Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, after playing several games with my russians victory yet eludes my grasp. I simply request advice of what is good for a Russian force and what isn't. From what I gathered T-34s are great as are snipers but that's all I got.

I've found that mass amounts of cheap rifle squads work well for overwhelming your enemy and another tactic i've seen is using a large amount of tank riders and engineers with body armor

I don't have the actual army book but what is the gist of what Engineers in body armor do? And I might try spamming rifleman squads since I have a ton of infantry on hand. Should I go inexperienced or regular?

Right I've got the book in front of me now so here's. The entry for body armour: Small arms ( rifles, machine guns, etc) and HE suffer a -1 modifier to damage soldiers wearing body armour.
Troops wearing body armour do not increase their ace when given a run order ( to assault an enemy in close combat for example) but don't move any faster: they run at the normal pace of 6" .

Basically they are harder to kill but they move slow, I would direct mounting them in something and rushing them across the board to where the actions thickest, I'd recommend giving them all SMG'S as well just for the extra attacks in close combat.

Lewis

tank riders can be 11 men strong, come with SMGs, can equip the body armor, and as the name suggests ride tanks. They treat any tank as a transport vehicle. You can have 11 vets with SMGs that are wounded on 6+ roll up on a tank and lay down some hurt

Oh, cool. Quick question, how good is the SU-76? It seems decent as a cheap way of pinning squads but should I just take the T-34 over it?

The SU-76 isn't a bad tank its reasonably cheap points wise however its only armour value of 8 making it pretty easy to destroy for anything with a penetration value of 5+ it is also open topped which give any shots against it a further +1 penetration value and a +1 on the damage results table. You can however pay +5points to remove open topped(I would recommend doing this) the light howitzer Is a pretty decent gun you can pay an extra 10points to use the light howitzer as a medium anti tank gun as well.

I like the SU-76, and usually take it with the AT shells. Compared to the Zis-3, it's a bit more expensive, but more resilient versus incoming small arms fire, can fire on the move if need be, and, most importantly, can come in from reserve, get into position, and fire all in one turn- a feat which takes the Zis-3 at least 2 turns, and sometimes 3, to pull off.

Was listening to the Bolt Action Radio Podcast. can not remember the episode.

This guy took the biggest most expensive unit out of the Russian book as his hammer and lots of cheap dudes as his anvil.

This list Placed 1st at one of the big con tournaments on the east coast.

1 KV-2 with Heavy Howitzer and had his 1st LT close to his tank most games,

10 Vets with SMGs rode on the KV-2 dismounting when fired upon.

1 Heavy Mortar team in the back field

1 HMG team in the back field

1 Sniper team in the back field

3 Anti-Tank rifle team moved around and supported the KV-2 group as it plowed through everything

3 Units of 11 Inexperienced Green Dudes, Medic and Commisar ran with them.

Notice thats only 14 dice. He was not trying to get to activate first all the time, by loading up on dice.

Prudent, yet decisive, and direct style of command.

Apparently "THE META " school of apathetic list building out that way WAS completely shattered and taken off guard by this guy .

Usually everyone preaches Medium Tanks, Vehicles with Recce, lots of HE, and Flame thowers, taking minimal imfantry requirements and maxing out the tougher weapon platforms.

Because just about everyone follows this mantra the dude destroyed em. Hardly no one had anything to counter.

It was the talk at nearly every table throughout the tourney. No one expected a list like this.

This player bucked the norm every one has been preaching and decided to do his own thing, then proceeded to cream all he faced.

When building a list it's all about using tactics and YOUR OWN plan of battle.

Thats how you chose.

The dude watched and listened to what most potential opponents were running, then figured eh, I'm gonna do my own "thing', then cracked "their thing" and their nuts.

Of course this also obviously had the dice gods blessings.

People have been ignoring taking a healthy amount of infantry in favor of toys? In the tournament meta of all things?

Because seriously, that was the first lesson I learned playing this game, you HAVE to have a good amount of infantry if you want to accomplish anything.

Totally agree with you MrMoustaffa. I've found that the typical russian horde is the way to go. My list is all inexperienced except on squad of regular submachine gunners.. basically its run run run assault.. of course using cover as I go. I do have a kv-1 as its "scary" because its big so I use it to intimidate. I also use an armored car for a little extra firepower.. but then again I have a limited group that plays so I expect to get schooled again soon.

Hmmm. I have been toying around with my army and I find foot Vets with rifles to be good. They have good durability and a nice threat range. I do want a bit more long ranged firepower and I am considering buying some MMG/HMGs. Should I invest in some towed arty as well?

Yeah arty is good to have in my opinion especially howitzer types with 2d6 and medium on up mortars i like as well... course i play americans/germans... but i am sure Soviets have simular things

Sniper teams are great for taking out dangerous model.

Bought a MMG. Didn't do too bad for it's cost. I'm actually fixing to buy myself a Half Track so that I can get my Flame throwers and SMG Vets upfield quicker. Should I just skip the Half Track and just get the book so I can get Tank Riders?

I have a KV-1, a T34, A JS-2 and a SU-122, always go regular with squads you could use a veteran commander, use huge squads, Snipers are a must, and don't forget the Ruskies special rule, They get a free 11 man/woman inexperienced squad.

Having a T-34 or a KV-2 takes the heat of your squads.

If you don't have a tank, dog bombs are fun (and totally unpredictable).