So, you wanna improve espionage?

I heard that you guys at Stardock were not completely satisfied with the Espionage aspect of the game and may improve it in the future. I had a couple ideas of what I would like to see from espionage, so I thought id post it.


1. An Espionage report. It would be nice if, once you got a sufficient level in espionage on a race, you could opt to get an espionage report every 3, 6, 21, or 24 turns. The report, depending on your level, would include information such as.

- What planets the race has taken
- What new ships they are building
- Where they have built new starbases
- What technology they are currently researching
- What their tax rate and overall approval rating is
- Strategic advice on what might work to "stick it to em"

These reports would be given in such a way that if the report said "The Drengin have taken Zeus III from the Torians" and then the view would pan to where that planet is and show it, giving information about its class, and (if you have a high enough esionage) what special tiles it has. Then you would click next and it would go to the next planet they have taken, or on to the next topic, such as ships they are building. Then it would show the ship, and its stats. You click next and it shows what tech they are currently researching, and which one they just finished. Click next again and it shows their Tax rate, approval rating, and the lists the planet with the lowest approval rating, and the highest approval rating. Then click next again and it would tell you something like "Tycho IV is in turmoil.. If we could sufficiently influence them, they may come to our side"

This would keep the player up to date on where the race is advancing, which route towards advancement they are taking, what measures they can take to counter them, and where they may consider striking if they want to declare war, or get a planet from them...all in one easily readable pop-up window.


2. Another thing that would be pretty fun is if you could randomly acquire "state secrets" on a race. Just like how you sometimes get a technology from them. A state secret could be something like "Inside sources have informed us that Alan Bradley dresses up like a woman on the second tuesday of every month and hangs out at local night clubs". The player could then use this state secret as either a bargaining chip to get something he wants (ie: "Give me Majesty or I will tell everyone you dress up like a woman... I have pictures").. OR.. you could opt to release the information to the universe in order to reduce the influence of their race... OR... you could release it to a single planet to drastically reduce their approval rating and increase your influence on it. other good "state secrets" may be things like "The Torian leader has to use Wiagra to produce heirs" or "N-1 of Yor is obsolete and is running on only 400terrabytes of processing power". Things like that


3. High espionage levels on 3 or more races would allow you to see what topic will be brought up in the UP the week before it happens, and for a price you could influence the votes of the races you are spying on.



This could add alot of flavor to the game, and make espionage pretty fun and useful too
16,772 views 14 replies
Reply #1 Top
thats supposed to be every 3, 6, 12, or 24 turns.
Reply #2 Top
I was wondering if there is a way to do counter-espionage.

Don't like the idea of my empire being spied on.
Reply #3 Top
I agree with most of your points. I especially like the "state secrets" idea!
Reply #4 Top
same, i would like to have the CIA kill off some of their spies, then send off james bond to kill their leader or impregnate all their women...either one will have the same effect.
Reply #5 Top
About the state secrets

those are good ideas but you have to ask yourself this. If you can do it then the AI can do it. Would you want the AI to have the ability to randomly pop one of your planets because of something you can't control?

Remember everything you can do the AI has to be able to do just as well or it can be exploited.
Reply #6 Top
well...

The AI doesnt necessarily need to be able to do it because it is supposed to be a rare occurance. Its not like I could stock up 20 state secrets and eliminate a race.. id be lucky to get one or two per game.

Also.. no it wouldnt really bother me if the computer could do it. Things like this are what keeps the game interesting. If there wasnt any risks or plot twists.. there wouldnt be any fun.

and lastly.. just lowering the approval rating and increasing your influence on a planet does not mean they are going to come over to you. I wouldnt expect it to be a PERMENANT lowering.. if It happened to me, id just lower my taxes for a few turns.. maybe build an influence starbase next to the planet.. perhaps declare war on the race that that planet is bordering so that I could keep them from spreading their influence too thickly to cause that planet to convert.
Reply #7 Top
also.. I could buy a troop transport and take 1000 or so people off the planet. lowering the population seems to increase planet approval real quick and in a hurry.
Reply #8 Top
Wow what a great idea for number 2. Introducing scandal into virtual galactic politics! It's combining the political machine with gal civ.
Reply #9 Top
I think adding sabotage and increasing the benefits of espionage would be great.

However, then you would also need:

1) Internal security to counter espionage and sabotage

2) Colony structures (Detention Centers, Interrogation Chambers, Data Networks) to both improve your espionage, and improve your internal security.

I know this game isn't Master of Orion, but I always loved being able to occasionally blow up an enemy ship, or destroy buildings on a colony.
Reply #10 Top
A deeper diplomacy and espionage level could bring the game to a whole new level of enjoyment!
Reply #11 Top
Well we just found out that the first expansion is going to improve the espionage features in the game.. so I wanted to bump this post

Cant wait to see what yall do to improve espionage.
Reply #12 Top
Long wait until then....
Reply #13 Top
I like #1 a lot, because it fits into the current espionage system (and therefore might make it before the first expansion.) I think #2 is a bit lame. It's not horrible certainly, but I can think of better ways for devs to spend their time.

And finally, I think #3 should be built into diplomacy rather than espionage. You can already buy and sell influence (which is the equivelence of UP votes,) so we just need some way to see the voting topic a month or two ahead of time. Frankly, I think it should always be that way, no espionage or special techs required. I also think there needs to be some way to influence what the UP vote is, since it often seems to be something against me. I'd like to be able to manipulate the UP a little to hurt my opponents.

-Dewar
Reply #14 Top
on #1... some of this info can already be found in the stats/graphs tab.. im just proposing that it go slightly deeper..and be presented to the player in a more user friendly way.

on #2... it doesnt HAVE to be funny . Personally I think the concept could add to the game. I wouldnt mind the funny state secrets thrown in.. but you could also discover things like "Netro Mancer is performing illegal brainwashing procedures on dissidents within his sectors".. or "N-1 is controlling his human slave population through forced cannibalism".. basicly.. more serious issues that could still be used as bargaining chips.

on #3... I agree that this doesnt necessarily have to be done through espionage. I would just like to see the UP aspect of the game expanded on one way or another.