For Sale: Helicopters, unused, mint condition

[Thomas Paine]

Has anyone a use for the Civ3 whirlybird? I've never even produced one, nor has any of my computer opponents.

The helicopter option only appears in the tech tree right about the time mechanized infantry neuters the viability of standard troops. One can only transport one infantry unit at a time, so.....what roll do they play in the civ3 universe?

The only strategy I can think of which could possibly make use of helicopters would involve a series of strike-and-run sabotage missions. Fly in five helicopters loaded with five infantry deep into enemy territory for the sole purpose of pillaging the countryside.
Can anyone share any alternate suggestions? Or is the Civ3 helicopter a developmental dead end?

(I wonder what Firaxis had in mind... ?)

[Capt Dizle]

Nothing. They didn't finish the game before it was released. There wasn't the playtesting necessary to figure out the whole last quarter of the game.

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by jimmytrick
Nothing. They didn't finish the game before it was released. There wasn't the playtesting necessary to figure out the whole last quarter of the game.

That was a very helpful comment.

I'd comment myself, except that I've never built one either. Can helicopters carry artillery? That could be useful.

[habadacus]

I built a few, and never figured out what to do with them except re-base them for no apparent reason. Units in the same town as them didn't seem to have a load option, and they have no combat abilities. I think you take them with your reciept within 30 days back to comp USA and get a copy of Empire Earth. Yep, that's what you do with them.

[Smash]

this is one of the few things from civ2 that made it to 3.
They were just as useless in that version also.

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by Smash
this is one of the few things from civ2 that made it to 3.
They were just as useless in that version also.

Actually, I found them pretty useful in Civ2. They may only move six spaces, but they don't run out of fuel and they are the only air unit that can capture cities. I once conquered a 20+ city civ using nothing but bombers and helicopters. The enemy was across an ocean and I didn't have any transports or many offensive ground units, but I did have an enormous airforce and some carriers, so I improvised.

[yin26]

Just wanted to say that this thread's title wins:

Yin's 'Wittiest Way to Raise a Critical Topic' Award. Congratulations, and excellent work!

[ColdWizard]

civ3 has helicopters?

[Terser]

The only way transport whirlybirds would actually prove useful in this game is if they could extract as well as insert. If you could use the 'copter to evacuate badly damaged elite units or great leaders deep behind enemy lines and return them to your cities than they might be worth building.

As it stands now they are a complete joke...

[Special_Olympic]

THey are completely useless and stupid, like many things in Civ3.

[Redstar]

they have very limited range

and are stuck to a city as a base of operations.

This kinda defeats the real purpose of helicopters.
The fact that you can't move your force on same turn as it was dropped, defeats the purpose of being a rapid reactionary force.

So far, the best use i have found for helio..is to discover if there are enemy fighters about.

and ya..nice title

[simwiz2]

helicopters could be useful if:

they could carry artillery and radar artillery

they could carry mech inf too (not realistic, but better for gameplay because right now researching computers could be self-defeating)

they could extract units

they had a range of 5


the increased carry capabilities and range would allow me to land artillery and mech inf on the AI's iron resource mountain, pillage RR, bombard serrounding RR's and not let them get the iron to rebuild their RR's

[Colonel Kraken]

Originally posted by yin26
Just wanted to say that this thread's title wins:

Yin's 'Wittiest Way to Raise a Critical Topic' Award. Congratulations, and excellent work!

Yin, you seem to be upbeat lately. What gives?

And yes, the thread title is a hoot!

[Thomas Paine]

(I love positive reviews...!)

Just thank Firaxis for providing us all with plenty of comedy material.

[justjake73]

I find helos frustrating due to their lack of real range and carry ability. The only things I can think of are:

Helicopters can insert forces into the AI's frontier easily and quickly and cut off / destroy colonies. In this manner they can hold land and vital roads in the beginning of a major offensive on your part (like the Allies did early on D-Day) until forces can break through and link up.

Keep some "light" infantry as an airborne cavalry division - don't upgrade them ALL, maybe keep half of your infantry non-upgraded and build more mechs to compensate (if you have enough $$)