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Republic Gunship, second Republic unique unit?


Darth Windu

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sithmatser - i was just thinking of something. I did read the post with the quote from that developer guy, about gameplay. However if you think about it, Unique Units are exempt from that. The inclusion of Destroyer Droids for the Trade fed, Fambaa shield generators for the Gungans, airspeeder for the Rebels etc all unbalance the game in one way or another, so why do the races get them? Because no other race has anything like them, and it forces players to change tactics depending on what race they are playing against. Also, if you notice, most of the UU's are units from the movies that had quite a bit of exposure and were key elements in one part of the sotry. That is why the Republic should get the Gunship as their second unique unit.

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jedi3112, that is a possibility... although I believe it would function well as a unique unit...

 

And Sithmaster... please... The whole POINT of this thread was to discuss the pros and cons of a hypothetical change to the gunship unique unit. You are welcome to post your opinions, but to say that this string is pointless is a little harsh. Some of us believe it would make a good unique unit... which as Darth Windu was saying is *surprisesurprise* unique. No other race has anything like it which would automatically unbalance the game. Even the Jedi Starfighter, useless as it may seem, can unbalance the game. That's the point of UUs. So, before you go blasting the idea of the gunship, look at it. It would have things it was good against and it would have counters (ground units and anti-air mobiles to name a few). Its a perfectly legitimate candidate for a GR UU.

 

Peace Out...

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Darth Windu, the definition of unbalanced does not mean different than anything else. The definition of unbalanced means that they are hard/impossible to counter in relation to their cost. And gameplay is different than balance. You can have a very balanced game with horrible gameplay (eg Force Commander) and an unbalanced game that has great gameplay (eg AoE). It doesn't add anything to the game's gameplay. Have you ever been in a situation where you thought to your self, 'if only I had a transport that could shoot but carried two troopers'?

 

Also, recognize that aside from their ability to transport units, gunships fill the same role as fighters, offensive support for ground units and disrupting enemy forces. The jedi starfighter fit a different role than that of fighters, one of information gathering and moving a single jedi from planet to planet. Many units have weapons or other capabilities portrayed in movies but, because of the purpose they fill, they are grouped with others of the same general purpose.

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Sithmaster - as i have said time and atime again, i would want the Republic Gunship added as the Republic Unique unit, if it could be balanced. That means that it WOULDNT BE UNBALANCED!!!!!!! The thing is, the Gunship would open up a whole new strategy for the Republic and other countering the Republic, and yes, i have thought that it would be nice to have the Gunship. As for gameplay, it would IMPROVE gameplay by making the Republic more unique as a civ, and by adding new options and strategies to every civ. Also, how about if the gunships had these stats-

-range/speed inbetween fighter and bomber

-high cost, fairly slow build time, available T3

-highly effective against infantry, turrets

-moderately effective against mechs, heavy weapons

-slightly effective against ships, buildings, workers

-carry two infantry units (excluding workers)

 

This would not unbalance the game, only improve it.

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Originally posted by Sithmaster_821

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought to your self, 'if only I had a transport that could shoot but carried two troopers'?

 

 

Good point. Even if this were out into the game, I doubit it would use it. It would have to be really good, and that would likely mean unbalanced. Every unit needs to have a certain niche that it can fill in order to be useful. Give it good long range ground attack? Then it will just be a beefed up aircruiser. Give it good short range ground attack and it will replace bombers. Give it good AA and it will be a super-fighter. Just make it carry 2 units with slight anti-ground attack will make it not used, because if i want to carry units i will use the higher capacity air transports, and if i want ground attack with that I will bring along fighters, bombers, or air cruisers depending on what kind of ground attack I want. So if anyone can think of a role this new unit should fill, then great, but as of now there is no role, and therefore the unit would end up either making another unit useless, or be useless itself. Either way results in a lot of wasted time of LucasArts, in making the units.

