Better Military Alliances (read this please)

[101st Airborne]

I have a suggestion and I would like to know if any of you think this "idea" should be implemented. When you enter into a military alliance you should be able to use that civilzations airports if they have one to move your troops around, otherwise it takes forever to get into battle because in some cases by the time you get there the AI is ready for a peace treaty.

If this sounds like a great idea we should spread it around so that maybe Firaxis could include this idea.

 

[AndyS]

I believe that I read this somewhere else before. I agree. I also think you should be able to do other things like stack units together and transport units on ships. Only problem with your idea and mine is what do you do if the two civs then go to war with each other? Stacking units together is really the same thing as using airports because my units will be in their cities for 1 turn. If I transport 50 units into their city and then declare war, what happens? I still like the idea but they would have to figure out how to handle this situation.

Andy S

 

[Sullla]

This is not a bad idea at all, but don't expect to see it anytime soon. Civ3 has been designed so that two units of different nationality can never occupy the same square on the map; as it is now, you can never enter another nation's city unless it is by force. This seems to be one of the most basic rules of the game, and it would probably be a nightmare to change this in the program. So don't expect to see this in the next patch, or ever in Civ3.

 

[Stuie]

Originally posted by AndyS
I believe that I read this somewhere else before. I agree. I also think you should be able to do other things like stack units together and transport units on ships. Only problem with your idea and mine is what do you do if the two civs then go to war with each other? Stacking units together is really the same thing as using airports because my units will be in their cities for 1 turn. If I transport 50 units into their city and then declare war, what happens? I still like the idea but they would have to figure out how to handle this situation.

Andy S

They had this in SMAC. If you later broke the alliance (required before you could declare war) your units would automatically be moved out of the prior ally's territory, and combined stacks in neutral areas would be separated. Then you could declare war. Not exactly realistic (all those units magically ejected from the country) but saved the game from encountering situations such as those you suggest.

 

[GoalieCivPi]

Yes; on thing I esp. miss from SMAC was your abilty to heal in an ally's city.

 

[planetfall]

Do not like this idea. I think it will only detract from play. Usually I am being pursued by 3-4 civs. Play is challenging enough without allowing them all to be right on top of me.

Besides the programming challenge, I don't think it enhances play. Better solution would be to increase the movement ability of modern units. Distance does matter, remember how long it took the British to get to the Falkan Islands.

Even with NATO, US doesn't always use foreign airports. I don't trust AI's to keep alliances long at all. Remember Firaxis doesnot want civ3 to be an air battle. It is designed to be almost all land battles. Right or wrong this is their vision. Your RFE would flip the game to all air and some ground for mop up.

If we are going to get Firaxis to fix air, let's get the basics fixed first. How would a stealth or F16 land in a city without an airport? Even more, how could they be based out of a city without an airport and run regular sorties?

Another alternative would be to have agreements last 30 to 40 turns, so have time to react. So what if the AI is ready for peace. It is designed to fight 10-15 turn wars. It does not like to run longer wars. Make it suffer WW and don't give peace until you are satisfied it is good for you.
Just because they offer peace does not mean you have to accept. Most of the time I do not agree to peace until I am finished with my counter strike. Yes, I know they want peace when my forces are finally at their border. So, bribe me well or forget it.