New Artillery Unit Idea (Super Cannon)

[Sava]

In World War I, the Germans built a large immobile cannon that rained shells in Paris. Would this be a good idea for Civ III? It would have 0 movement, but maybe 5 or 6 bombing range, and it would be about three times as expensive as a standard artillery.

Also, I think Iraq was building one during the Iran War....

[Gangerolf]

not a bad idea at all

[Jethro83]

Good idea.

But should it be possible to move it between cities with a sort of rebase mission? Or are you suggesting a unit that will only stay put and not move from the city. I ask because you'd eventually want to redeploy it closer to the front line, after you push the front line further into their territory.

[zulu9812]

You could always give it Airdrop and Immobile.

[ChaotikVisions]

The Germans made several super (rail) guns, though the only one I can remember was called Big Bertha. They could move them, it just move very slooowly. I'd just give it 5-10 range and limit it to travelling on roads only. They geramns were able to move them, it just took a whole lot. They were mostly innefective but were useful as a terror tool.

[Carver]

I posted an idea for a great wonder: "Saddam's Supergun" a while ago. Available with rocketry and computers, the gun stays in one city (where its built), has infinate range and is leathal (weather or not leathal bombard is on or off).

Many scientist think it possible to shoot satellites into space with such a gun. If so, you could shoot a satellite, which becomes a reentry vehicle and strikes a target on the other side of the globe. This is essentially what ICBMs do now, onlt they use a rocket motor to get into space.

[Jon Shafer]

I have a problem with this idea. Sure, they've built super-guns in the past, but they've also built a lot of things. Should they include flamethrowing Pikemen or something? Of course not. The super guns of the past haven't had an impact upon things, so why should you be able to build something in Civ that would have such a great impact as a super gun? They were far too expensive to build and maintain for the results they produced. The massive German rail gun durin World War I required a crew of over 100 men to maintain, which is incredibly inefficient.

[Sava]

The gun the Germans had in WWII had a HUGE impact. It killed thousands over a period of months. It was one of the first terrorist type attacks aimed at civilians. There was a whole special on the History Channel about it.

[Jon Shafer]

Remember, each unit is actually a collection of individual units. That means, 1 < Super guns per unit. Such a thing would have to be a small wonder due to the incredible cost associated. The London Gun itself had no impact upon the course of the war. Yes it killed people, lots of things in wars do. As you said, it was a terror weapon... but did that make the British armies run from battle demoralized because of it? Of course not, it had no military impact nor a significant ability to cause population or building damage (on the scale that a bomber wing can, for instance), which is why I disagree with its inclusion.

[johncmcleod]

Trip- I disagree. It wouldn't be useless. During World War 1, the Germans attack the Belgians at the forts of Liege got the crap beat out of them. Then they brought in 2 big berthas and bombarded the heck out of the Belgains and took the forts. If there was a unit like this, I think maybe it should be extremely expensive have a bombardment range of 5-10, and here's where my idea comes in. It could only travel on railroads just like the big berthas.

[dexters]

Re: New Artillery Unit Idea (Super Cannon)

Originally posted by Sava
In World War I, the Germans built a large immobile cannon that rained shells in Paris. Would this be a good idea for Civ III? It would have 0 movement, but maybe 5 or 6 bombing range, and it would be about three times as expensive as a standard artillery.

Also, I think Iraq was building one during the Iran War....

yOU CAN already beat the crap out of the AI with normal artillery and naval bombardments. We don't need a supergun, unless we all sign a contract that Soren will program the AI to use the supergun effectively and we can't turn around and whine to him about the AI being TOO powerful.

Sheesh. People never learn.

[Navyman]

I personally think that a new artillery type is desperately needed in the game but not the super cannon. The new artillery should be the self propelled artillery. It should have a movement of 2 and other stats should stay the same as regular arty but should not be capturable.

I find myself with 20 artillery (some captured some built) that cant keep up with the my advancing armor. It basically relegates the artillery to being solely a defensive unit when and useless for advancing. The self-propelled artillery is a must.

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/pzh2000/pzh20001.html

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/pzh2000/pzh20005.html

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/pzh2000/index.html

Also, on my new units priority list is the air defense gun.

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/tunguska/tunguska1.html

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/tunguska/index.html

[Jon Shafer]

Originally posted by johncmcleod
Trip- I disagree. It wouldn't be useless. During World War 1, the Germans attack the Belgians at the forts of Liege got the crap beat out of them. Then they brought in 2 big berthas and bombarded the heck out of the Belgains and took the forts. If there was a unit like this, I think maybe it should be extremely expensive have a bombardment range of 5-10, and here's where my idea comes in. It could only travel on railroads just like the big berthas.

Are we talking rail guns, or super guns? If you're talking rail guns, then they're basically large siege guns. Big Bertha was a large, rail-mounted 420mm cannon, and useful for sieges. Something like the London Gun was useless, which is what I'm talking about.

[planetfall]

Maybe what is needed is the opposite, not big guns but cheap little guns-- mortars. Only way I can think of implimenting in game would be to have additional unit similar to mech inf but now mech mortars, same def as mec inf but with offense have bombard capability.

[The Kaiser]

I think its a good idea, but should only have a range of 3 squares and only travel on railroads.

A more pressing idea that should be considered is that of giving artillery a "Flak" Anti-Air capability, so you don't get pummeled to bits just because you've not invented flight yet.

I'm not saying it should be as powerful as a fighter, but you should be able to respond to bombing somehow rather than to just sit there and take it.

The percentage of hit probability could increase by 5% with every gun stationed in a square, up to a maximum of say 5 guns.