Cheese Soviet build?

[Modern Major-General]

The German player has enough to worry about, with Shermans and Crocs or Parabombs. Now, the Ruskies have snipers and KV-1s. I have not tried this build, but I think it could be added to the list of headache-inducing Allied builds.

64 KV-1 x2
9 Cossack Captain (on KV-1)
3 SMiG dude (on KV-1)
24 Fanatical Sniper x3

Anti-soldier at all ranges with KV-1 and snipers, and the two KV-1s are good against tanks with Hulking Mass. SMiG dude can hop off whenever necessary, perhaps with the other KV-1 and Cossack adjacent to make use of Intimidation.

I don't know. Good or bad build? Heck, the KV-1 seems to be the most popular tank with this board. Is it better than a Croc? It just may be if you are transporting the right solider unit and the Hulking Mass lets it survive.

[crash beedo]

That's very solid. Here's the version I've been using (and I'll explain why I don't use so many snipers):

64 KV-1 x2
09 Cossack Captain
08 Fanatical Sniper
03 SMG
05 Commissar
09 Mosin Nagant x3
02 Chinese Rifleman
100 points

Pretty similar, KV-1 and the Cossack, the other KV-1 gets the SMG guy. The snipers are money against SS PGs and german infantry; in tournament play, if you play against the parabomb or the all armor force, three russian snipers is a lot of dead weight. Its possible for the sniper & commissar to crack a screaming eagle (5 dice only missing on a 1) but that's still hinckey.

In a tournament, I'd take out the sniper, and play that Russian AT Gun. Backed up by the commissar, it'll be fine. And your biggest threat will be allied armor or the parabomb. Mosin Nagants have one of the best close assaults in the game.

In Axis vs Allies play, where you know you'll be matched against Germans and they'll most likely have infantry, three snipers is just plain ugly. My germans would cry. I like it.

[Stojakovic]

those are nice I might try them out but I don't like the chinese guy in there. When I build a Russian army, it is all russian.

[crash beedo]

From a gaming point of view, the Chinese riflemen are perfect Commissar fodder. I consider them conscripts from Mongolia or something. I don't know if anyone from the far east of the Soviet Union was ever moved west to fight. Its a big place though. I think SU is my favorite group to play.

[Dr.Cornelius]

Yes, the Fanatical Sniper is very hard on the Germans- but WE Sniper w/ Headshot is strong against tanks.

My assumption is that Snipers were balanced with fast assassin units like Humber, Stuart and even BT-70 in mind. The problem is that the Germans do not have a fast anti-infantry unit. I suppose the Pz II Flamingo is the best choice, but 17 points is a lot to invest in a unit that is only effective at close range.

Historically, the Germans would have assaulted the Sniper's position behind the protective sides of a Sdkfz 251 halftrack. But the halftracks are notoriously overpriced and a clever player will cover the Sniper with an AT Gun.

I have thought about a couple ways to fix to the Sniper issue. One solution would be to allow Snipers to be attacked at range by units with the Blast special ability, at -1 on the dice.

Another solution would be to allow Snipers to attack other Snipers at any range.

Too bad these issues were not discovered and corrected in playtest.

[agelb21]

those are nice I might try them out but I don't like the chinese guy in there. When I build a Russian army, it is all russian.


Stoja, that video is the funniest thing i've seen in a long time...nice find..where'd u get it??!

[Horst]

Modern - my first thoughts are that you wouldn't have enough units to hold an objective. If you keep the snipers back at range, the axis can stay 1 hex away from the objective (behind cover) and still win. This would force them out of cover. A Headshot from a WE-Sniper followed by a PAK40 and a tank could take a KV-1 out really fast.
The snipers are nice, but imo, 3 is too many for a 100pt army.

Crash's suggestion is more to my liking.

[Joisey]

The German player has enough to worry about, with Shermans and Crocs or Parabombs. Now, the Ruskies have snipers and KV-1s. I have not tried this build, but I think it could be added to the list of headache-inducing Allied builds.

64 KV-1 x2
9 Cossack Captain (on KV-1)
3 SMiG dude (on KV-1)
24 Fanatical Sniper x3

Anti-soldier at all ranges with KV-1 and snipers, and the two KV-1s are good against tanks with Hulking Mass. SMiG dude can hop off whenever necessary, perhaps with the other KV-1 and Cossack adjacent to make use of Intimidation.

I don't know. Good or bad build? Heck, the KV-1 seems to be the most popular tank with this board. Is it better than a Croc? It just may be if you are transporting the right solider unit and the Hulking Mass lets it survive.
What is the mission of the PPSh riding on the KV-1?

[tbopper1]

I played in a 4-player, 100 points each battle on saterday. I was on the Soviet side and chose the following.

2xKv's
2xCossacks
6xSMG squads

One KV dove headfirst in the kraut position behind the objective. Two SMG's got zapped in the open but then came to grips with the sausage eaters in the melee around the Kv. The Cossack mounted on the Kv made it no contest. 1xUberLt, 2xSSPG's, 1xPzFaust, 1x222, 1xPak38 all squashed for no loss.
KV #2 bum-rushed a Pak40 and again the cossak proved his worth. Pak missed in 2 shots but cover rolled twice against my MG's. This Kv later went down to the Pak and a un-killable Panzerfaust that charged in over several hexes, under fire all the way, to help pop the monster. This however was after the Cossack captain dismounted and was killed. That was an error on my part but I was kinda starting to feel like a turd for this tactic.
Although I like the Reds I'm feeling that they are a bit to gimmicky. Commisars and Cossacks can make for an infuriating army.

[crash beedo]

What is the mission of the PPSh riding on the KV-1?

If SS-PG's get close, he can jump off and give the unit some strong close assault protection. With 10 dice at range 1, he's one of the few (cheap) units that can zap their 5 defense. And this role plays well to his lack of range since he's not used as a typical assault piece.

[Dr.Cornelius]

Don't Panic. The Commissar + KV-1 combo is effective but there are ways to beat it and it is not even the most dangerous or abusive army going right now.

[PatrickWR]

Don't Panic. The Commissar + KV-1 combo is effective but there are ways to beat it and it is not even the most dangerous or abusive army going right now.

Do you mean Cossack Cap'n + KV-1?