New Unit: Droid

Carver · June 6, 2002, 14:14

Well it looks like there will be some new units (other than UUs) in Play the World and I have an idea for what I think is a good one:

A droid unit with similar A/D/M to infantry but with the bonus of having no effect on war weariness. Obviously, we don't want a panacea weapon that would allow unfettered warmongering under democracy which is why the unit should be defensive. Such a weapon would allow you to: hold your borders, establish a presence in enemy territory, pillage enemy infastructure, disrupt resource/luxury supply, and kidnap workers. Also, the AI would naturally engage the droids thereby giving us the opportunity to exact an attrition cost on the enemy army.

Much of the war weariness in Civ3 comes from having your troops in enemy territory. It seems logical that your citizens would be less concerned about your droids conducting "police operations" in enemy territory than they would be about seeing flag draped coffins come home. It's also logical that the droids be defensive as I am willing to argue that the first robot warriors will be better defenders than attacks - defense is usually easier: Hold a position, when see enemy, destroy enemy.

Interstingly, the droid would probably be quite compatible with Vel's "defend your enemy to death" strat. Advance a line of droids into enemy territory, killing enemy attackers as they come. Continue to move your "line of control" forward (without taking the enemy cities, as this requires offensive units). When you have "seized" the territory you require move in the attackers, take enemy cities, and force the AI to pay for peace.

I imagine the droid could be better than infantry but not as good as mech infantry (there has to be an advantage to having men on the ground).

A/D/M: 8-10-1
requires: robotics
cost: 120
resources: oil, rubber, aluminum

Oerdin · June 6, 2002, 14:18

Seeing how Civ3 only goes to the modern age I don't see this happening.

zulu9812 · June 6, 2002, 14:41

I think Firaxis have already decided on the new generic units: a guerilla unit (possibly a land-based hidden nationality) and some sort of medievil infantry.

Carver · June 6, 2002, 14:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
Seeing how Civ3 only goes to the modern age I don't see this happening.

We've got spaceships going to Alpha Centauri, why not robotroops?

notyoueither · June 6, 2002, 15:07

Wait till you see Godzilla tromping on cities.

Apocalypse · June 6, 2002, 20:20

I'd want a mech before a droid.

Spiffor · June 6, 2002, 20:40

Baout the medieval infatry : I think it's a way to bring the swordsman back in the upgrade path. If true, this is great news ! at last, the standard rules won't show any more swordsmen in the ancient age !

DrFell · June 6, 2002, 21:16

Sounds too sci-fi for me.

Apocalypse · June 7, 2002, 10:01

If we had mechs, this could be France's new unique unit:

Stuie · June 7, 2002, 10:18

Quote:

Originally posted by zulu9812
I think Firaxis have already decided on the new generic units: a guerilla unit (possibly a land-based hidden nationality) and some sort of medievil infantry.

The way I read their comment, these were examples of some of the new non-unique units being added. There will most likely be more than just those two.

As for Droids, no.

Informer · June 7, 2002, 16:25

Quote:

Originally posted by DrFell
Sounds too sci-fi for me.

Perhaps, but if the new editor is as promising as it seems this idea would do well in a scenario, I suppose we will have to see what features it is possible to take advantage of in the update.

As for the unit being implemented into the actual game, I honestly doubt that happening, although I like the idea and it does have potential.

Mikel · June 8, 2002, 05:59

Too sci-fi? The first instance of humans surrendering to a machine occured during the Gulf War. We will probably see automated combatants well before we even have manned ships going to the outer solar system. Anyway thats just speculation.

Nice concept but I don't feel it fits into the game? Can't say why though.

Anyone know what happened to that really good mech animation that was posted a while back? Is that available for download somewhere?

statusperfect · June 8, 2002, 07:28

Mikel: Could you please tell us more about that gulf war example? What kind of machine was it?

DrFell · June 8, 2002, 10:03

It was a plane.

I can't see 'driods' being used in the timescale represented in civ3, even if only for the fact that they'd be much more expensive than human combatants.

Darkworld Ark · June 8, 2002, 16:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Apocalypse
If we had mechs, this could be France's new unique unit:

If they add Mechs (would come with robotics), they should be BattleTech mechs, & not those horrible, horrible Gundums!

Apocalypse · June 8, 2002, 16:56

Battletech doesn't have crazy looking national themed mechs.

Check out this one from Holland:

Darkworld Ark · June 8, 2002, 17:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Apocalypse
Battletech doesn't have crazy looking national themed mechs.

Check out this one from Holland:

Were are you getting these?

Apocalypse · June 8, 2002, 18:38

Click on mecha, then Gundam, then Mobile Fighter G Gundam.

I've never seen this series, but I find most of the mecha funny looking. Here is a sexy Swedish gundam.

Darkworld Ark · June 8, 2002, 21:03

Perhaps each civ could have there own sprite for their mechs, based of their UU;

Zulu,

Indian,

Japan

Russian,

Egypt, although add him on a robo chariot

Viking,

Roman,

Mongol, although you'd need to add him on this;

Apocalypse · June 9, 2002, 11:29

You're going a little overboard now.

And there are better mechs for Japan.

HazieDaVampire · June 9, 2002, 11:52

What about England and America, the English one would probubly carry light armor, and a rapid firing weapon. America would have one with missles sticking out of its back, and these missles would in turn fire out nukes!

Apocalypse · June 9, 2002, 12:30

America:

The one Darkworld Ark used for Russia is actually England's.
Russia:

Darkworld Ark · June 9, 2002, 12:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Apocalypse
America:

The one Darkworld Ark used for Russia is actually England's.
Russia:

I chose the English Mech for Russia because it's just so much more... RED than their given mech, & I don't see what Russia has to do with Lightning. (The Gundum's called Bolt & uses a lighning whip.)

The only other Japanese Gundum is called "God Gundum", which is a little to flattering if you ask me.

I like the other American mech better than the boxing mech, although a mech that could turn into a jet would be best;

Gangerolf · June 9, 2002, 16:56

this is disturbing, guys. don't want this in a civ game. besides, they look kinda like... transformers.

Apocalypse · June 9, 2002, 17:06

DA: Russia has to do with lighting because of the Tesla coils.

Gangerolf: We're just joking around. I just started it because France and Holland's look really funny. They aren't transformers though.

HazieDaVampire · June 9, 2002, 17:19

i see, the big black helemt is supposed to be one of the gaurds at Buckingham Palace.

Apocalypse · June 9, 2002, 17:29

Isn't that obvious?

Man, some people have a hard time seeing symbolism.