Spies are eating my lunch

[Krill]

The AI is spending hammers on spies, no? Build an army and go kill them ffs.

[Seedle]

Originally posted by Yaga


Seriously -- it seems the AI has absolutely no disincentive for not using spies at every opportunity, and no way of allowing for player reprisals w/o hurting our relationships with the offending civ's friends.

I really wish the whole Espionage system could just be turned off. I understand the theory behind it, and it's not a *bad* theory, it just turns the game into a micromanagement nightmare with a disproportionately low payoff.

QFT It would even be better if you could damage units with spies. Right now, the only thing that even interests me about spies is there ability to send a city into revolt, reducing its defenses. However, since I still need siege for collateral damage to weaken the defenders, even that isn't a valid use.

[#07]

It's still a valid use in it's own right. You can have a spy planted in an inland city waiting for some fast tanks (with collateral if you like) to arrive when the defenses are down.

It's true though, the espionage system is a good idea but it's missing too much at this stage, the best use is defense.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Krill
The AI is spending hammers on spies, no? Build an army and go kill them ffs.

Yes, counter-espionage by extinction is definately a preferred method.

I also agree that Workers are an easy counter-measure. By the time spies become common, I usually have a stack of Workers idling, so rebuilding on the same turn is not a problem.

[Tattila the Hun]

Say, are you guys sure all the caught spies are there to go after your stuff? I seem to recall, spies can be caught from just being there. I've had many spies from my friends in various games getting caught in my lands, and I'm not positive they were actually doing anything, other than just scouting or in transit. (That would be nice, joint ops. I don't catch his spies, he doesn't catch mine, we both go after Monty.)

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
I've had many spies from my friends in various games getting caught in my lands, and I'm not positive they were actually doing anything, other than just scouting or in transit.

Scouting != not doing anything.

[Krill]

[q=Modo]I also agree that Workers are an easy counter-measure. By the time spies become common, I usually have a stack of Workers idling, so rebuilding on the same turn is not a problem.[/q]

Another advantage of Serfdom repairing pillaged improvements.