Opinions about cruise missiles

[habib_crayen]

Hail.

I would like to read tour opinions about cruise missile. The fact that AI never uses it is strange. I like to modify CruMis capacities in scenarii editor, but i would like to see expert's opinions about this weapon. Are they effective, is it interesting to produce CruMis in number? How to use it?

[Aqualung71]

I never use them. Why build a missile that does only limited missile then self-destructs on impact. You may as well build bombers, that usually get a few missions before those pesky fighters pick them off.

Also, with Tactical Nukes and ICBM's not far off, I wait for them if I want to inflict some real damage.

[vmxa1]

Wow, I had forgotten Crusie missiles were in the game.

[Cerbykins]

The civilopedia may go on about how 2 million dollar missiles can cripple/destroy 50 million dollar ships. But this is civ, and the missiles DO NOT cost a 50th the cost of a battleship here

If they did, perhaps THEN I'd care

The simple reality is, arty that destroys itself is no use, even if it CAN finish targets. The best use for these missiles, are as 'contingency plans' to rescue you if you get caught short. You certainly couldn't use them efficiently and persistently in a prolonged campaign.

[Vince278]

Stopped using them too.

[Chaos_BF1942]

They are pretty good on taking out Units, I really wish you can load them onto subs or ships and fire them from the ship/sub. It would make landing alot safer and easier, I normally Bomb the city too hell and back damaging/killing as many units as I can, before I send ground units in.

[CerberusIV]

I have only ever seen the AI use cruise missiles to defend the city that built them. It doesn't seem to move them around.

The only use I have ever made of them is to destroy naval units bombarding my coastline. Redline the ship with artillery then finish it with a cruise.

C3C where bombers have lethal sea bombardment anyway makes cruise rather unnecessary.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

I use them a lot for taking cities when they become available, yes bombers have got lethal bombard on land now but they still reduce pop and damage buildings. I read the threads that say Artillery only hits units untill they are all redlined then starts to take out walls barracks etc. Thats the best use of cruise to finish them off when the Arty has redlined them. Cruise's range seems higher in conquests which is also much better than before. Bombers are best for damaging infrastructure of an enemy at long range, and wittling down enemy stacks in the open. Sure I use bombers to bombard cities too but when cruise come along you have a second option

[habib_crayen]

hail.
Thanks for all your replies. I will follow your instructions and you're right: with lethal bombing, cruise missile becomes useless. I had modify the rules of the scenario to lead war attacked like it was made before desert Storm, in I99I... just for pleasure .But one time, cruise missiles saved me, I haven't many assault units (only 18 modern tanks), Russia had 40 modern tanks and 88 Mobile infantries. my tactic was simple: do what Staline did with east europe at the beginning of cold ward (i don't really find my words but i think it was called a strategic glacis). The goal was to choose the battelfield, and place him in ennemy country, by capturing the three nearest towns. But no time to attack the radars which protect the ennemy towns with my tanks. That's why i use Cruise missile, they destroyed ennemy troops on radars site, and bombers did the rest, tehey destroyed the radar itself. This plan used 18 cruise missile, but it allowed me to use ALL my tanks to atatck cities. Then i win the war. That was on PTW in monarch level.

PS : thanks for your replies, i will perform my playing thanks to you

[habib_crayen]

Hail.
Just another thing. there is a little bug when i play on the same computer with my friends, in multiplayer ( turn by turn)... Only one of can see ennemy actions, the others only see results, and we often miss important things, is there anything wich can correct this problem?

[Catt]

Not enough experience with the lethal bombard of air units in C3C and the increased naval movement rates . . . but pre-C3C a small stack of CMs, together with arty, made for a formidable coastal defense (I suspect they may still enjoy this use with their added range, although lethal planes would usually make more sense if you can build them). Use arty to redline enemy ships and sink them with cruise missles. Using a cheap missle to take out an expensive battleship always brought a little joy to my heart in PTW. Additionally, I found the lethal bombard of the CM (when other units didn't have it) to be helpful in some limited circumstances (no oil, for instance), just as I find marines useful in some limited circumstances and, I am told , that paratroopers are also useful in some limited circumstance.

Catt

[habib_crayen]

Hail.
Yes I also think Crusie missiles are not so useless...

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by habib_crayen
Hail.
Yes I also think Crusie missiles are not so useless...

Useless is a bit harsh, but not required is about right. The small value they had before C3C was reuced even farther with lethal bombardment.

[vee4473]

I guess the only thing cm's have going for them over building bombers is the fact that they can't get picked off by fighters that may be escorting a naval stack?

[vmxa1]

Yes that is a plus, but the limited range hurts.