of them (15 vs. 13) and I've started colonizing Siberia to hopefully cut them off. See my late-16th century screenshot below:

http://i.imgur.com/wp45Yin.jpg

How do I deal with Russia? Would it be worthwhile going to war with them ASAP in an attempt to cripple them? I feel reasonably confident with my tech advantage, and we both currently have roughly equal manpower reserves and army strength.

Thanks in advance!

 

[unmerged(465279)]

How are you doing on manpower? If I were you I'd take them out asap. Cripple them completely, 100% warscore and let them release everything they can.

Russia scary.

 

[Yenzen]

An early strike can be a good idea and save you a lot of trouble down the road. When at war with then, have them march through the cold, Siberian wastes in the middle of winter - preferably with the largest provinces that take forever to transverse be affected by scorched earth. For the army groups that do make it through, battle them in the mountains or rivers even if you have the superior military tech - they have insane numbers thanks to their national ideas. Once their manpower is depleted, you can advance on them or simply do whatever with your 99% warscore.

As for colonization, realize that if you're quick, you can cut them off from advancing further east!

 

[quinntan2222]

Crush them as quickly as possible. Make them release everything they can and cut them off of siberia if possible. Maybe try and get an alliance with a western power as well like the Commonwealth or Sweden if they're strong enough. Also, try and westernize to get better troops.

 

[grisamentum]

You only have 1 colonist? Should have taken Exploration as well as Expansion so you could cover Siberia faster. At this point you're kinda screwed. No way you can really "cut them off" in time since it's already 1594.

Try conquering through those hordes and then stealing their provinces on the Urals so their capital isn't connected to Siberia.

 

[dstarsboy]

I started a game as Lithuania, I knew Russia is going to be a HUGE pain in my neck so I wanted to jump them early. So I allied with Denmark and Poland and got my relations above 100 with Novgrodo... then I waited. Sure enough, they attack Novgorod, I jump in forcing peace, I call my allies...

We got their manpower down to the 100s and they still crushed all 4 of us. Insane, this is when they are small and fight with, like, sticks and rocks and stuff!

I immediately stopped playing any country nearby them. ;P