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The load cost was primarily used for loading on ships and the load cost determines how much space on the ship that take up. Engineers have a lot of equipment to take on board. The limits on what planes will carry is due to the bulkiness of most large load cost devices (like guns or trucks), but doesn't really apply to something like engineers which can stow the load in many small pieces instead of one bulky one.

It does bring up the idea that the load cost limit for air transport should be different for squad type devices. I wasn't directly involved in the design of air transport or air drops, so I am not sure if there is some other kind of thinking there.

Bill

ORIGINAL: zulurider

ORIGINAL: rustysi

ORIGINAL: zulurider

Here's the unit

So, did you pick up what I was saying earlier. Engineer units for whatever reason won't para drop. WAD.[:)]

I get it. Don't understand it, but I get it.

Eventually we get the correct info. Not flying from Rangoon, not a Chindit unit, flying to an inland dot base etc. This game is complex and lack of precision will result in unsatisfactory answers. Difficult enough for experienced players to fully state all the relevant parameters of a problem, for newbies almost impossible, hence why screenshots are always preferred.

Lowpe nailed it on the head in post #28. There is no bug here whatsoever, it is WAD. Troops can only be flown to another friendly base if both the departure and receiving bases have an airfield. The only exception being when coastal hexes are involved where planes equipped with floats are employed. The logic is not that difficult to understand when one takes into account the nature of the legacy code.

It is possible to drop supplies out in the countryside. The code clearly allows this. But a base is not a countryside hex. As far as the code is concerned, it is a binary situation with different parameters applying to base/non base hex. Hence between bases it is 50% of maximum range of aircraft, but to a non base it is 100% of normal range. This usually means that you can fly supplies further if the destination is a base than if it is a non base destination. Logic being that the plane lands and can be refuelled at the destination. That means there must be an airfield at the destination.

The air transport code in AE is SAIEW. It would have been too much work to alter the code to recognise that sometimes a base should be treated as if it were countryside and other times it is a base. As always, what looks to the layman as a simple coding task, is in reality always quite complex when dealing with old legacy code. The most minor change requires extensive testing to confirm that bugs and exploits are not introduced.

Alfred

Thanks Bill for questioning whether the airborne load costs should have been handled differently. Sounds like they should have. But I also recognize that the airborne aspect of the Pacific War was minimal when compared to the amphibious, so it's understandable.[;)]

Thanks Alfred. Don't really care about coding and the complexities therein, just want to play the game. [;)]

But I appreciate the fact that when asking a question, I really need to include all of the game details, and that includes a screenshot if applicable. After all, I'm asking about a game ---- not reality! I really appreciate the patience shown here by all. [:)]

It has always been the case that para engineers do not drop or air transport (at least with the Allies) This has been the case from day one leaving a small fragment behind with each drop. You then have to figure a way to get that fragment back to the parent unit where it will not drop the next time. Generally I just give up moving the fragment at all and use the para unit without it throughout the game. I moaned about this five years ago. It is a nuisance but a small one. It would be nice to see a correction but I won't fret it. Funny but I believe that the Allies actually get an artillery unit that can be air dropped late in the game. Possibly even a tank unit. (can't recall) but you will never drop these engineers. I can't recall if the larger C-46 can eventually drop them.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

It has always been the case that para engineers do not drop or air transport (at least with the Allies) This has been the case from day one leaving a small fragment behind with each drop. You then have to figure a way to get that fragment back to the parent unit where it will not drop the next time. Generally I just give up moving the fragment at all and use the para unit without it throughout the game. I moaned about this five years ago. It is a nuisance but a small one. It would be nice to see a correction but I won't fret it. Funny but I believe that the Allies actually get an artillery unit that can be air dropped late in the game. Possibly even a tank unit. (can't recall) but you will never drop these engineers. I can't recall if the larger C-46 can eventually drop them.

I agree, it's a small point. But this thread has impressed me about how even such a small part of the game can receive such attention and feedback. Love WITP AE![:D]

I have a paratroop armor unit in Downfall. Haven't used them yet!

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I have a paratroop armor unit in Downfall. Haven't used them yet!

Well I guess you came to the right thread! Can't imagine how armor is dropped when a few engineers are not! [&:]

They have a special airborne tank with really large parachutes I guess. [:D] Seriously, probably by glider.

I looked at them today...if memory serves M3 Stuarts. British had one...Locust?