Game observations: year 2020 with air units

[Anatari]

Some game observations in the year 2020:

Air units ain't what they use to be in Civ 2. They are considerably less effective than in Civ 2. I built a huge navy and air force of about 40 bombers and 50 ships and around 150 offensive land units (had around 350 units total in my empire from about 40 turns of building up). When I finally got my force mobilized to Austrialia from South America in the huge world map I used all 30 bombers and about 20 battle ships to bombard the capital city in one turn. Result:

12 population killed
3 units crippled (lost 2 life bars each).
5 city improvements destroyed

WTH!!! I had 30 bombers!!!! I would expect to at least to destroy all the defending units in the city or severly cripple ALL of them. (Bombarding can't destory units). Bombarding is useless! Bombards usually destroy population or city improvements - not the defending units.

I found that using a land army alone without any air support is much more effective. After landing my modern tanks onto the island I took over 5-6 cities in one turn fighting against many many veteran Mech infantry.

 

[Schnitzelnator]

They should at least be able to completely destroy armored units like tanks, ships and artillery.

 

[mote]

Anyone else recalling Dresden in WW2? Tons of random destruciton and populaiton loss. Heck even with smart bombs, how effective has bombing proven to be in Kosovo, Afganastan, etc. in destroying the military defenses?

I'll have to see it when I get there, but they've been very clear about warning us that bombing is somewhat random in effect. I see it as something that can even odds give the bias towards defense, but not as something that will win the war. Once you get smart weapons, things might go easier..?

You always seem to need that infantry.

 

[Anatari]

Well.. in the year 2020 I already have all technologies, but I can't seem to get the precision bombing to work. When I choose the command it will show the grid, but I can't click anywhere. Perhaps Missile batteries in the enemy city disables the precision bombing command on that city.

However, precision bombing only targets city improvements and not units (according to the civpedia). Therefore, smart weapons is also kinda useless unless you have specific building targets you want to destroy. In a map like the huge world map.. there really isn't a point to destroying a building.. they enemy usually has like 15 harbors and 10 airports. And you can count on destroying a wonder as nearly impossible probably.

 

[bulletsponge]

What?...are you so use to Civ2 style Anatari?...where you can destroy all defenders with a few bombers and walts right in with a rifleman with no resistance...From what you discribed, it sounds more realistic now, then before...

Even what Schnitzel said, "able to completely destroy armored units like tanks, ships and artillery."...that wouldnt be realistic either...1 Unit of a tank doesnt represtent 1 tank, it represents a company, or division of tanks or something like that, and a bombing campaign against that city wouldnt destroy all of them, but rather some to most of them...

 

[Anatari]

Yes, it is more realistic, but it renders air units almost useless. In real life bombing a city has several effects that are not taken into account in Civ 3 such as morale, military infrastructure, etc that make it worth while to bomb. Also in real life, bombers do destroy many units paving the way for a land invasion such as in the Gulf War. In Civ 3, I think they have toned it down a little bit too much. And with 30 bombers I would expect to criple ALL units to their last life bar. (In Civ 2 it would only take 5-10 bombers).

Instead of building those 30 air units, I would now rather just completely go land and replace them with modern tanks, marines, etc. In my opinion, they should find a balance between the two.

 

[Madrigal61]

I've learn(the hard way) that the best use of bombers are to bomb the surrounding infrastuctue of the city into the dirt. If you blow up all the roads around the city, the enemy can't rush his units to defend. It makes it easier to form a bridgehead and let your assualt forces take a breather before the hammer falls.

Do it like the military does it... cut bridges over rivers.. destroy roads that connect luxuries/resorces to the capital(locally). Their ability to strike back(in the long run) will be hampered because they will be scrambling to rebuild the roads for the much needed resources...

 

[Mozenwrath]

Wow, it looks like we have an expert strategist in our midst! That sounds like a very good idea, cutting off trade routes could do a lot of damage. Also, my main use for bombers will be(when I get the game) to assist land forces on the advance, not in actual city capturing. I'm assuming that you can bombard enemy ground units with bombers, if not, my strategy is stupid but I think bombers etc. should play more of a supporting role.

 

[Madrigal61]

Originally posted by Mozenwrath
Wow, it looks like we have an expert strategist in our midst!...

I'm assuming that you can bombard enemy ground units with bombers...

Mozenwrath...
I'm no expert strategist... I just learned the hard way that the bombers are much, much better at blowing up roads and rails.

As far as bombing units... yes, the bombers do inflict damage, but not with a lot of certainty. It's much better to target infrastructure, and if some units happen to be in the area your bombing, so much the better

 

[sideshow]

I got bombed into submission entirely by having all my roads destroyed and a few untis picking off workers and other untis defending them whil trying to repair roads. killing hte roads generally gets rid of all resources and basically they won't be able to build more Mech Inf. or other more advanced defense or offense. It was low down and dirty, but it sure worked on me...

 

[Jezner]

Personally, I'm looking forward to precision bombing. Imagine bombing a size 10+ city, and knocking out their aquaduct (however you spell it) - or bombing their temples, sending the city into civil disorder. Madrigal made an excellent point. Sometimes it twice as effective to knockout the support infrastructure than the actual unit. It would be great to overthrow an enemies government via civil disorder by bombing all their temples and such. The ensuing anarchy would werak havoc.

Oh the thrill of destruction!

 

[Madrigal61]

All's fair in war....

But, to keep that from happening to you just build fighters and place them on air superiority... They will intercept bombers in their defense range(1/2 of attack range) ... not just over the city like in CIV2...