Honestly... whats the use of Helicopters?

[ElConejo]

Ok. I would love to hear of anyone's ideas or even their examples of the use of Helicopters in Civ. Because sadly (as much as I love the idea of dropships.. see my avatar) I have found absolutely no use for these units in the course of the game. I use them only sparsely and that is because I just WANT to, not because they are practical. So please, does anyone have a situation/example or thoughts about helicopters uses in C3C?

[Sabre2th]

If you want to maintain an airbase or a city far from your homelands (ie. a jumping off point for an invasion elsewhere), you can use them to move infantry long distances very quickly or to drop decent ground troops a few squares away (Paratroopers leave a lot to be desired). Obviously, their use in this respect is limited, but it's A use and it is faster than ships if you just need to get support far away quickly

[vmxa1]

Can't say I have either and have never built one. Thesus posted a screenie of the AI dropping one off next to one of his towns, but I have never even seen one in the game.

[ElConejo]

Has anyone heard of any helicopter-type air-transport units in Civ4?

Lord I hope they are vastly improved...

[Addled Platypus]

same feelings here, but include radar artillery

I have only built 1 of each after all the games I have played

[planet]

Like the concept of choppers, sad it is not practicle.

[Jaybe]

Helicopters are not underpowered, it's the AIRPORTS that are OVERPOWERED.

By turning off (in the Editor) the "Veteran Air Units" for airports, you can no longer ferry your units instantaneously. Helicopters then are your sole airlift capacity. I even lowered their lift capacity to two units.

My preference is for veteran status to be earned, so in my mods even barracks is a small wonder. It is most unfortunate that unit upgrades can only be done where veteran units are created.

[MarkG]

whats the use of Helicopters?

they look cool

[ElConejo]

Originally posted by MarkG
they look cool

I couldnt agree more, I just wish they were more useful!

[ElConejo]

Originally posted by Jaybe
Helicopters are not underpowered, it's the AIRPORTS that are OVERPOWERED.

By turning off (in the Editor) the "Veteran Air Units" for airports, you can no longer ferry your units instantaneously. Helicopters then are your sole airlift capacity. I even lowered their lift capacity to two units.

I have often thought Airports are overpowered myself, but how would turning off Veteran Air Units make it even out? I am somewhat confused to the result. That stops airlift option for units?

[ElConejo]

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how one could make Helicopters more useful through the editor? much appreciated!

[Addled Platypus]

carry more units or type of units

maybe transport artillery ?

be able to patrol the skies (coastal asw work)

[joncnunn]

Personally, I've never used helicopters in civ 3 (or civ 2 for that matter)

In fact, just about the only chopters I owned in SMAC were the Unity chopters via pods. (I pefered to use Locusts for air power.)

[Kataphraktoi]

choppers are massivly overpowered in smac
locusts have some very big drawbacks and are not a mainstream unit

[ElConejo]

I was thinking I could make a unit that is suited to be used as a Helicopter component. Sort of like Shock Troops that will be used with the Helicopters to secure and attack the enemies things. Anyone have any thoughts on the abilities or stats of this unit should be?

I originally thought to make the unit immobile to make the use of Helicopters nessassary, however then there would be no way to get the unit back to a city...

Any help or suggestions would be very welcome!