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Originally posted by Darth Windu

-range/speed inbetween fighter and bomber

-high cost, fairly slow build time, available T3

-highly effective against infantry, turrets

-moderately effective against mechs, heavy weapons

-slightly effective against ships, buildings, workers

-carry two infantry units (excluding workers)

 

 

This unit sounds like an overpriced bomber. It would just be be very expensive AA turret food. If you changed it to have long range, then it would be an overpowered air cruiser that could hit and run. (just think for a minute what that would DO to gameplay!!) In both, the troop carrying capacity would likely not be bothered with. Like i said just use an air transport.

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I dont see how it be an overpriced bomber. If you wanted to take out any buildings, the bomber would be better, plus the bomber would be shielded, the Gunship wouldnt. But really, the specs i put up are irrelevant, it would be the responsibility of Lucasarts to balance it, and i think it would be really good if they could do it.

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But you dont seem to realize this: there is no NEED FOR A TRANSPORT THAT CAN CARRY 2 UNITS AND SHOOT!!!!!! There is no need for an overpriced bomber with no sheilds!!!! There is no need for anything else in the air right now, we already covered AA, short range ground, long range ground, transport... what more is possibly needed that can improve gameplay?? A less effective, less specialized blend of all of those?? Then no one in their right mind would bother using it - except for the pride of "look i have a gunship this is soooo cool"! If you can find a niche for it, then tell me and i may change my mind. But until then it just seems like you are trying to jam a unit into the game where one wont fit.

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"But you dont seem to realize this: there is no NEED FOR A TRANSPORT THAT CAN CARRY 2 UNITS AND SHOOT!!!!!! There is no need for an overpriced bomber with no sheilds!!!! There is no need for anything else in the air right now, we already covered AA, short range ground, long range ground, transport... what more is possibly needed that can improve gameplay?? A less effective, less specialized blend of all of those?? Then no one in their right mind would bother using it - except for the pride of "look i have a gunship this is soooo cool"! If you can find a niche for it, then tell me and i may change my mind. But until then it just seems like you are trying to jam a unit into the game where one wont fit"

 

Where is the need for a mobile shield generator? Where is the need for 2 scout units for the empire? What is the need for a glorified mounted trooper for the Naboo? Everything you have said is IRRELEVANT TO UNIQUE UNITS! I also do think there is a need for the gunship as a unique unit, to improve gameplay all-round, make the Republic more unique, and alter strategies for all civs.

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Originally posted by Darth Windu

Where is the need for a mobile shield generator? Where is the need for 2 scout units for the empire? What is the need for a glorified mounted trooper for the Naboo? Everything you have said is IRRELEVANT TO UNIQUE UNITS! I also do think there is a need for the gunship as a unique unit, to improve gameplay all-round, make the Republic more unique, and alter strategies for all civs.

 

Well i would assume a modile shield generator is used for, um, sheilding your attacking armies. But that's just my guess, i dunno maybe its supposed to be some kind of assault mech. What kind of an idiotic question was that? Why not just say "whats the need for a shield generator?" Would I use the Fambaa if I was playing as Gungan? YES, it would effectively double the hitpoints of my troops.

 

Well the probot can go over water, so pre-CC (when it was put in and before sensor buoys were added) i would assume it was the best all around recon unit, an enhanced scout for the empire. It is still quite useful on space maps and water maps. And the empire gets scout mechs simply because everyone has the regular unit even if their UU "replaces" it. Would I use some probots if I was playing as Empire on a water map or space map? Probably.

 

Glorified mounted trooper? You seem to forget that Elite Crusaders are shielded and therefore have well over 2X as many hitpoints as advanced mounties. Crusaders are also capable of going right under a fortress and toasting units, such as cannons. Obviously this could help pave the way for a cannon attack on the fortress. Please see the "One good reason to play as Naboo" thread for more details and some helpful imformation about the crusader. If I were playing as Naboo, would I use the Crusader? YES YES YES YES! Without Crusaders Naboo is NOTHING!! So I guess the point of the crusader is to give an advantage to an otherwise woefully lacking civ.

