Uses for Great spies

[lwedge]

I was wondering how people are generally using great spies in BtS. I started a game with raging barbarians so I built the Great Wall in my capital. A few turns later I get a great spy. Should I use him for a golden age or are there better options?

[khearn]

I've had good results installing the first one in my capitol for the 12 espionage points per turn, then using the second to create Scotland Yard, which doubles EPs in that city. So I end up with ~32 EPs in my capitol (including the 4 from the Palace, doubled), which tends to put me way ahead in the espionage game.

I haven't tried sending them off to foreign territory yet, so I don't know how useful that is.

[tsubame]

I infiltrate with first one, esp if around a tech-whore, I get about 3-4 techs that way. 2nd one is scotland yard, 3rd ones specialists, unless I need a 2nd infiltration.

[lwedge]

re:

I was thinking about infiltrating but my two closest neighbours are both targets for invasion.

Babylon is below me and is closed off from expanding north (me), south and east (oceans). They'll be busy fighting the barbarians coming from the west.

Charlemagne is north of me. Their capital was beseiged by a barbarian uprising that crippled them. I'm planning to attack as soon as I can raise some swordsmen.

Pacal is located northeast of Charlemagne and I could infiltrate them, but they are last in score. I think the raging barbs are doing some early damage.

So I'm still stuck with what to do with my great spy. Thanks for the help though.

[tsubame]

The other advantage to infiltration- can see what they're doing in their cities- and if you do rush them, you can use the spies for revolts so you can concentrate your cats on CR or Collat.

[LDiCesare]

First early spy = infiltration without a doubt.
Even if you plan to take on your neighbour, it's worth it, as you should get several techs from him, by bypassing some cheap ones that he'll research anyway.
If you've got two neighbours, better infiltrate the one you are not rushing of course, but it will still help you because of techs and perfect knowledge of his armies, cities, etc.
Later on, I'd either infiltrate if someone has a tech edge or settle.