Paratroopers

[Gamemaster77]

So i want to see your oppinion on paratroopers?
You could choose more than one choice!

 

[Argetnyx]

Hmm, good choices. Hey look at the 'similar threads' section at the bottom of the page, apparently the makers of Civ haven't made them work right in any version.

 

[EvilConqueror]

Only time I've used them is on the world map. Mostly just to capture some of the tiny islands.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

If you want to make the most of paratroopers:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=90323

 

[Steph]

I'm usually using them to drop a few on strategic resources that I can reach. And then, pillage the tile to destroy the roads.
No oil, aluminium or iron = no reinforcement to replace the losses that your land invasion will create.

 

[psweetman1590]

I often use them to defend a lone road that I didn't bomb away - it keeps the road intact for my own use and (assuming I dropped enough paras) denies that avenue of advance to the enemy. I find that the AI tends to go around rather than through such roadblocks, anyways.

 

[EvilConqueror]

I often use them to defend a lone road that I didn't bomb away - it keeps the road intact for my own use and (assuming I dropped enough paras) denies that avenue of advance to the enemy. I find that the AI tends to go around rather than through such roadblocks, anyways.

How many do you typically drop?

 

[MGS]

Paratroopers are a complete waste of time. By the time I have them ready to go, I dont need them anymore.

 

[timerover51]

I play a lot on huge island and continent maps, and they come in handy on those. I do find that I use them a lot more since I did some modifying of them, however. They are not really strong enough in the unmodified form or have enough range to be really useful as combat troops.

 

[Theov]

Never felt the need to use them

 

[Taras Bulba]

I'll often para-drop them to strategic places to stop any chance of an enemy counterstrike.

they're my preemptive defense against my fast moving offense, so that tanks/cavs don't need to be defended as heavily (or at all)

 

[crono storm]

are good to take special positions, but veryyyy expensive.
Its better use helicopters.

 

[Bartleby]

I've built them a couple of times, to watch the animation, but I've never really used them in battle.

 

[da3dalus]

are good to take special positions, but veryyyy expensive.
Its better use helicopters.

Agreed, at least with helicopters you can drop Infantry...

 

[Argetnyx]

Can paratroopers be intercepted by aircraft on drop missions? If they don't, then that might become VERY useful, since both helicopters and transports are vulnerable to aircraft.

 

[Taras Bulba]

Can paratroopers be intercepted by aircraft on drop missions? If they don't, then that might become VERY useful, since both helicopters and transports are vulnerable to aircraft.

I'm not 100% sure but I don't think they are vulnerable... the point I was just about to make

 

[MGS]

I'll find out the hard way one day I bet. That wont be a fun day to be my keyboard.

 

[psweetman1590]

Neither paras nor helis are subject to enemy fighters, actually. And I may be wrong, but I think paras have a rather larger range than helis do...

How many do you typically drop?

Depends on the enemy strength, their tech level, and how many I can spare. In general, if I'm using this tactic, I'm on the offensive and thinking not about winning the war, but about winning it as quickly as possible (which is why I didn't bomb the road away in the first place). I guess I'll typically drop between five and ten, terrain depending. Sometimes even just one or two is enough to hold a mountain pass. If the enemy doesn't have tanks, five is typically enough to hold off a good many attacking infantry or cavalry.

 

[Argetnyx]

I like to have fun with wars, not just wipe out the enemy, but to play with them. Helicopters DO get intercepted, like crazy. The thing that you should do is send in a bunch of fighters first to act as an 'esport', shooting down the enemy planes, but you would have to make their defense higher for that (a mistake on the part of the designers). After you finish that, then it will be safe to send in the helicopters. Paratroopers do NOT get intercepted, a real advantage there.

 

[da3dalus]

I like to have fun with wars, not just wipe out the enemy, but to play with them. Helicopters DO get intercepted, like crazy. The thing that you should do is send in a bunch of fighters first to act as an 'esport', shooting down the enemy planes, but you would have to make their defense higher for that (a mistake on the part of the designers). After you finish that, then it will be safe to send in the helicopters. Paratroopers do NOT get intercepted, a real advantage there.

Interesting, I didn't realise they couldn't be intercepted. I suppose each has its advantage, but since I usually have a ton of fighters AND bombers by the time I have helicopters I wouldn't have any problem providing air cover.

If there is increased range for the paratroopers that could be very usefull also...