Russia help

**Bozzy73uk** · September 02, 2011, 02:56 PM

Ok i want to try russia again, alot of people say they have good units, i tried them before but got swamped by the mongols

just wondered if anyone else has tried them and liked them? Anyone got any tips for opening moves? And How to deal with the mongels? Iv thought about relocating to england or denmark has anyone tried that? Sorry about all the questions just trying to get loads of info before i begin

thanks.

**=Bright=** · September 02, 2011, 03:36 PM

Russia has one of the best (if not THE best) late-era roster. Extremely strong archers, both mounted and dismounted, devastating heavy cavarly, the best artillery and the best musketeers make them an enourmous threat to any opponent in field battles. In sieges they lack real heavy infantry, although the Dismounted Druzhina/Boyars do the job aswell.

Basic opening moves would be:
- taking Riga and eventually Torun
- taking Smolensk (you can decide whether to have Smolensk as a castle or as a city), Kiev and Caffa
- taking Helsinki (change it to a city) and Stockholm, taking Iasi in the south if Poland and Hungary don't already own it
- taking Moscow, Sarkel and Bulgar (change Bulgar to a city)

How to deal with the mongols:
Actually not that hard when you got Dvor archers and Spearmen. If they come into your lands they will almost definitely attack Sarkel. If Sarkel is a fortress and you have enough Dvors and spearmen you will win.

About invading England or Denmark:
Do it. It's fun and provides you with a s***load of florins after a while.

**Bozzy73uk** · September 02, 2011, 03:47 PM

Thanks for your info bright much appreciated

**Silverheart** · September 02, 2011, 05:42 PM

I actually made a kind of chronicle of my second attempt as Russia, when trying it at a higher difficulty.
It´s in the Strategies, Guides, Battle planning section, and a bit old, so you have to search a while back among the threads, but I think you´ll find it an interesting read.

More on topic, Russia is a great faction, with fairly good position and starting circumstances to make the beginnning extra exciting, and the later development to make for at least interesting late game experiences.
You start by obviously conquering rebel lands to the south and west - some argue that it´s best to avoid Kiev, since it´s a hotspot for ambitious invaders and usually attracts attacks from Poland and Hungary as well as the Mongols and Timurids.
Consolidate your borders, and then amass some forces to take the northern and eastern rebel provinces at your own pace.
After there, if you keep your borders well defended from western attacks, all you need to worry about is the Hordes of the Mongols or the Timurids from the east. Build up your economy in preparation for that, and you shouild do well when they arrive.

**KingofPoland** · September 02, 2011, 09:46 PM

one thing. Do not put too much time and money into the eastern settlements, they are spread otu and hard to capture. If the mongols appear under the mountains north of TBilsi, you should be fine, but if they appear north, then arm Kiev to the teeth as it is always there they settle. When they take others the settlement rebels right after they take it.

**empr guy** · September 02, 2011, 10:05 PM

No they just sack cities until they get to their target, which means they kill a bunch of people and take everything of value and just leave, they never gain control of the city. After they do settle though they will hold onto cities they capture, its best to kill them all before that though. Even if you do poorly against them in battle you could always just keep throughing men at them until they get worn down

**PrestigeX** · September 02, 2011, 10:09 PM

As tempting as Rebel territory is, I try not to go too Far East -- no further East than Moscow or Kiev -- until the late game, or until you are a big strong faction.

Leaving those eastern territories as rebels, or allowing the Turks to grab them -- is just fine because it creates a buffer zone between you and the mongols.

Take Helsinki, turn it into a castle. Go to Scandanavia -- destroy the Danes before they expand past Hamburg. Turn everything into Cities, except Hamburg.

Take Kiev, and turn basically everything in 'russia' into a city -- what good are those castles when they're sooo far away, and it takes 3-4 turns just to move troops to a port / on closer to the target. You need castles closer to the heart of europe, or closer to the Balkans/mid-east... Idealy, you can take over the castles from the Byzantines (the ones just outside Constantinople).

I usually go after Byzantines pretty quick as russia, because it helps you avoid A - being noticed by the Catholic Factions, and B - same religion, easier to control new populations,

**Silverheart** · September 03, 2011, 01:15 AM

I prefer to go after the eastern settlements as soon as I have consolidated the western borders.
While buffer zones to the Mongols are great to have, I prefer if it´s me controlling them, because I am the pnly one who can put up a good defence against the Hordes - the AI is worthless when it comes to fending off them.

Also, what good are those settlements left alone, or in the hands of other factions.
While the distances of the steppes make them isolated and vulnerable to any determined attacks, they are nonetheless a source of income through tax and yet another place where more troops for the war effort can be produced.
Use cavalry forces to move around swiftly over the steppes, and focus your other armies on bridges and in the settlements.
Using armies to block the bridges in the Kiev region is an effective way to halt the Mongols´ or Timurids´ advance when they come, and can usually buy you precious time - as can all the settlements and castles off the steppes that stand in their way...

**~~Exarch~~** · September 03, 2011, 01:38 AM

MIGRATION!!!

when i play russia i usually like to migrate to Rome and ally with the byzantines or take constantinople and make the byzantines my vassals