Am I the only one feeling gunships unrealistic?

[lordex]

1. They have movement of 4 forever, even when an infantry can move 10 on rails. What's wrong with loading the choppers onto some flatbeds and hauling them ovor 10 squares?

2. They can't fly over water, not even a 1-square wide strait?


3. Choppers against non-SAM infantry units should have way better withdraw chance than 10%.

 

[sligo]

Agreed... The only thing I've found choppers useful is for pillaging - which isn't particularly realistic either.

- Sligo

 

[Dark Helmet]

That's odd. I really like Gunships. Even though they cannot move 10 tiles over railway, when it comes to advancing on enemy territory, nothing reeks more havoc than gunships. Of course, they are not good at all possible functions, but I keep a stack or two ready when I invade an enemy.

 

[Sahkuhnder]

I take issue with the can't fly over water rule. Why?


I thought it would be great if they could attack naval units and be based on the offshore platforms which clearly show a helo pad on them.

 

[Jarrod32]

I, too, think they should have some ability to fly over water...even if it is only inland lakes and/or coastal tiles. I could even see it if they weren't allowed to end their turn over water (or be lost...like the 'suicide galleys' of Civ III).

They could attack naval vessels on the coast, or jump short coastal tiles between continents.

 

[Crighton]

I would think giving the gunship the an extra move or two and letting it cross coastal squares would be ok (obviously as long as the gunships turn would not end on the water tiles).

 

[knupp715]

IMHO, I think that gunships should be able to fly over water squares, as long as it ends back up on land or a carrier ship. I also think that they should be able to move 10 turns on rails like other units. But they are a great pillaging unit in the late game, and I usually keep some around solely for that purpose.

 

[meatwad4289]

you would think it would atleast be able to find a new base like planes but hey.

I never have a problem with Gunships, i get them long before i get railroads built, and I only use them in my enemies territory which.. doesnt have any railroads at all lol.

I like gun ships for a few reasons. Like for example, their pretty powerful and are great First Wave Attack. I send dozens of them into the enemy territory and station them right outside the city walls and attack and heal. Weaken the enemies troops, allowing my second wave to easily capture the cities.

 

[Niniux]

I have a problem with a gunship being taken down by a knight.

I think it's ridiculous that a stack of war elephants, knights and musketeers could take down a gunship. :/

 

[Artanis]

I have a problem with a gunship being taken down by a knight.

I think it's ridiculous that a stack of war elephants, knights and musketeers could take down a gunship. :/

...but do you also think it's ridiculous for a single man with a big stick to be able to subjugate a major metropolis single-handedly, or for it to take 80 years to move through a minor forest?

If lack of realism bothers you, believe me, there's MUCH bigger problems in Civ4 than a group of men with guns being able to occasionally shoot down a helicopter after pounding it for an entire year.

 

[Giaur]

My games usually end earlier than appear gunships, so I can't tell a lot. But I had once few gunships and I agree, that 4 squares for flying units is much too few. My proposition: 8 squares in our territory, 4 squares in enemy territory. This is easy to implement. Nothing more to say.

 

[Ex-Cop]

Have a look outside of your window. All the realism you want is out there.

 

[Sahkuhnder]

Have a look outside of your window. All the realism you want is out there.

Ha, had to laugh. 'Outside my window' is a Black glass version of the Great Pyramid of Giza, a complete New York skyline, the Eiffel Tower and a copy of the high points of the City of Venice located in the middle of a desert. Don't get much more unrealistic.


The OP topic was about if gunships are unrealistic. Of course it's a game and won't match reality perfectly, but helicopters that can't fly over water? To offer a critique and suggest a way to improve the game is totally appropriate.

I'm sure the clever guys at firaxis could make the gunships fly over water in a future patch or expansion if they decided to.

 

[BomberEscort]

Gunships can also land on enemy territory and attack that same turn.

 

[synthboy]

Ha, had to laugh. 'Outside my window' is a Black glass version of the Great Pyramid of Giza, a complete New York skyline, the Eiffel Tower and a copy of the high points of the City of Venice located in the middle of a desert. Don't get much more unrealistic.

Evidence to suggest that Vegas is being built by a derranged Civ player trying to collect Wonders?

I too get bugged by Gunships always 4 movement, especially within your own terrority. If you have a big empire they become nearly useless as it takes so long to move them to wherever they are needed. However, in supporting attacking stacks, holding up enemy attacks and pillaging in the modern era they are unrivalled. They prevent your oppposition from only churning out fast moving armour, can (with some careful thought) do damage at get out of trouble quickly and can pick off individual units sent out to slow down your advance.

The crossing water thing doesn't bother me at all. IRL Gunships might be able to fly over short stretches of water but all the ground support units (ammo, fuel, etc) that go with them can't.

 

[troytheface]

never thought about the support idea - good point.
Not sure why people still complain about the rail thing tho- use rails for ur tanks/ground units and airports for ur choppers/air units- not that hard a thing to do and kinda makes sense.
(Someone also mentioned that they are the best pillagers- lol- ur right-that is kinda odd- do they strafe (sp) potato fields?

 

[Bushface]

A few games ago I was facing an enemy who had lots of Gunships (upgraded from Cavalry, though I thought modernisation gave former cavalry units tanks) so I took in lots of SAMs as defenders. Not one Gunship fell to a SAM unit, but they were easy meat for Mech Inf. I don't even know if my SAMs actually even tried to intercept.
Only ever built one Gunship myself, and couldn't find much use for it.

 

[lordex]

Have a look outside of your window. All the realism you want is out there.

LOL, point taken, even though it would defeat the purpose of playing any games.

Well, perhaps "unrealistic" was indeed a poor choice of word. I guess what I meant was that gunships were "under-represented" in the game, compared to other units. In modern warfare, gunships do a lot more than just "strafing potato fields" (as somebody else nicely put on this thread).

 

[Artanis]

A few games ago I was facing an enemy who had lots of Gunships (upgraded from Cavalry, though I thought modernisation gave former cavalry units tanks) so I took in lots of SAMs as defenders. Not one Gunship fell to a SAM unit, but they were easy meat for Mech Inf. I don't even know if my SAMs actually even tried to intercept.
Only ever built one Gunship myself, and couldn't find much use for it.

Was the (planned) SAM vs. Gunship combat in a city, or out in the field? Because if it was in a city, the fortify and tile bonuses might just give the Mechanized Infantry better odds due to the higher base strength on which the bonuses could work. Outside of a city, where the most you're likely to get is a fortify bonus, the SAM would do a little better than the Mechanized Infantry at a much cheaper price.

 

[lordex]

Evidence to suggest that Vegas is being built by a derranged Civ player trying to collect Wonders?

That's a good one. Speaking of that, I wonder how come there isn't a Casino building that, like, +2, +1,+1. heh...

The crossing water thing doesn't bother me at all. IRL Gunships might be able to fly over short stretches of water but all the ground support units (ammo, fuel, etc) that go with them can't.

"All you boys, just load yourself and your gear up that transport, and you'll be on the other side next turn!"

"Well, sir, you see, we are all fine for that, it's just our choppers, you see, they've got this "water phobia" thing. So we are gonna have to go around the bay. So... see ya'll in 10 turns!"