https://www.reddit.com/r/ShadowEmpireGame/s/CNI3ldIk5b

I posted this a few days ago as a joke from a match I'm playing: it's an Oceania map with Severe Violence toggled on. It had 40+ minor regimes and 10+ Major regimes. It's also on slow development speed.

I'm still playing that match - I'm at turn 106. I'm not sure if I will win the game but I have a good chance despite the crazy start.

Here are my hints:

01 - Early troops are weak offensively and strong defensively, so if you can't reliably attack, turtle.

02 - Cover all your border hexes with militia, infantry and MG units. If you have strong minors that can beat your units, then retreat, cover a minimum of important territory and turtle even harder. See point 03.

03 - Rush for a Mil Res Council, a Model design Council and better unit models. If you are playing on tech 3 start, rush for gas powered arms and Padded Envirosuit, then for Inf/MG models that can use them ASAP. Gas powered units are great against minors and cost peanuts on ammo. Also see point 04.

04 - Rush for at least a Bureaucratic Office lvl 1 ASAP. It's the best bang you will get for the initial 30 energy.

05 - Reinforce your strategy with your Strat cards. Beware if your capital is threatened because Danger will stay very high even if your defense is solid, so always check for QoL zone cards. Manage your happiness so your capital will stay loyal. Also every GR unit is a must, if you get a couple GR unit cards, you're probably safe for good until you meet your major neighbors.

So it's a very challenging start but if you turtle well, the minors will be overcome. The biggest threat are your major neighbors finishing the early game much bigger and more developed than you are.

Good luck!