Pizarro, Columbus, Cortez, de Leon.... who needs 'em?

[Technoron]

I'm pretty much a noob on these boards, but I'm sure "the most useless unit" has been beaten to death a few times and once again for good measure already.

So.... How about a "most unused unit" thread? I think a distinction can be made between useless and unused and it probably revolves around play style.

It occurs to me that I have built every unit except one. Sometimes just to see what they look/sound like. Sometimes just to say I have one. But I have NEVER ONCE built an explorer.

And y'know... it's probably the coolest damn unit I've never seen too.

[steelehc]

Most unused unit is the explorer, at least for me. I use scouts as an expansionist civ, but by the time I can upgrade them or replace them, I don't need to use them any more.

Steele

[Aeson]

I'm afraid my "unused unit" list is quite long.

Units I have yet to build in Civ3

Explorer
Cossack
Paratrooper
Marines
Helicopter
Submarine
Fighter
Bomber
Carrier
Cruise Missle
Tactical Nuke
ICBM
Jet Fighter
F-15
Nuclear Sub
Aegis Cruiser
Stealth Fighter
Stealth Bomber

I really haven't played much in the Modern Era, by then the game is usually over. I haven't ever built Cannons or Artillery either, but have upgraded Catapults or captured them.

[Dida]

UNIT that I don't use

Paratrooper
Marine
Catapult
Cannon
Artillery
Cruise Missle
A. Cruiser
Destroyer
Sub
Nuclear Sub
Privateer
Explorer
Chariot
Fighter
Helicopter


Quite a long list.

[hetairoi22]

Originally posted by Aeson
I'm afraid my "unused unit" list is quite long.

Units I have yet to build in Civ3

Explorer
Cossack
Paratrooper
Marines
Helicopter
Submarine
Fighter
Bomber
Carrier
Cruise Missle
Tactical Nuke
ICBM
Jet Fighter
F-15
Nuclear Sub
Aegis Cruiser
Stealth Fighter
Stealth Bomber
...

I haven't used any of those either! Acctually I haven't gotten to the Modern Age at ALL.

I haven't ever buit tanks either.

[Dis]

the problem is exploration takes place long before the explorer becomes available.

It probably shouldn't be so easy to reach distant lands in the early game.

[Pius Popprasch]

Well, why compiling a list myself

Originally posted by Aeson
I'm afraid my "unused unit" list is quite long.

Units I have yet to build in Civ3

Explorer - never
Cossack - never
Paratrooper - never
Marines - once
Helicopter - never
Submarine - various
Fighter - various
Bomber - frequently
Carrier - never
Cruise Missle - never
Tactical Nuke - never
ICBM - sometimes , using them only for switch
Jet Fighter - frequently
F-15 - never
Nuclear Sub - once
Aegis Cruiser - never
Stealth Fighter - once
Stealth Bomber - once

I really haven't played much in the Modern Era, by then the game is usually over. I haven't ever built Cannons or Artillery either, but have upgraded Catapults or captured them.

I may add:

Panzer - never
Musketeer - never
Radar Artillery - never, never even seen them
Archer - once
Longbowman - never
Battleship - once
Chariot - once

[aahz_capone]

hmmmm... I use the cossacks all the time... Cruise missiles too... You don't use f15s? OR bombers?! I think you play too much on chieftan level... try something harder.

[Aeson]

Actually I play almost exclusively on Deity. I've never seen a need for air units. They can't capture/raze cities, kill units, or generate leaders. Ground based bombardment is more efficient anyways.

On the other hand, Cossacks are pretty nice units. I never played the Russians because UU's blocked the upgrade path prior to 1.17f. Upgrading is so powerful in Civ3, that having later Horse UU's was a drawback. I'm sure I'll finally use them now.

[aahz_capone]

actually, not being to upgrade cossacks doesn't bother me at all. and here's why:

Even an elite cossack can kill a tank with one health point left. This is an amazingly fast way to get leaders. And since cossacks have a move of three I always use them to steal workers and artillery. I never disband these guys. even against modern armour at one point left, an elite cossack can kill it 35% of the time.

I've used almost everything a lot with the exception of paratroopers and helicopters (the most useless machine on the planet). I never understood paratroopers... if there's an empty city near enough to paratroop into my tanks can take it. If I paratroop behind enemy lines to try and attack in a flanking manuver they just get slaughtered. pretty crap units.

marines ARE needed when assaulting a new continent and there are enemy troops on all the beaches (to creat space for the tanks). just don't try using them against a city. I never build or need more then 3 to a game.

[Aeson]

I wasn't talking about upgrading Cossacks, they still can't be upgraded. I was saying that the Russians were penalized for having a UU which took the place of Cavalry. Every other civ could upgrade it's Knights (or corresponding UU) to Cavalry, but the Russian Knights could never be upgraded. 10 or 20 (depending on Leo's) gold is a very cheap price to change a 4/3/2 to a 6/3/3 unit, and the Russians missed out on that until now.

[aahz_capone]

Ah, sorry, I get you now. Truthfully, I (almost) never build knights. I have gunpowder so fast by then that I just speed along to cavalry (cossacks) which are also good in defence.

[Pius Popprasch]

Originally posted by aahz_capone
Truthfully, I (almost) never build knights. ... cavalry (cossacks) which are also good in defence.

Knights and Cavalry have the same defense(of 3).

[AJ Corp. The FAIR]

Cossacks have a +4 defense ...


AJ

[Arrian]

Units I have yet to build:

Stealth Fighter
Legionary
Cossack
Marine
Paratrooper
Explorer
Helicopter
Jaguar Warrior
Man-o-War
Impi
Panzer
Musketeer
F-15

Units I've built, but don't find useful:

ICBM
Tactical Nuke
Submarine
Nuke Sub
Ironclad (yeah, I know, but I'd rather wait for Destroyers)
Frigate
Fighter
Carrier
Aegis Cruiser

-Arrian