Russia

[Blackball]

I like playing Russia. Or, at least, I try to force myself to like playing Russia. Unfortunately, there's just not much there. Your land more or less sucks (for some reason rampaging through Europe is a lot more satisfying than spending all your time trying to get to frickin' Georgia), your army definitely sucks (boyars, steppe cavalry, and halbardiers...be still my beating heart), and in general it just sort of seems like the faction was added as an afterthought.

The bit that really bothers me is the army, or the lack thereof, available to the Russians, so I've decided I'm going to run through a new campaign and try to diversify. I can take Lithuania fairly easily, but is it worth it (beyond its obvious economic value)? I've heard Lithuanian cavalry are absolutely horrible, and that's fine, as long as they'd contribute something. And what of Lithuanian woodsmen? Are woodsmen in general any good?

Then we have Bulgarian brigands, another of those hybrid units that suck at both of their roles.

So the question is, what the heck do you do if you like Russia? Seems you're pretty marginalized, or am I missing some aspect of the faction that's worthwhile?

[KukriKhan]

Hi Blackball and welcome

I've only played the Russians once, so I claim no expertise. In that campaign, I decided to stick close to the Byzantines as they resisted/counter-attacked catholic & muslim incursions (the Byz being co-religionists, yanno). Kind of a ride the Byzie's coat-tails strategy, picking off rebels, Poles & Danes where available. I didn't worry much about taking/keeping the traditional Russian provinces; just Moscow, Novgorod & whatever coastals I could get. This strategy worked fine until the Byz got cocky and decided Moscow should be their's.

That campaign was my second one; it taught me to ally/avoid the Byz as long as possible (no matter what faction I was) & prepare for the inevitable war with them. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[BDC]

I tried using Litheuanian Cavalry in MP. They were valour 4 and fully upgraded. I should have worked out why they were so cheap. Needless to say they killed about 2 people (on huge unit sizes no less).

[Divine Wind]

The Russains are an intresting faction. There position geographically is pretty good. At the start i usually ally with the byzatines and let them fight it off with the muslim factions of Egpyt and the Turks. This gives you enough time to build an army or two and start invading all the nearby rebel provinces. Its also an excellent idea to invade sweden because of its rich trade and providing another route from which you can invade into mainland Europe..which shouldnt be underestimated. Especially because those mainland european factions are very likely to go into Civil War. Army Wise the russians dont really have much strength and depth. Strength in numbers and upgrades is the key along with high stars generals Upgrade your militia buildings as soon as possible and get those halbierders as they are your strongest foot soldier unit.
Hope this helps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[whiskeyjack]

Playing a russian campaign at the moment. My biggest problem is money. So i just concentrated on military type buildings and produced as much men as possible and went west. Take sweden and work south with one army and using another work your way towards poland, making sure to watch your back for Byz and mongols. Playing Russia is fun it either works or it doesn't http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Alrowan]

in my russian campagin, i took most of eastern and central northern europe.. but the game gets mundane fast as the russians tend to employ the same armies over and over... i guess if i can make it to the middle east the game could prove exciting

[Brutal DLX]

Well, it's true there aren't many units available to the Russian faction, but you get the added challenge of resisting the Mongol Invasion, which can be tough because by the time they appear, you just took all the rebel provinces around you and are still building infrastructure, which probably will cease during the duration of this war, because you need to spend all the money on unit production. Thus, after the Mongols have been dealt with, you're already behind in the tech and trading development which will hamper you for quite some time.
So, basically the fun playing the Russians is that you are struggling a bit more than in other campaigns. By the way, Lithuania is good for trading, but really, don't put much faith in Lithuanian Cavalry, they are basically mounted archers, and they cost way too much. Halberdiers and Arbalesters/Boyars are essential, they are your only weapon against the CMAA or other heavily armoured Catholic units...

[LeeJackson]

I haven't played the russians but a thought accorded to me. You might want to try and take the rebel provinces in Scandinavia, decent income through trade and access to Vikings.

[Blackball]

Yeah, I always try to grab Sweden when I play, but I've never even bothered to check if you can make vikings - they're outclassed on High anyway.

The Russian army's not as bad as I make it out to be; hell, it's damn near perfect for destroying the Horde, with halbs, steppe cavalry, boyars, and horse archers...

...it's just such a damn boring force.

[MacBeth]

Once I adapted my battle tactics I found the Russians a v. enjoyable faction.

I basically use a mixture of Boyars, Halbadiers, Bulgarian Brigands/Arbalaster and any merc spears I can get hold of.
I really trust my boyar cav. and use them (when attacking) to harry the enemy towards my spears & missiles. In SP the troops from Moscow & Novgorod have good armour upgrades and I find they can hold their line OK even when the boyars are messing about elsewhere on the battlefield.

Defence tends to be halbadiers on hill supported by as many missiles as possible. Again the boyars will run rampant and harrass the enemy all the way on to my infantry line. I normally play hard rather than expert and these simplistic tactics seem to work well.

A good strategy tip I have tried is to offer my princess to the golden horde as soon as they appear. You usually get a new princess c. 1220. The golden horde make suprising loyal allies.

I always go for Lithuania & Sweden as soon as practicable but leave Livonia 'till much later. Lithuania will revolt but it is a good playground to raise some high valour troops.

[Blackball]

Yeah, I dig on Lithuania.

My question (or my new question, I guess), is what's the best way to get a good economy going with the Russians?

[HopAlongBunny]

The Russian economy is pretty ugly.

Most of the provinces available to you have poor farmland; the only way (I find) to get things moving have been mentioned above. Get Baltic trade moving Sweden is key, but Novgrod is your base; port-shipbuilder-merchant asap.

If you are lucky, 3ships will get you into the NAtlan; hopefully England France HRE have taken a short break from killing each other and you will get trade with a few ports.

Fortunately, once things start to roll you are in good shape. There is easy access to high value trade areas.

Playing Russian from Early or High is really the same process. Every florin you spend had better make you richer.

[Brutal DLX]

Also get Kiev going. Port and trading post, then pump some ships so you get a little trade route for profit. Most of the countries in the East or West shouldn't be at war with you at that early stage...