 

Okay, now that those examples are all in the rejected pile... on to the Gunship. What is the point of this again? Carry 2 troop and have a ground attack and be expensive? I would just build an inexpensive transport and then be able to transport FIVE units into your town!!!! FIVE, count them!!! 5 > 2 btw. Now that that is cleared up, if I wanted some ground attack to go with that I would build a few inexpensive fighters and/or bombers. You are aware that I would spend less than you, and be able to carry 250% as many troops, and have shields on my fighters/bombers. Good. Now into the pile with the Gunship.

 

The point of this is: are there situations where I would use the Fambaas? YES definately!!! MANY MANY situations, if I played as Gungans often. Would I use the probots when playing Empire? Probably, admittedly they are of somewhat limited use, but they are not COMPLETELY useless like a gunship would be. Would I use Crusaders as Naboo? Well, um, YEAH!

 

But would I use a low capacity, expensive, short ranged, piece of turret food of an air unit with no AA? Let me think for a minute: NO!

 

They will not put the Gunship into the game! Just give it up already. Find a spot in the game that is lacking, and piece together a unit to fill that gap. But don't just try to jam a unit in where none is needed.

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and btw darth windu, i forgot to mention this earlier, but when you labeled the probot as "just another scout mech" i sincerely hope that you were aware that it can go across ALL terrain types where the scout is limited to... perhaps land? Have you actually even bothered to use the probot before placing it among the "useless group"? I can think of several maps where the probot could be quite useful, such as space maps and water maps (yes they do go over space, and lava as well). Please actually play the game and use the units before you go calling the units pointless, especially when that are actually quite useful.

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Easy, SimWiz. Steady, chap :-)

 

I think one of the big problems here can be described thusly (always wanted to use that word in a thread)

 

- UUs are in some cases pumped, more expensive versions of existing units. The RC is the most obvious example and the closest to the unit it replaces, the Mounted Trooper.

- The Gunship would probably need to be a better version of a transport - this from the existing posts in the thread.

- The Transport is already extremely strong - tough enough to drop troops amidst a storm of AA fire. Make the Gunship a tougher transport, and it could well be unbalanced. Make it a weaker transport, and nobody would use it, preferring to build standard trannies.

- The obvious solution then is to arm the Gunship - create an armed transport.

- Give the Gunship anything like decent firepower and it becomes an aberration, a fighter with transport hitpoints. Gunship rushes flood the Zone, the Republic are banned, there is a rain of frogs in Slovenia and the world ends.

- Give the Gunship the weedy firepower it needs for game balance and a) the point of changing it the first place, to make it more like the film, evaporates and b) nobody pays the extra cost to build it over a transport, preferring to spend the money on Republic Advanced Fighters to travel with it.

 

I too was originally underwhelmed by the status of the Gunship in CC but the development of this thread convinces me, increasingly, that there is no place for anything else in the game as it stands.

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"and btw darth windu, i forgot to mention this earlier, but when you labeled the probot as "just another scout mech" i sincerely hope that you were aware that it can go across ALL terrain types where the scout is limited to... perhaps land? Have you actually even bothered to use the probot before placing it among the "useless group"? I can think of several maps where the probot could be quite useful, such as space maps and water maps (yes they do go over space, and lava as well). Please actually play the game and use the units before you go calling the units pointless, especially when that are actually quite useful."

 

I would really like to know where in any of my comments i called any unique unit pointless.

 

"Well i would assume a modile shield generator is used for, um, sheilding your attacking armies. But that's just my guess, i dunno maybe its supposed to be some kind of assault mech. What kind of an idiotic question was that? Why not just say "whats the need for a shield generator?" Would I use the Fambaa if I was playing as Gungan? YES, it would effectively double the hitpoints of my troops.

 

Well the probot can go over water, so pre-CC (when it was put in and before sensor buoys were added) i would assume it was the best all around recon unit, an enhanced scout for the empire. It is still quite useful on space maps and water maps. And the empire gets scout mechs simply because everyone has the regular unit even if their UU "replaces" it. Would I use some probots if I was playing as Empire on a water map or space map? Probably.

