Military Idea for Russia (again)

[CyPunk]

So I have read tons on the internet, but the opinions are simply too diverse.

So one more time, which military idea is best for Russia, especially first?

Of course the real answer is, it will vary by game. So here is a pic of my game.
Vassals are Chernigov, Astrakhan, Perm (will annex, so I can colonize), and Circassia and Moldavia. I know those last two are tiny, but I had to secure them before Otto did, as my plan is to have forts to hold the passes there between the sea and mountains (I may secure Georgia as well, even as march... 3 forts, fort bonus NI, def ideas, and mountains...pff).
Other important note: Lithuania and Poland never PUed and imploded. No threat that direction. Sweden and Norway are free.
Crimea did not join Otto, but are frequently allied (which I break when I can). Otto has Theodore, but I have Caffa (I tend to take CoTs, not given them to vassals, as you can see).

Main mid-term goals, clean up the small neighbours, maybe into Pomerania (need more coast/navy), then look how to encroach on Otto and eventually take them.

Tech levels are 10.
Otto has taken no military ideas yet. In their NIs they of course have discipline (5%), cav combat bonus (15%), and the force limit stuff.
I have taken religious and influence. Long term may take economic, but this will take awhile. Likely not taking innovative.
If stacking is best Russian NIs have a little morale boost (5%), arty combat (10%), and also the force/manpower limits. Also assume I will get the morale boost (5%) as defender of the faith, since there is no competition for it when you are Orthodox.

To me this seem quality: stack another 10% arty (so 20%), add 5% (so 15%) moral (plus 10% seige) with religion-quality policy, with Cossack estate get my cav on par with Ottomans or even to 20%, boost my tons of infantry a bit, get a bit of discipline to match Ottos NI, and help bolster what will be a tiny but important navy. But maybe this is better for the next military idea, not the first, since arty matters more later.

Defensive seems pointless if I plan to hold Otto at the passes (they would conquer half my land before hitting the harder attrition areas further north). Yet it has the morale boost and reinforce speed... and will make the forts hold longer esp. with the right advisor.

Then there is quanity which seems the real debate: some say it makes Russia a monster, others say your armies end up being paper tigers than getting destroyed in mass. I do not mind micro managing stacks. It does have a nice policy with religious (morale and morale recovery) and an okay one with Influence.

And do not get me wrong: I love offensive, but for some reason feels less important for Russia. I am sure I will miss it when I am seiging Constantinople.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1290727003

[Jihadi Jesus]

I normally go religious first as russia and use my diplo and mil points to spawn the renaissance. then i go admin, influence and quantity in what ever order I can.
late game offensive because level 8 and 10 are a ♥♥♥♥♥ to siege.
If you need more cash I think trade is better so you don't use your admin for economic.
Humanist is also great because every thing you invade will be wrong religion and wrong culture.
yes your military won't be as good a a late game France or Prussia but buy 1600 you should easily have a force limit of 300.
Just pretend your Stalin and drown your enemies in Russian blood.

[Damedius]

Depends what your goals are.

World Conquest > Quantity. Though you should pick Admin, Influence and Religious and/or Humanist first. For WC military ideas tend to be less valuable and are picked in the later stages of the game.

Strongest Military > Offensive then Quality

[The Void Boy]

Originally posted by jesus was a communist:

I normally go religious first as russia and use my diplo and mil points to spawn the renaissance. then i go admin, influence and quantity in what ever order I can.
late game offensive because level 8 and 10 are a ♥♥♥♥♥ to siege.
If you need more cash I think trade is better so you don't use your admin for economic.
Humanist is also great because every thing you invade will be wrong religion and wrong culture.
yes your military won't be as good a a late game France or Prussia but buy 1600 you should easily have a force limit of 300.
Just pretend your Stalin and drown your enemies in Russian blood.

I'm a fan of defensive ideas as Russia myself, since the AI loves milling about in your land all the time, and with the +1 attrition and the Russian winter their manpower runs out before you can blink.

