USA Paradrop Generals Power is very rarely used

[xezon]

USA Paradrop Generals Power is very rarely used. Players typically prefer the A10 and Spectre Gunship Promotions. Check if it can be better and more attractive.

Stats

SpecialPower SuperweaponParadropAmerica
  ReloadTime = 240000

ObjectCreationList SUPERWEAPON_Paradrop1
  Payload = AmericaInfantryRanger 5

ObjectCreationList SUPERWEAPON_Paradrop2
  Payload = AmericaInfantryRanger 10

ObjectCreationList SUPERWEAPON_Paradrop3
  Payload = AmericaInfantryRanger 20

Proposal 1

Reduce cooldown time.

Proposal 2

Add a few Missile Defenders into the Ranger group (2 or 3, suggested by Dominator)

Proposal 3

Reduce to 1 Special Power only

Proposal 4

Make Soldiers in Parachute controllable - like in Contra Mod.

[commy2]

Missile Defenders do have a parachute animation. As have Pathfinders and Col. Burton (as have Red Guards, Tank Hunters, Hackers and Lotus).

[xezon]

Nice. Let's add 2 Pathfinders and 6 Burtons in the Paradrop.

[USA-Bruce]

It's best just to make the cooldown non-existent, It should be four minutes now.
Try 1 minute, It already gets 20% more infantry than rebel ambush, 16 vs 20.
If 1 minute is too high increase to 90 seconds

[ImTimK]

It's best just to make the cooldown non-existent, It should be four minutes now.

Try 1 minute, It already gets 20% more infantry than rebel ambush, 16 vs 20.

If 1 minute is too high increase to 90 seconds

Thing is you can make lvl 1 more attractive, but 2 & 3 will never be chosen ever.

Proposal: remove lvl 1 and 3

[ReLaX82]

Thought I answered already, put some MDs in it, maybe Pathis on level 3?

Maybe decrease timer as well.

Will add strats if used more frequently, which is good.

[commy2]

Pathfinders are interesting, because that could be an alternative to "unlocking" them without having to spend a genpoint on them.

[MTKing4]

Proposal 2 and 4 for me

[commy2]

Stage 1: 3 Ranger 2 MD
Stage 2: 6 Ranger 4 MD
Stage 3: 12 Ranger 8 MD

If stage 2 & 3 are still never chosen, consider replacing some of the MDs with Pathfinders.

What about Infgen Paradrop?

[commy2]

Would require an engine change to support it, but in C&C 3, the "Bloodhounds" ability airlifts in regular war factory units, but as rank 1 veterans, which is a nice touch.

[MTKing4]

Stage 1: 3 Ranger 2 MD Stage 2: 6 Ranger 4 MD Stage 3: 12 Ranger 8 MD

If stage 2 & 3 are still never chosen, consider replacing some of the MDs with Pathfinders.

that is a nice setup, i do think level 3 would be picked for 8 MDs, i think adding Pathfinders is too much

What about Infgen Paradrop?

i think it's fine and usable, inf drops are strong as they are now.

[xezon]

Stage 1: 3 Ranger 2 MD
Stage 2: 6 Ranger 4 MD
Stage 3: 12 Ranger 8 MD

Looks like interesting setup.

[xezon]

20 Rangers are worth 4500
12 Rangers + 8 Rocket Men are worth 5100

[commy2]

Ranger and MD also yield the same amount of XP (20) when killed, so in that respect, they are interchangeable.

[xezon]

How to add different Payloads to a single plane?

ObjectCreationList SupW_SUPERWEAPON_Paradrop1
  DeliverPayload
    Transport = AmericaJetCargoPlane
    StartAtPreferredHeight = Yes
    StartAtMaxSpeed = Yes
    MaxAttempts = 4
    DropOffset = X:0 Y:0 Z:-10
    DropDelay = 150         ; time in between each item dropped (if more than one)
    ParachuteDirectly = Yes ; will tell all contained parachutes to go ahead and bunch
    PutInContainer = AmericaParachute
    Payload = SupW_AmericaInfantryRanger 5
    DeliveryDistance = 0  ;when outbound vehicle must be this close to target to continue delivery
    PreOpenDistance = 300 ;When inbound, vehicle can be this much farther than DeliveryDistance to begin delivery
    DeliveryDecalRadius = 50
    DeliveryDecal
      Texture           = SCCParadrop_USA
      Style             = SHADOW_ALPHA_DECAL
      OpacityMin        = 25%
      OpacityMax        = 50%
      OpacityThrobTime  = 500
      Color             = R:227 G:229 B:22 A:255
      OnlyVisibleToOwningPlayer = Yes
    End
    ;RequiresLivePlayer = Yes ; I want to require a live player, but I'll settle for dropping neutral rangers instead
  End
End

[commy2]

You can add multiple Payload tokens:

Payload = SupW_AmericaInfantryRanger 3
Payload = SupW_AmericaInfantryMissileDefender 2

[xezon]

Wow really advanced ++++

[ImTimK]

40% md's is very strong, on one hand this is needed to make it a viable alternative, on the other hand level 1 could be a little too powerful? It will be very good at shutting down an entire china airfield and kill all migs on it.

[xezon]

It will be very good at shutting down an entire china airfield and kill all Migs on it.

If there are more use cases for the Paradrop then I think that speaks for this change. China can still defend it, by parking 1 or 2 Gattlings, Minigunners near the Airfield for example. To me it reads like it would add tactical depth, which makes the game effectively richer for it.

[MTKing4]

40% md's is very strong, on one hand this is needed to make it a viable alternative, on the other hand level 1 could be a little too powerful? It will be very good at shutting down an entire china airfield and kill all migs on it.

It's only 2 MDs, they can be shut down with one gat, possibly before landing, A10 is a safer option

[ImTimK]

can be shot in the air?

[MTKing4]

Pretty sure they can be yeah, although it's a small window since they drop so fast