 

Glorified mounted trooper? You seem to forget that Elite Crusaders are shielded and therefore have well over 2X as many hitpoints as advanced mounties. Crusaders are also capable of going right under a fortress and toasting units, such as cannons. Obviously this could help pave the way for a cannon attack on the fortress. Please see the "One good reason to play as Naboo" thread for more details and some helpful imformation about the crusader. If I were playing as Naboo, would I use the Crusader? YES YES YES YES! Without Crusaders Naboo is NOTHING!! So I guess the point of the crusader is to give an advantage to an otherwise woefully lacking civ.

 

Okay, now that those examples are all in the rejected pile... on to the Gunship. What is the point of this again? Carry 2 troop and have a ground attack and be expensive? I would just build an inexpensive transport and then be able to transport FIVE units into your town!!!! FIVE, count them!!! 5 > 2 btw. Now that that is cleared up, if I wanted some ground attack to go with that I would build a few inexpensive fighters and/or bombers. You are aware that I would spend less than you, and be able to carry 250% as many troops, and have shields on my fighters/bombers. Good. Now into the pile with the Gunship.

 

The point of this is: are there situations where I would use the Fambaas? YES definately!!! MANY MANY situations, if I played as Gungans often. Would I use the probots when playing Empire? Probably, admittedly they are of somewhat limited use, but they are not COMPLETELY useless like a gunship would be. Would I use Crusaders as Naboo? Well, um, YEAH!

 

But would I use a low capacity, expensive, short ranged, piece of turret food of an air unit with no AA? Let me think for a minute: NO!

 

They will not put the Gunship into the game! Just give it up already. Find a spot in the game that is lacking, and piece together a unit to fill that gap. But don't just try to jam a unit in where none is needed."

 

As for those comments, you completely missed the point i was trying to make. As i said, where is the need for the gungans to have a mobile shield generator, or for the trade fed to have the destroyer droid? There isnt any. Yes, they have their uses, and are unique units because no other civ has anything like them. Just as the Republic Gunship would be nice to have, and would certainly have its uses, plus it is something that no other civ has.

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"Just as the Republic Gunship would be nice to have, and would certainly have its uses, plus it is something that no other civ has."

 

 

Okay. I am going to try to explain this as clearly as possible since the rest of my posts seem to be well over your head:

 

What... use... will... the... Gunship... have??

 

Think about this for a bit, then give me an intelligent answer. Please, please, please don't say "its purpose is a transport that can shoot" lest you cause everyone reading your post to become stupider. Think of a use for this Gunship that (1)will not be overpowered, (2)that will not be overpriced or underpowered, (3)that will not render an existing unit useless, (4)be useless itself, or (5)copy an existing UU from any civ.

 

If you can do this... well then maybe you arent so stupid after all.

 

What I don't want to see lest I lose even more confidence in the intelligence level of this forum is:

-A beefed up Aircruiser (1,3)

-An overpriced Bomber (2,4)

-A superfighter (1,3)

-An overpriced Fighter (2,3)

-A less specialised transport-bomber hybrid (2,4)

-A rip-off of the A-Wing or Airspeeder (5)

-An overpowered hybrid unit - like natapo's (1,3)

 

Now remember, think carefully before posting your reply. I realize that there is a 99% chance you will read the first half of my post, say eagerly "okay, I can think up one", post it, and then force me to tear your idea apart because it ignores one of the fundamental things to keep in mind (1-5) - or worse - it is one of my examples. And use your judgement - there are tons of possible stupidities that you could think up that I have neither the time nor inclination to post as guidelines. And please please please read the examples and do not duplicate them in your idea!!! I don't think this thread needs another "well we can make it a bomber that can transport 2 and be very expensive."

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"What... use... will... the... Gunship... have??" A good question, and obviously one which must be answered before consideration is given to go ahead with my idea. Now as i have said, the basic specs of the Gunship would probably be a speed/range between the fighter and bomber, good firepower (but almost useless against workers, ships, air) and the ability to carry about 2 infantry units. So what would its use be? First of all, it could be used, obviously, as an assualt transport. They could fly in, drop off the troops and then procede to provide covering fire for them. They would also be faster than air transports, just to give them an edge in that. They could also be used as a recon asset, much like the current US Army M-3 Bradley is. Fly around, crush any oposition, and if you come to an area with good AA, drop off your infantry.

