how to start?

[uberjedi]

I bought it on GG and started as the USA.
I was immediately horrified by the scale and sheer number of units to control.
Am I really supposed to order all these units around individually?
Is there some sort of "strategic control" of things?

 

[Arentak]

There totally is. Right click on an area, go the Theater control for large-scale priorities, you can go to Battle Zone control for smaller-scale control.

For instance, as USA, I set NE Asia as high military priority, and I watched my unit count there increase substantially.

 

[doktor]

I lock out all the ministers and set military initiative to 'none'. I also lock out all the commodities.
I try to buy whatever I can of the crucial commodities, petroleum, electricity, and industrial
goods. I build a lot of nukes (you never know when they'll
come in handy), and activate some patrol/AWACS types. Playing as the U.S., I start
to build up in Korea, digging in around Seoul. Set your research up as you see fit, but
make sure you use all your available slots. Hit the pause button and hold onto your
hat.