johnny_rico
one more turn addict
I'm on board with stuttrboys plan. Kill the vikings, keep nidaros, bag the wonders, at least early so it doesn't interfere with expansion. You've got the great wall, get some courthouses going, send a spy bomb to george, and steal techs galore.
If you're going for the spy economy, it really needs to be your focus or it doesn't work, especially at emperor. Mass cottages, research alphabet, and create lots of spies. Don't underestimate the number you'll need. figure in travel time and expect 40% to be found or fail. I know Bhruic just made an awsome post regarding the success of spies, but this works just like combat, you lose a lot more you should win rather than win a lot more you should lose. Once the bomb is dropped, you'll need a city dedicated to building spies.
In addition to stealing techs, you'll want to make use of counter espionage, fomenting unhappiness in washington and new york. Anything to keep him down. Destroying wonder production, razing courthouses. Yes, all these things slow his tech, however, you'll know what he is researching so you can aim can for different techs while waiting to steal what he's kind enough to research for you. You were talking about wiping him out earlier in the thread, so keeping him contained with other espionage tactics will help out your war in the long run.
Compass/optics should also be a priority. You'll be teching faster by stealing techs, however, getting overseas to meet the rest of the cast and crew is important in a spy economy. Once you meet the new folks, you can shift the priority of espionage commerce to them to get the passive effects working on them. A spy bomb overseas is unlikely, by that time techs will be very expensive to steal and I think you'd be better off with a scotland yard (or settled) to assist with getting the passive effects working on them.
If you're going for the spy economy, it really needs to be your focus or it doesn't work, especially at emperor. Mass cottages, research alphabet, and create lots of spies. Don't underestimate the number you'll need. figure in travel time and expect 40% to be found or fail. I know Bhruic just made an awsome post regarding the success of spies, but this works just like combat, you lose a lot more you should win rather than win a lot more you should lose. Once the bomb is dropped, you'll need a city dedicated to building spies.
In addition to stealing techs, you'll want to make use of counter espionage, fomenting unhappiness in washington and new york. Anything to keep him down. Destroying wonder production, razing courthouses. Yes, all these things slow his tech, however, you'll know what he is researching so you can aim can for different techs while waiting to steal what he's kind enough to research for you. You were talking about wiping him out earlier in the thread, so keeping him contained with other espionage tactics will help out your war in the long run.
Compass/optics should also be a priority. You'll be teching faster by stealing techs, however, getting overseas to meet the rest of the cast and crew is important in a spy economy. Once you meet the new folks, you can shift the priority of espionage commerce to them to get the passive effects working on them. A spy bomb overseas is unlikely, by that time techs will be very expensive to steal and I think you'd be better off with a scotland yard (or settled) to assist with getting the passive effects working on them.