 

I was also thinking that looking at its primary role as an assualt transport, it would further enhance the Republics strenth in Troops. Think about it. You could create a group of gunships, then create a group of troops really fast, and send them anywhere, a self-contained task-force. Also, due to its unique nature, it would serve to define the Republic even more from the other civs, particually the rebels.

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"Now as i have said, the basic specs of the Gunship would probably be a speed/range between the fighter and bomber, good firepower (but almost useless against workers, ships, air)"

this alone would be an overpriced bomber, so let's see what else there is...

 

"and the ability to carry about 2 infantry units"

this is an overpriced transport, and with the bomber it matches exactly what I said it shouldnt be in my examples, did you not read them?

 

"So what would its use be?"

From what I see so far, nothing...

 

"First of all, it could be used, obviously, as an assualt transport."

A what... well I would personally use a transport and an (assault) bomber/fighter, to make an assault transport group but ok...

 

"They could fly in, drop off the troops and then procede to provide covering fire for them."

A transport could fly in and drop off >2X as many units not limited to troopers, and then a few fighters or bombers could procede to provide covering fire for them... and my unit combo would be less expensive...

 

"They would also be faster than air transports, just to give them an edge in that."

Wow... not! Look I'm gonna pay an extra 100 carbon and 150 nova for a 10% increase in speed... :rolleyes:

 

"They could also be used as a recon asset, much like the current US Army M-3 Bradley is. Fly around, crush any oposition"

Gee, sounds a lot like the starfighter, except the starfighter is cheaper, has a longer LOS, and is invisible, so it doesnt even need to wipe out opposition because it can fly over unnoticed. Next!

 

"and if you come to an area with good AA, drop off your infantry."

So you bring a transport along with your starfighter...

 

"Think about it. You could create a group of gunships, then create a group of troops really fast, and send them anywhere, a self-contained task-force."

Think about it. You create a group of transports, and maybe a few fighters or bombers, then create a group of troopers really fast, send them anywhere, a self-contained task force. And you can even send along a few mechs to support the troops.

 

"Also, due to its unique nature, it would serve to define the Republic even more from the other civs, particually the rebels."

Actually it would do the exact opposite. Rebels got 2 air UU's to differentiate them from the republic, to assert Rebel air superiority. If the republic got 2 air UU's no matter how unique they are it will make the 2 civs seem like copies of each other.

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"They could fly in, drop off the troops and then procede to provide covering fire for them."

A transport could fly in and drop off >2X as many units not limited to troopers, and then a few fighters or bombers could procede to provide covering fire for them... and my unit combo would be less expensive...

 

"They would also be faster than air transports, just to give them an edge in that."

Wow... not! Look I'm gonna pay an extra 100 carbon and 150 nova for a 10% increase in speed...

 

Where the hell are you getting this from????? I have NEVER stated the exact cost or the speed of the proposed Gunship, only estimates. As for your unit combo costing less, the beauty of it is, that it would cost more. As for your 'overpriced bomber' comment, im not going to answer that one again. No matter what I say, you seem unable, or unwilling, to actually consider the points im making and until you actually start to open your mind, you are simply wasting my time.

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I just noticed something very interesting on starwars.com from Doug Chiang, the Design Director for Star Wars Epsiode 2. Now before I post this quote, I think we can all agree that the fighters in the game (ie X-wing, N-1, TIE) are very similar to today's jet fighters in that they are very fast, have a single pilot, are small and dogfight with no hovering. Now read the quote and you will see why the Gunship should be a unique unit.

 

Q: The clone air transport reminded me of the Warhammer 40K Thunderhawk Gunships. What were the influences on this design?

A: The Republic gunships were influenced by helicopter gunships. The script called for highly maneuverable vehicles that could hover and carry troops. The obvious analogy was helicopters so we used that as the foundation to base the design. The twin cockpit is in tribute to the Hind 24 Soviet attack helicopter

 

If anyone wants to check, the link is http://www.starwars.com/community/askjc/doug/askjc20020624.html

Also, to check the specific helicopter he is talking about, it is the Mil Mi-24 'Hind' and can be checked out at http://www.army-technology.com under the 'attack helicopters' section, or any other miliatry info site.