[Psychotic Fury]

Originally posted by That Guy:

Originally posted by jesus was a communist:

I normally go religious first as russia and use my diplo and mil points to spawn the renaissance. then i go admin, influence and quantity in what ever order I can.
late game offensive because level 8 and 10 are a ♥♥♥♥♥ to siege.
If you need more cash I think trade is better so you don't use your admin for economic.
Humanist is also great because every thing you invade will be wrong religion and wrong culture.
yes your military won't be as good a a late game France or Prussia but buy 1600 you should easily have a force limit of 300.
Just pretend your Stalin and drown your enemies in Russian blood.

I'm a fan of defensive ideas as Russia myself, since the AI loves milling about in your land all the time, and with the +1 attrition and the Russian winter their manpower runs out before you can blink.

There is no "russian winter."..

[The Void Boy]

Originally posted by Psychotic Fury:

Originally posted by That Guy:

I'm a fan of defensive ideas as Russia myself, since the AI loves milling about in your land all the time, and with the +1 attrition and the Russian winter their manpower runs out before you can blink.

There is no "russian winter."..

have you ever played the game and clicked that little icon shaped like a mountain? if you did you'd notice that during the game parts of the map will change from time to time to look very white. That's winter, and what would we call a winter that is also in Russia?

[Psychotic Fury]

Originally posted by That Guy:

Originally posted by Psychotic Fury:

There is no "russian winter."..

have you ever played the game and clicked that little icon shaped like a mountain? if you did you'd notice that during the game parts of the map will change from time to time to look very white. That's winter, and what would we call a winter that is also in Russia?

Haha touche'. I was actually going to write there russian winter doesnt exist, its just winter in russia lol.

Its just one of those things, like how someone invades russia and loses = "they couldnt handle the russian winter".

Though tbh i havnt actually noticed, is there a modifier for snow etc that increases atrittion in eu?

[Jihadi Jesus]

Originally posted by That Guy:

Originally posted by jesus was a communist:

I normally go religious first as russia and use my diplo and mil points to spawn the renaissance. then i go admin, influence and quantity in what ever order I can.
late game offensive because level 8 and 10 are a ♥♥♥♥♥ to siege.
If you need more cash I think trade is better so you don't use your admin for economic.
Humanist is also great because every thing you invade will be wrong religion and wrong culture.
yes your military won't be as good a a late game France or Prussia but buy 1600 you should easily have a force limit of 300.
Just pretend your Stalin and drown your enemies in Russian blood.

I'm a fan of defensive ideas as Russia myself, since the AI loves milling about in your land all the time, and with the +1 attrition and the Russian winter their manpower runs out before you can blink.

Defensive is probably the best military idea in the early game but by the time your going to fight the ottomans, probably 1550 to 1600 it will already be less important than discipline.
allying the mamluks or persia is also very good. the ai can't handle a war on two fronts.
You can just siege down Greece and the ottomans and the mamluks will be busy killing each other in Egypt.

[CyPunk]

Thanks, some useful stuff there: trade over economic was something I considered; will see who pulls themselves together just a bit on Ottos other side; good to know a bit more of when discipline > morale. Will mull over a bit more which mil idea is best for me, for now.

[CyPunk]

Originally posted by Psychotic Fury:

Originally posted by That Guy:

have you ever played the game and clicked that little icon shaped like a mountain? if you did you'd notice that during the game parts of the map will change from time to time to look very white. That's winter, and what would we call a winter that is also in Russia?

Haha touche'. I was actually going to write there russian winter doesnt exist, its just winter in russia lol.

Its just one of those things, like how someone invades russia and loses = "they couldnt handle the russian winter".

Though tbh i havnt actually noticed, is there a modifier for snow etc that increases atrittion in eu?

If by snow you mean winter, then yes in winter attrition goes up based on whether it is a mild, normal, or severe winter.
https://eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Army#Attrition_modifiers

[Psychotic Fury]

Ohh yeah, my bad i havnt played around the russia area for awhile, i judt leave them alone and do my own thing haha