Medicore player asking for USSR advise

[RolandRahn]

This is NOT criticism, but an honest question for advise/feedback.

From 1936 to the point when the German advance stalls (late 1942/1943), the game is fun.

After that, it is a stalemate.

When the German advance stalls, I have no tanks and I am desperately trying to get air parity.

Furthermore, I have not even started the Commintern foci.

By the time that I can go into the offensive, the allies are already advancing into Germany.


So, obviously I am doing something wrong or, at least, different from other players (who seem to be able to secure the Baltic states before Barbarossa e.t.c.).

Here is my latest Playthrough:


Foci:
- I do try to get rid of the paranoia ASAP.
- Second priority are the fleet foci until I reach "Expand Shipbuilding Plants" - more than 10 free dockyards (by fall 1937) are exactly what I need to have a sufficient number of transport ships when Barbarossa starts.


The entire fleet is in Vladivostok, I finish all ships whose contruction has started (except for the two cruisers), all buildlines are reduced to one ship.
After that, it is transport ships only.

In January 1940, I switched from building CIVs to building MILs

Spoiler: Spoiler

Barbarossa started on July 10th, 1941.

I had a double line of 3 infantry divisions/province facing the Axis and enough transport - but that were the only things that worked out as planned.

Spoiler: Spoiler

I have no idea how to do any Commintern foci before Barbarossa without sacrificing something that I regard as more important.

I did not even get the Agripop :-(

On the bright side, my transport ships are busy transporting help from the US, the UK, Franco and Marshal Petain......

Spoiler: Spoiler

By January 1942, the Axis is still advancing.....but at a high cost. MUCH higher than my losses.

Spoiler: Spoiler

By Micromanaging, I was able to limit total losses to one Infantry division and one Railway gun (had to be disbanded after the Germans cut the railway connection - I regard saving those 1,000 men NOT as gamey as destroying the gun and then walking away seems to be plausible as long as they are not surrounded).

One year later, the front lines have become static.

Spoiler

I still have no tanks and try to get air parity.

By Summer 1943, I was still struggling for air superiority - and my first offensives (using infantry divisions) were pretty costly.

Spoiler: Spoiler

An allied attempt to invade Italy was beaten back.


It took me until February 1944 to reserach the "Merge Aircraft Industries" focus - that means another 6 months before I will start the 1944 fighter and after than another 6 month before I start the 1944 CAS research.
(Now, Stalin's cult will start)

By July 1945, the Tank Construction companies had merged and the ultimate tank was reserached.....a great vehicle, but late.

Spoiler: Spoiler

The situation in September 1945:
The allies have secured the west, I am going into limited offensives using a combination of air superiority and motorized troops.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Berlin was taken by the British (in February 1946)

Spoiler: Spoiler

At this point, the deployment of my first Super Heavy Armored division was still months away.


Then, Mauretania and Poland capitulated.

Therefore, I was kicked out of eastern Poland and was blocked from advancing into Germany.

Spoiler: Spoiler

It took until October 1946 before Germany finally collapsed.

Spoiler

Again, I am NOT an expert and yes, it was fun....but somehow, I feel that I am doing something wrong.[/ispoiler]

 

[Znail]

Two things, the answer to not having Tanks is to build them. And why are you building CIV's all the way to 1940? Lack of military factories is most likely also the answer to your first issue.

 

[RolandRahn]

When do you switch from CIV to MIL?

Even with building CIVs until 1940, I feel a lack of IC during WWII.
Otherwise, I would be restricted building more MILs during the war.
In addition to this, I do not even try to fortify anything, but trade, the need to build infrastructure/railways and Supply depots take their toll.

As for tanks.....yes., researching and building them is the obvious answer.
But I struggle to research the Infantry technologies and build enough equipment for my infantry divisions.

And even with prioritizing infantry, I barely have enough divisions to create a defense in deep by summer 1941.

Once the invasion starts (and the front line becomes longer), I have to place green divisions to keep enough divisions in line.

So, building/researching tanks means less.....
- Infantry? I barely have enough
- Air power? The German Luftwaffe is already ruling the skies during the first two years or so.

 

[Znail]

In this guide beginning of 1939 is suggested:

Guide To get 450 factories before Barbarossa

Version: 1.114 (Beta3) Difficulty setting: Normal difficulty, Germany strengthen Max rank, Italy strengthen Max rank do not use spy to steal blueprints, do not declare war The reason I don't ues Elite difficulty is because With small change in...

forum.paradoxplaza.com

But this is a max factory guide and I would personally suggest 1938 as being even better.
Remember that military production is the goal and CIV's is just the means to get more military factories.
Then there is the production efficiency and military factories you build as late as 1940 will have only just reached full production when the war starts where as factories you built in 38 have had years of full efficiency production. All your Infantry, Air and Tank issues can all be solved by more military factories.

You may be doing other things sub optimally as well, but try this fix first and see where that gets you as it seems to be the root of most of your issues.

 

[qer]

The switch to military factories is usually done in 1939. The timing for it depends ofc in what strategy do you intend to use against the axis but by 1940 you shouldn't be building new civs. Still even by 1940 your industry can be improved upon. Although there are other post on the forums regarding this, I can comment on something regarding focuses:
- Ignore both navy and the third five year plan. Navy is completely unnecessary for Barbarossa and the third five year plan +5% consumer good means an overall slower growth of your industrial base. Not taking those focuses leave you with a lot of margin to pick anything else.
- Take agitprop during the purges if possible. Although propaganda campaigns overall can be somewhat optional, the one reducing Cg by 5% is a nice boost and completely nullifies the five year plan increase. Also increase stability by focuses, decisions or advisors before Barbarossa.
- Conquer the baltics. They provide a good factory boost, although I would recommend directly invading them rather than using the decisions with the exception of Lithuania that is guaranteed by the British.

