AIR exploration and the Unity

[MrWhereItsAt]

Another thing I didn't realis until I looked at the save just now - we have the Unity Chopper (makes sense, with the wreck nearby).

There has been no discussion that I can see on what to do with this. I propose we move it to Tacticopolis, using it to explore the isthmuses SE of that city and near the scout patrols, saving us some time so that the ground units can sally forth throught the middle of the landmass.

Also, can the chopper pick up things from the Unity? If so, perhaps it would be a good idea to then use it to go over that duned land the Unity partially crashed on to locate other factions' comm frequencies. This could rapidly speed our early tech rate, and when our pop goes up, we'll get towards Governor and higher trade faster.

[FlameFlash]

No, it can't pick things up, so we'd still need a pod-popping scout...

I like this proposition though, have we heard what Lemmy thinks on the matter?

[History Guy]

I would use it for a small amount of scouting, but not too very much as the fuel is very low in the old thing.

As Comrade FlameFlash notes, it cannot pick up anything. It could attack mindworms and such, but I would not suggest that we use it for this as it is far too valuable to risk.

Comrade History Gu-yi

[MrWhereItsAt]

But Histy (my new nickname for your, er, Poly nickname ), what good is it unless it is used? It is good for scouting quickly, so we should use it for that as much as possible. Once we have explored everywhere within one turn's radius, we should start damaging the Copter and taking it out a full turn's movement before returning, healing it after each excursion. There is no danger provided we return it after 1.5 turns of movement outwards and this could speed our exploration greatly at a time when high-mp units are rare.

[Makahlua]

I've actually found the Chopper a fast and easy way to see the lay of the land nearby in the early game. That fuel tank can stretch up to 16 squares (over 2 turns) in any direction from a base and then return, hold a few for repairs and repeat. No Locusts of Chiron early on usually (though an occasional mind worm might take a swing if it ends over fungus) and you can just send it to the next base to extened the view afterwards