Air Combat...ok, but NO AIRBASES!?!?!

[albiedamned]

It would seem logical that the control tower icon represents the airport city improvement, since we know airports exist and I don't see any other icon on that screen that could be it.

I'm wondering what the 4th icon in the Flight box is, the one with a red x through it.

[Patriqvium]

Originally posted by albiedamned
It would seem logical that the control tower icon represents the airport city improvement, since we know airports exist and I don't see any other icon on that screen that could be it.

I'm wondering what the 4th icon in the Flight box is, the one with a red x through it.

That means that Flight makes the Colossus (I think) obsolete.

[izmircali]

I'm hoping airbases haven't been removed. First, because they did mention that govts will have city limits, so building an airbase could make force protection easier instead of relying on a vulverable carrier fleet (although carriers are best as a taxing of aircraft to the bases and againing taxing aircraft closer to there targets). I used air bases alot mainly when I didn't want to rely on building farflung cities and tried to play a relatively peaceful game. In civ 3 If I want to play a trading power and need to guard colonies or resources, I'll need airbases.

[Ozymandous]

Originally posted by Faboba
Yes, it is. There's no indicator in the tech tree that you can build it.

As aircraft have a long range and you get aircraft carriers early, this doesn't have terribly drastic implications for the planes ( and all planets are at least 60% water )

What I'm more concerned about it paratroopers. If there are no airbases then they can only drop for cities with airports ( they can't take off from carriers )

This is going to limit their importanmce quite a bit. Fine if you're the UK in ww2 it's great, but what if you're the US. You can't use an airbase. You're going to have to conquer normandy and build an airport there before you can drop your troops......... into normandy!!!!

Unless you take over Southampton or Portsmouth and drop from there.

Umm, you forgot one little thing. In WW2 The UK and the US had an alliance (that's why they called them allies don't 'cha know), and so the US would have been able to land their planes and launch paratroopers from any English city.

I would hope that Firaxis implemented this into Civ3 so that you can still land planes in a foreign city as long as that nation had an alliance with your nation. I guess we'll wait to see.

[cyril25376]

I am afraid there are no air bases, because of The culture/border model.
OK, lets say you have built an air base near the border of an enemy, to attack a city. The enemy borders extends and now your air base is in the border of your enemy. What happens: Will your air base be destroyed like a colony or can the air base now be used by your enemy ... ? When my idea is correct, than it is better there is no air base

[Faboba]

Originally posted by Anunikoba
OK, take a look at this screen, and look at the fourth icon from the left in the Flight technology box. What is that? Is it an airport tower? If it is, it is probably just for the Airport improvement.

That is the airport.

Sheesh. I went to the effort of listing all the techs, units and improvements you could see on the tech tree screens and it gets left to fall to the bottom and then people post like this.



That's it - I'm off to bump it again. It took me three hours!

[Faboba]

Originally posted by Ozymandous


Umm, you forgot one little thing. In WW2 The UK and the US had an alliance (that's why they called them allies don't 'cha know), and so the US would have been able to land their planes and launch paratroopers from any English city.

I would hope that Firaxis implemented this into Civ3 so that you can still land planes in a foreign city as long as that nation had an alliance with your nation. I guess we'll wait to see.

I hope so to but we don't know.

Besides what about far off wars in hostile territory?

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Faboba
Yes, it is. There's no indicator in the tech tree that you can build it.

As aircraft have a long range and you get aircraft carriers early, this doesn't have terribly drastic implications for the planes ( and all planets are at least 60% water )

What I'm more concerned about it paratroopers. If there are no airbases then they can only drop for cities with airports ( they can't take off from carriers )

This is going to limit their importanmce quite a bit. Fine if you're the UK in ww2 it's great, but what if you're the US. You can't use an airbase. You're going to have to conquer normandy and build an airport there before you can drop your troops......... into normandy!!!!

Unless you take over Southampton or Portsmouth and drop from there.

We do not yet know how Paratroopers work in Civ III being as how air combat is completely different. So the lack of airbases may not be that big a deal. Do we even know if Paratroopers are in? I hope so, because I want to be able to raze the United Nations after nuking it from far away.........

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Anunikoba
Airbases are somewhat silly anyhow- an airfield, in the middle of nowhere?

Oh really? And what are you expecting? A military facility near civilian facilities? Like the Taliban or something?

And all those airbases on Saudi Arabia, aren't they really useful for the Americans?

I find it really strange for Airbases not to be in Civ 3, but ok...

[ajbera]

Although I sincerely hope that the non-mention of airbases is a simple oversight (considering the importance of airstrips in the current international conflict, their military usefulness is now obvious to all), is it possible that air units may now be able to land in fortresses? An inelegant solution, but the lack of airstrips does seem like one of Firaxis' true (and few) missteps.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

OK, take a look at this screen,

I see in order from left to right, and airbase tile improvement, a fighter, a bomber, an airport city improvement, and the colossus.

I am afraid there are no air bases, because of The culture/border model.
OK, lets say you have built an air base near the border of an enemy, to attack a city. The enemy borders extends and now your air base is in the border of your enemy. What happens: Will your air base be destroyed like a colony or can the air base now be used by your enemy ... ?

Well, lets take a look at this.

If your at peace, then they will take over the airbase and then expel your units to a nearest city.
If your at war, then they will take the airbase and capture or destroy your air units.
If you played civ2, you will know that when the enemy takes an airbase, it is then controlled by him.

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by Lorizael

We do not yet know how Paratroopers work in Civ III being as how air combat is completely different. So the lack of airbases may not be that big a deal. Do we even know if Paratroopers are in?

I suppose the paratroopers are in, because without
them, that new transport helicopter would be quite
useless (unless we can transport any or certain other
landtroops (I love this idea)). Hopefully the paratroopers
are like before, but there would be an airborne function
("centry function" to be used with that copter).
Then we could finally fight remote wars, without
having to have massive armies (okay, okay, it's possible
in some ways in Civ II, but it would be better in Civ III).
I make it easier; compare to US Rangers in Afghanistan.

The helicopter might be the replacer of those airfields,
but hopefully not, because it would make the game more
surreal; IMO.

If that helicopter is the next generation of remote
combating in Civ, I'm not pleased; of course the
chopper ( or was it copter? ) is a nice concept,
but I want the old good airfields too.

[Lorizael]

Yah I definetely hope some type of airfield is in. And the first thing on flight looks something like an airfield is in.

I thought I heard that transport helicoptors can carry anything. We have C-130s that can carry like two tanks at once so this makes sense.

Choppers are another way of saying motocycle

See you have helicoptors
Then... coptors
Then coppers!

Ahhh the evolution of language... I have no idea why motorcyles are called choppers...

[Earthling7]

You could send your units to friendly (allied) bases in SMACCC, so I guess that would still be in. It gave the alliance a sence of value, being able to defend other's cities.

[Gyromancer]

Originally posted by Lorizael

Choppers are another way of saying motocycle

...

Ahhh the evolution of language... I have no idea why motorcyles are called choppers...

Actually chopper can be used both to mean helicopter and motorcycle.

The usage for motorcycle came about in the 50's (maybe late 40's) when some members of motorcycle gangs would "chop" a regular motorcycle and make its body longer. (Not a very good idea for your long term chiropractic health..... )