by laughingcavalier on Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:40 pm
In the early phases of the game it doesn't much matter where you are grabbing your first cities and countries, so long as you know where you want to end up and can put the time & effort into getting there.
Approaching the end game, turkey and England are at the core of the strongest positions, because you have a wall at your back. The player in Italy can find himself squeezed between these two. Turkey is very hard to break - but also hard to expand from: as you advance your Borders become always longer & your nearby country bonuses are not easily defensible. In england you get limited reinforcements, but can often stay safe there till you are strong enough to overcome Germany or more likely France when he has been worn out by war on 3 fronts. From England eventually you can establish a short frontline around Berlin-Bavaria-southern France- from which you can launch your knockout blow.
With the many bonuses it's important to push up your reinforcements, try to get progressively 1 or 2 more, extra terrs or cities. If you have england, you want england + berlin, if you have berlin you want berlin + vienna.... Think in phases of 5-10 turns, with a longterm objective. Punish the weaker players, keep tabs on the stronger ones. If you grow gradually, your opponents don't see your strength till too late. But if there is a tactical opportunity, grab it. Don't be afraid of a fight, you can afford to lose armies in establishing a moral superiority.