That being said don't stress too much about playing "optimally ". If you had a fun game, that in itself is the most important part.

 

[Jays298]

I also agree with the 1939 to start making mostly mils. Before that mostly civs and the occasional rail or refinery.

You don't need to build up navy in Vladivostok. You can make convoys but that's mainly for lend lease.

The existing navy will suffice in the Arctic and the black sea. In the Baltic, you might build 50 navs or so, but the Germans will have a better fleet so let the UK handle them.

In my experience air force was a waste of resources because the Germans will shred yours. I set 10 mils eventually to AA and built state AA on any provinces I thought I could keep.

The stalemate is broken with tanks, better infantry.

Germans will be at 70% equipment or less. You Will be at 100% and at least 30% infantry equipment 2 or 3.

 

[aletoledo]

Yeah, drop the navy. With just those focuses, you could have done the comintern stuff you wanted. You're never going to complete everything, so the different routes add diversity and flavor. However if you wanted to play comintern stuff, then going navy was the mistake. It seems in general you can finish the industry and paranoia tress, plus one other, so pick wisely. Navy, air or army.

 

[MattZed]

I actually think the overall strategy was fine. You had valid tactics, and it won with few casualties. Some optimizations I'd suggest, mostly having to do with focuses:

1. You don't need to take the left-side focuses for the Centre to remove paranoia; they're added bonus and you can allocate focuses elsewhere
2. You don't need all those convoys; while it's nice to get lend-leased, you can instead spend that time on growing your industry and possibly outproduce what you'd get shipped anyways
3. You can likely skip the focuses related to increased resource extraction; your main shortage, rubber, can be bought from Malaya without convoys
4. "Expand the Agitprop" is a fairly essential focus to prioritize (perhaps between purge focuses); with it, you can take the repeated "We Will Accomplish a High Yield" propaganda campaign, which gives -5% consumer goods
5. The saved focuses from parts 1,2,3 are what let you take Commintern focuses. (One of my favorite ahistorical strategies is to rush "Middle East Diplomacy" and "Southern Thrust" to drive up world tension by conquering Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan, as this will give war support for switching to War Economy. If you invade Romania on top of that, you've essentially cut the Axis off from oil.)
6. Since you're not planning to push with your infantry, you can stick to 1936 Infantry equipment and produce it more efficiently (this will free up factories for your planes)
7. You don't need such expensive tanks to push. For instance, you can try a *much* cheaper motorized rocket artillery force that'll be able to push everywhere except where the enemy has tanks

 

[Kuzma Minin]

I know people dislike the 3rd five year plan for its penalties, but you can still do it and hit 400 factories by 1941. I do all of the focuses under it at the expense of the comintern focuses except the first anti-Japanese focus which gets locked out if the Japanese beat China. You can justify and declare war on the baltics and finland using your M-R claims.
A couple of other points:
1) Agitprop is very useful for the 4x -5% CG.
2) Air is very important for not getting pushed back. Having around 4k fighters and 1k CAS at minimum is enough to hold the Germans at the borders.
3) Seize the republican gold for a temporary -5% CG.
4) Raise stability to 100% asap. Remember to prepare to assassinate Trotsky in advance.

 

[Ludek]

You can Liberate Turkey and Romania in price of one war declaration, Romania in 1936 have defence pact with Turkey, and will enter the war if you declare on Turkey. You should do it before Spanish civil war so no one else will help them.
Be carefull you will have to build up railines in caucasus (cuts in civ production very early), war there is difficul you should start working on justification ASAP .. timing it end before winter 1936. Use all division you can muster (and supply ) to cover borders with Turkey and Romania.
I use for Turkey 5-6 tank/motorized division, half cavalry divisions , all mountain and 'few' infantry ones (as much as supply allows), get max preparation bonus, concentrate most of the force in northern part of border (southern is too difficult to get breakout), from there drive south to Syria border (long way) and/or encircle forces at norther part (terrain is more difficult for tanks/motorized but shorter).. breakout should happen in middle of the border.

For Romania use at lest 48 Infantry division , remaining tank divs (motorized has use in Turkey IMO ), other half of cavalry divisions.

You can embarnce losers as new members of Soviet Union (anexation) getting few civ or as brotherly nations united in Comintern (puppets) getting access to their full manpower in any case you will get fair bit of infantry equipemnt out of this.
I prefer to puppet both but perhaps best option is to puppet Turkey , and annex Romania so Germans won't get oil if they at war with you and balkan event won't blow out (you know that capitalistic Hungary foolish claims on Romania ). Anyway after this early war I do not think is possible for Soviets to declare anything without triggering major conflict ...but you can help comunits in any civil war .. i think (in last NSB I was able to send expedtionary forces to Estonia to ensure win of forces standing on right side of history) but it may be counterproductive if you want to embrance Romania in your Soviet family of republics warmed by full grace of Stalin's cares .
Turkey as puppet .. err. brotherly worker's nation will grant you secure south shoud war with allies break out (good reason to keep the out of hostilities) otherwise you should garnison Syria border and guard souuthern shores (as much you can) and this will dissipate your forces (so in this sense annexation will make you weaker). This assumes AI as oppent vs human it's unlikey to seuceed but may cost Aliier player modifiers for declaring offensive war