Paratrooper

The Paratrooper is an elite airborne infantry fold. Delivered from the sky by a Pelican, it rains fire on the ground during its roughly three-second fall, then hits the dirt swinging. Paratroopers are mustered at a Port.

While parachuting — during the ~3-second descent of a drop — the Paratrooper fires its gun at ground targets only. Once it lands, it fights as melee infantry with its sword. As an advanced fold, the Paratrooper draws on Parchment, so you need a refined-goods economy — a Scriptorium or Printworks stocking Parchment, delivered by Pushers — to muster one.

Deployment

Paratroopers muster at the Port and auto-load a waiting Pelican, forming up as airborne cargo. If you would rather use them as ground infantry, set them to Hold Position and they will stay put and fight on foot instead of climbing aboard.

Strategy

Paratroopers are game-enders. A full squad dropped onto an undefended economy or command structure — firing on the way down, then carving in with swords — can wipe a base before the enemy turns to face them. They are elite and priced to match, so protect the investment: keep the Pelican’s approach clear and pick a landing zone the enemy cannot immediately swarm. When you have no air lane, Hold Position turns them into a stout ground squad rather than leaving them idle at the Port.