Making a carrier for helicopters.

[MechaShadowV2]

So I have always disliked the short range of helicopters in Civ3, I hardly ever use them or paratroopers because of that, but I saw someone made a helicopter carrier, and a few helicopter destroyers , which got me thinking, does anyone know if its possible to get helicopters to be transported on a carrier? If so how would I mod it to do that? Thank you if anyone has an answer, regardless of what it is.

Moderator Action: Moved from General Discussion ~ LK

Sorry for posting this in the wrong place, I will make a mental note where mod questions go from now on.

 

[tjs282]

By giving a helicopter-unit the "Load" (and "Rebase") unit-ability, you can transport helicopters on any ship that can already "Transport Air Units" (also needs the AI strategy "Naval Carrier" if you want the AI to know what to do with it).

If you want to make distinction between a Plane Carrier and a Helicopter Carrier, then one can "Transport Only Air Units" and the other can "Transport Only Air+Foot Units" -- then flag your planes and helis accordingly as Air Units and Air+Foot Units, respectively.

However, any unit which has the "Unload" ability cannot be loaded into any other unit -- which means that the default Civ3 "troop-transport" helicopters cannot be shipped. So you'd need to create an "Attack helicopter"-type unit instead, which cannot Unload (or Airdrop) troops.

 

[MechaShadowV2]

By giving a helicopter-unit the "Load" (and "Rebase") unit-ability, you can transport helicopters on any ship that can already "Transport Air Units" (also needs the AI strategy "Naval Carrier" if you want the AI to know what to do with it).

If you want to make distinction between a Plane Carrier and a Helicopter Carrier, then one can "Transport Only Air Units" and the other can "Transport Only Air+Foot Units" -- then flag your planes and helis accordingly as Air Units and Air+Foot Units, respectively.

However, any unit which has the "Unload" ability cannot be loaded into any other unit -- which means that the default Civ3 "troop-transport" helicopters cannot be shipped. So you'd need to create an "Attack helicopter"-type unit instead, which cannot Unload (or Airdrop) troops.

ah, ok, pity about the last part, but thank you for the information. I had a feeling that was the case honestly, I was just hoping someone with more experience than me might know of a way. Again thank you for letting me know.

 

[Predator145]

The only way to simulate amphibious air assault is to have an amphibious unit with an transport/utility helicopter default and run animation and then an infantry attack animation. You give this unit amphibious and all terrain as roads. They're basically a modern mix of conquistadors and marines, being able to assault or raid deep inland. If you don't want them loaded on to regular transport ships you could give them the tactical missile unit ability and your helo carrier the transport only tactical missile ability. The AI will be able to use things things properly this way too.




As for ASW helicopters, it depends what you want them to be. Some people have them be free moving sea units. Most of the unit graphics have torpedo attacks suited for that (torpedo travelling through water, meaning it'd look silly if you perform land bombard). But being sea units, they can't be loaded and move on their own. They also can't be shot down. You can also have them be regular air units and load them on normal carriers (which do carry helicopters IRL as well). Stealth can be given (nap of the earth) and a torpedo victory animation that looks OK when bombing land units can be used. Radar and Detect Invisible will only help you see in a 2 tile radius. But as you slowly move your carrier tile by tile they can prevent your carrier suiciding into a sub. I also give them stealth bombard vs submarine units (requires C3X patch) and lethal sea bombard.