Have you tried just playing defense from the start, slow growth, or early German thrust? Some things to try.

Early German thrust? Isn't that the Valis gambit?

Valis you can't say that about peterwiggin. We're not supposed to call people names anymore

Not even screwball or maroon even if it is the color or somebody Levine.

@Ezio. I find the best way to play Russia is to accomplish something and not die. It's a very high-level strategy that I try to implement in every game I play. If you need any more, I'm happy to offer other nuggets of wisdom.

Accomplish something... And... not die? That sounds crazy. It's revolutionary. It's... It's... Eye opening! I shall change my entire gameplay hereafter.
/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s

Lol

My best results with Russia have happened when I come out swinging on both fronts. England is usually too worried about France to get a good start in Scandinavia.

Here's my foolproof plan to always soloing as Russia:

1. Get to 5 SC
2. Get to 6 SC
3. Get to 7 SC
4. Get to 8 SC
5. Get to 9 SC
6. Get to 10 SC
7. Get to 11 SC
8. Get to 12 SC
9. Get to 13 SC
10. Get to 14 SC
11. Get to 15 SC
12. Get to 16 SC
13. Get to 17 SC
14. Get to 18 SC

I hear wiggins is so good that he can do it backwards, and he doesn't stop there :P

yep i agree, there is no one as backward as wiggins

@PF - you can also try accomplishing nothing and try to die. You'll find you're very successful if those are your goals.

@Yoyoyozo - I understand most of your steps, but to avoid unlucky #13, I recommend going from 12 SCs on step 8 to 14 SCs on step 9, then pick up 2 SCs on either step 10, 11, or 12 so you finish in just 12 steps. If you actually try to go to 13 SCs on step 9, you will plunge into this pattern due to unlucky numbers:
8. Get to 12 SC
9. Get to 13 SC
10. Drop to 12 SC
11. Get to 13 SC
12. Drop to 12 SC
13. Get to 12 SC
....
101. Draw in frustration.

"Early German thrust? Isn't that the Valis gambit?"

Oh hey I remember that

I am a benevolent gunboat God who donates points to his neighbors.

Actually, last GB I solo'ed as Russia, PW did just that! :)

While I appreciate the shitposts and levity, I would appreciate some actual advice. Russia is the only nation I've never soloed with.

The best advice I have for Russia is that you have to be aggressive. Your lines will never be secure, so there's no point playing for safety.

I haven't soloed in a decent game with Russia, rather taking advantage of NMRs and poor play, so all I can offer is shit posts and levity. Sorry.

yeah this is the first legitimate gunboat Russia I could find of myself, with no NMRs or anything, against reasonably competent players.

http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=172667

It was over a year ago, when I had a weird philosophy about playing as Russia. IT was to completely forgo the north to and focus south. It worked pretty well.

My fatal mistake happened in Autumn of 1909, when Italy took Venice because I misordered and accidentally cut my own support into Venice. Not only did I lose Venice, I lost my ticket into the med as well because Apulia was dislodged and disbanded. RIP me.

The philosophy works more times than not, I find. Here's why:
If you give England StP, they will want some centers in the near future. If Moscow is occupied, and you're doing relatively well in the south (which you should if you just gave up StP. They will likely go for Germany next simply because it's easier than having to get an army into Livonia, and the play the guessing game with Moscow.

Looking back through my games I have only a few Examples of Russian solos, by me or anyone else. They seem to be oddly consistent in the 18 centers though. All or Austria and the Balkans. All of most of Turkey and then Germany and Sweden and only occasionally Norway. That suggests to me energy into an early juggernaut, followed by a good stab of an very trusting turkey while armies head into Germany. Scandinavia seems not to be the point of the break out in those games for me or the people I've played. Also, it looks like I've lost more solos to genghiz than anyone else by a country mile.

I've only soloed twice with Russia ever, though so listen to Peter

A great way to solo.as Russia is to have england and austria both CD

Oh crashing and burning as Russia in gunboat is my favourite thing to do on this website.

gameID=178285

Funny. Again the same set of centers. No Trieste in that one

Tough to form a true juggernaut in gunboat though - the coordination is a mess, as well as the long-term trust. Much easier to solo as Russia where there is press. Not easy, but easier.