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Where the hell are you getting this from????? I have NEVER stated the exact cost or the speed of the proposed Gunship, only estimates.

 

OMG, the stupidity!!! I never said that was exact either!! I was using it as an estimate are you really that dense?? Make it 600 carbon 10000 nova if you like I don't care. You have said it would be expensive "for balance" and I am saying I would NOT pay extra for a little increase in speed. And btw, in case you didnt realize this yet, the 10% was just an estimation too... If you had actually read that line you could see that it was sarcastic (I even put in a :rolleyes: for your simple mind) and you (hopefully) would not have expected the numbers to be exact.

 

"As for your unit combo costing less, the beauty of it is, that it would cost more."

 

Okay, let's assume for a minute that the gunship costs 250 carbon 350 nova. That is moderately "expensive" to me, which is what you wanted. To keep this in nice round numbers for you, I will assume no one gets Efficient Manufacturing. So let's see: (for value purposes assume carbon and food as same)

1 Gunship: 250 carbon 350 nova

TOTAL 250 carbon 350 nova

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 transport 160 food+carbon

1 fighter 50 food 60 nova

1 fighter 50 food 60 nova

1 bomber 50 food 80 nova

TOTAL: 310 food+carbon 200 nova

 

DIFFERENCE: -60 food+carbon 150 nova

 

I am being generous in this because, I could just use one fighter and have it A LOT less expensive, and I would still have greater capabilities than you. Even now mine is cheaper: if you know anything about this game you know nova is very important. I save 150 nova, and lose 60 carbon/food. You do the math for that one. Plus, the beauty of it is that my task force would have AA, carry >2X as many units (remember from your lesson: 5>2), would have anti-worker, I would have more versatile firepower, and more firepower period (unless you make this unit one that will throw the game out of balance). Now I know math is not your strong point, but before you go rambling on about how "his is more, hehehe i got him now", think about it for a few minutes. Do the math on paper if it helps.

 

"As for your 'overpriced bomber' comment, im not going to answer that one again."

 

For one reason: because you CAN'T!

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1. "OMG, the stupidity!!! I never said that was exact either!! "

 

from a previous simwiz post- "Look I'm gonna pay an extra 100 carbon and 150 nova for a 10% increase in speed..."

 

That looks pretty exact to me.

 

 

2. "(I even put in a for your simple mind)", "Now I know math is not your strong point," - there is no need to resort to peronal insults in order to make your argument.

 

 

Now, obviously you havent looked at the quote I posted, or you would have seen the reason for the Gunship being a unique unit. Also, you say that all of the figures you used are estimates, the question is though, how can you possible hope to compare the Gunship to other units using figures that you made up? The cost, build time etc would be up to Lucasarts, and until they put the Gunship in as a unique unit, you wont know if it would be unbalanced.

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I've sat and I've watch the arguement unfold, but I can't lay dormant anymore. I must POST!!!

 

If the gunship was a flying AT-AT, it would extremely overpowered! I always thought that this unique gunship idea was a bad one, but a gunship having the same strength as an At-At is absurd! Think about what you just suggested... if it was a flying assault mech it would have 400+ hit points, a 25-30 pt attack, carry 10- count them, TEN troops!! Priced at 200 food and 350 nova and it can fly? Thats just too much. An at-at is scary enough, but at least it grounded. It has to walk around trees, walls, etc. But the gunship can flying pass the walls, into your base, drop ten clones on your head, and then with it's massive attack, preceed to blow you to hell :eek: !

It also would overshadow three units at once, the Republic cockroach (At-te), the transport, and the air cruiser. The republic doesn't need a second UU, they're already a very powerful race. If you want a gunship, ask lucasarts to give it to you in the form of a cheat code, or toybox unit, but not as a standard unit.

 

P.S. Simwiz2 made some good points. Were you listening? :rolleyes:

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