Settlers and Airlift

[hobbit1]

I have found that I cannout airlift a settler between two cities like I can other units. Anybody else have this problem or a solution?

[spy14]

Click airlift on in the settler screen of the editor

[hobbit1]

hmmm I guess that entails going into the editor. Is it not possible in the regular game?

[Kloreep]

Nope, it isn't. In the default rules, settlers, workers, and artillery can't be airlifted. I think scouts and explorers can't either.

[Kuciwalker]

It's some weird oversight, or something.

[hobbit1]

If it was an oversite why wasen't it covered in a patch. Maybe they assume that airlifting those units would be too advantageis(sic) I can see where one city with an airport would let you swarm all over a landmass quickly, whereas transporting them takes time and can be dangerious in wartime.
It is interestin to note I saw nothing in the manual excluding land units from being airlifted??

[Kuciwalker]

Because they don't care enough. Really, are you going to be settling after you have airports?

[hobbit1]

Well yes I often settle after building airports. I often raze cities and dont want other civilizations building back their cities.

[PLATO]

I will sometimes settle after airports even when not razing cities. Sometimes the AI leaves a gap that needs to be filled when it is initially placing cities.

Swarming a continent isn't really an issue by the time you get airports/airfields. The issue is beating that friendly civ next door to that suddenly attractive city site.

[Kuciwalker]

You knew what I meant, new territory. Simply resettling conquered land with settlers from airports isn't any more unbalancing that sending over the military units themselves through an airport.

[Last Conformist]

The fact you cannot airlift Arty annoys me, but it at least helps the AI a bit.

[bobbo008]

if you're taking over a continent it really helps. I think the problem is the worker doesn't want to fly in a military craft, and commercial jets aren't available in the game.

[hobbit1]

actually I have found that I can airlift workers but still not settlers...hmmm makes no sense at all

[Jaybe]

It makes perfect sense (from a game design standpoint) to not be able to airlift settlers. Settlers are the most powerful unit in the game!

Personally, I have disabled airlift from tanks and other mechanized units. While some modern airlift aircraft can lift modern armored vehicles, they cannot lift them in quantity enough to be meaningful.

[hobbit1]

I disagree some of the largest of transports can carry a company of armor. I also think you need to look at the scale of things. Who says that each unit modern represents a single of its type? I think airlifting mechnizied units is intergrial(sp)to alot of stratagies and can provide the much needed firepower, if only to delay, till you can move enmass to the conflict area.