Question about Airships

[Deity Dude]

I only play MP so the games usually never get this far but, I was playing an island game and built an airship. It said I could attack any unit within the range on an air strike mission I believe. Anyways when I tried to do it, it wouldn't work. It let me do recons and city relocation but for some reason the airstrike didn't work. I am sure it is something mechanical I am doing wrong but I couldnt find the answer in the Civlopedia and the other players didn't know why it wouldn't work either. Anyways I am stumped, so any help would be aprreciated.

[CerberusIV]

I've only ever used them in SP but you should get an airstrike option, click on that and you should be able to hit any enemy unit within range.

Was the unit you tried to hit already damaged? Airships can only reduce a unit to something like 85% strength so if your target was already damaged you would not be allowed to weaken it further.

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by CerberusIV
I've only ever used them in SP but you should get an airstrike option, click on that and you should be able to hit any enemy unit within range.

Was the unit you tried to hit already damaged? Airships can only reduce a unit to something like 85% strength so if your target was already damaged you would not be allowed to weaken it further.

I got and selected airstrike, put the highlighted square over the undamaged enemy target and it wouldn't move.

I'm still at a loss.

[Quillan]

They don't "move". Aircraft don't move around on the map like land or naval units. When you select either Airstrike or Air Bomb, a yellow highlight appears showing the range of the unit. Moving your cursor over any target will show a green square if that target can be attacked by the selected air mission, or a dark grey square if the target cannot be attacked by the selected air mission, whether because the target is invalid or the target is out of range.

Air strikes target combat units. You cannot target a non-combat unit like workers or cruise missiles. You cannot target a combat unit that is damaged below 50% of its health. The most damage an airstrike can do is to reduce a target to 50% of its health. If you were getting the grey square, then it was because either nothing was there but non-combat units, or because all valid combat units were already too badly damaged to be attacked.

[Yosho]

(nods) They're actually very effective units, especally in navel warfare, until the fighter comes along anyway. If he dosn't have air defense, one frigate and a few airships can slowly wear down and take out any number of enemy frigates, and that's true all the way up to battleships.

[KMadeleine]

i'm still getting used to airships and how to best use them. i like to keep some around even after fighters, because airships can see subs but fighters can't, so they can be handy for recon.

but it doesn't always work out. usually nobody can make subs when i start to make airships, so i forget they can do that and i forget to save 'em. if somebody is making subs already, well, i'm two techs behind minimum, usually more, and probably in serious trouble, so i just kind of pray and check the diplomacy screen every 2 seconds.

[LzPrst]

are airships a bit overpowered...? that is the question...

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by Quillan
They don't "move". Aircraft don't move around on the map like land or naval units. When you select either Airstrike or Air Bomb, a yellow highlight appears showing the range of the unit. Moving your cursor over any target will show a green square if that target can be attacked by the selected air mission, or a dark grey square if the target cannot be attacked by the selected air mission, whether because the target is invalid or the target is out of range.

Air strikes target combat units. You cannot target a non-combat unit like workers or cruise missiles. You cannot target a combat unit that is damaged below 50% of its health. The most damage an airstrike can do is to reduce a target to 50% of its health. If you were getting the grey square, then it was because either nothing was there but non-combat units, or because all valid combat units were already too badly damaged to be attacked.

I understand the concept - You said I cant target certain units. Can I target an untouched 100% Frigate or Galleon within the range of the airship? It allowed me to put the "square" over the unti but would not move or strike there.

Thats all I wanted to do.

It kept showing me that it was within range but would not allow me to use the air strike option.

[CerberusIV]

You should get a green square to position over the target within the yellow shaded airship range. If the target is an undamaged enemy combat unit you should be able to position the green square, left click and watch the fun. If anything else is happening (or not happening) it sounds as if something is wrong.

[rah]

Occasionaly I get a glitch where it won't turn the target square green even on a valid target. But assuming I have 3 airships, if I recon with one then I'll be able to attack with the other two. I have seen no patern on why I have to sometimes recon first and other times not.

The same target different turns.

[Jaybe]

That's RIGHT! In some situations a target will have to be sighted before striking is permitted.

[Brizey]

I was thinking that the rule is that a target must be sighted if it is not in a city. Might be wrong, though. I have stationed "spotter" troops near cities for bombers.

[rah]

For me even if it's in a city it sometimes has to be sighted, and other times not.

[clarkcd]

There are two options in choosing an air unit, to attack a land feature/city defense and to attack a unit. Perhaps you are choosing the wrong one?

[CerberusIV]

Originally posted by clarkcd
There are two options in choosing an air unit, to attack a land feature/city defense and to attack a unit. Perhaps you are choosing the wrong one?

Only for the later units IIRC. Airships only get the unit strike option.