What's the most effective research investment in CoW 1.5?
Disclaimer:
Transports.
What, are you high ???
You heard me. Let's see what happens when you reach level 4 transports, possible on day 12.
1. Cheap, one-time cost.
Unlike with other units, you only pay the up-front research cost. There are no per-unit upgrade costs. When a land unit embarks, it transforms into a transport (for free).
2. Stupidly overpowered Hit Points.
A level 4 transport has 25 HP. For comparison, a level 1 submarine has 20, and a destroyer has 30.
But wait, it gets better.
A level 1 militia or AA gun has 15 HP.
Embarking actually *increases* the HP return on investment.
3. Stupidly overpowered A/D values.
A level 4 transport had 2 A/D across the board, plus 3 A/D against surface ships.
That means it's *better* than some land units at fighting land units.
It's similar in air defense as low-level ships (except cruisers).
It's *better* at fighting surface ships than a level 2 destroyer (or a level 1 Allied destroyer).
4. Excellent speed.
A level 4 transport moves at 80 km/h.
That's faster than every other level 1 ship, except a destroyer.
And a transport can kill a level 1 destroyer in a gun fight, so... yeah.
That's about 2x the speed of a foot unit on land.
So yeah, just embark and run circles around your enemies.
Like a motorized unit, without using oil.
What can you do with this crazy OP transport?
Oh my goodness...
You can convert cheap land units like level 1 militia or AA guns into a cheap navy.
You can use transports as cheap naval HP, soaking up damage for your warships.
You can use them as scouts.
Sure, if the enemy has high-level navy research, it's not so easy.
But most players don't upgrade their navy.
You can totally embarrass people with this research strategy.
Disclaimer:
Transports.
What, are you high ???
You heard me. Let's see what happens when you reach level 4 transports, possible on day 12.
1. Cheap, one-time cost.
Unlike with other units, you only pay the up-front research cost. There are no per-unit upgrade costs. When a land unit embarks, it transforms into a transport (for free).
2. Stupidly overpowered Hit Points.
A level 4 transport has 25 HP. For comparison, a level 1 submarine has 20, and a destroyer has 30.
But wait, it gets better.
A level 1 militia or AA gun has 15 HP.
Embarking actually *increases* the HP return on investment.
3. Stupidly overpowered A/D values.
A level 4 transport had 2 A/D across the board, plus 3 A/D against surface ships.
That means it's *better* than some land units at fighting land units.
It's similar in air defense as low-level ships (except cruisers).
It's *better* at fighting surface ships than a level 2 destroyer (or a level 1 Allied destroyer).
4. Excellent speed.
A level 4 transport moves at 80 km/h.
That's faster than every other level 1 ship, except a destroyer.
And a transport can kill a level 1 destroyer in a gun fight, so... yeah.
That's about 2x the speed of a foot unit on land.
So yeah, just embark and run circles around your enemies.
Like a motorized unit, without using oil.
What can you do with this crazy OP transport?
Oh my goodness...
You can convert cheap land units like level 1 militia or AA guns into a cheap navy.
You can use transports as cheap naval HP, soaking up damage for your warships.
You can use them as scouts.
Sure, if the enemy has high-level navy research, it's not so easy.
But most players don't upgrade their navy.
You can totally embarrass people with this research strategy.
