Civ. 3 espionage mission ???
- Thread starter funkeken
- Start date
Diplomacy: Research Writing and doubleclick on the star next to your capital.
Espionage: Research Espionage and then build the Intelligence Agency small wonder. Double click on the icon next to the city that built it and chose action in the menu.
I assume the infobox is the one in the lower right corner of your screen, the one that tells you what unit is active. You can click on the corresponding letter there instead of doubleclicking like described above.
Espionage: Research Espionage and then build the Intelligence Agency small wonder. Double click on the icon next to the city that built it and chose action in the menu.
I assume the infobox is the one in the lower right corner of your screen, the one that tells you what unit is active. You can click on the corresponding letter there instead of doubleclicking like described above.
ThePrankMonkey
mowing em' down!
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2002
- Messages
- 702
everytime i try to plant a spy i get caught and the civ declares war on me so i have now adopted a "DONT YOU DARE SPY UNLESS YOU'RE A BLOOD THRISTY SAVAGE" policy. you will get caught and they will declare war on you, at least they do to me.
maybe i just have bad luck??!?!?!?!?!?!
missed it by that much!-Maxwell Smart
maybe i just have bad luck??!?!?!?!?!?!
missed it by that much!-Maxwell Smart
Perfection
The Great Head.
I adopt this policy
1. check for opposing mpp's
2. Make sure that you can win or hold off a war with the enemy.
3. Make sure your rep can handle any damage done to it
4. Make sure you can withstand the happiness problems
5. Make sure yur willing to accept the risk of war
1. check for opposing mpp's
2. Make sure that you can win or hold off a war with the enemy.
3. Make sure your rep can handle any damage done to it
4. Make sure you can withstand the happiness problems
5. Make sure yur willing to accept the risk of war
Hellfire
Prince
Because I'm slightly immoral when it comes to portions of the game which seem very unfair, I have no compunctions about following this procedure for planting spies:
1) Save the game.
2) Plant the spy.
3) If unsuccessful, restore the game.
4) DON'T try to plant the spy again, move to the next turn and try again.
Frankly, planting a spy is hard. Then again, maybe it should be. Then again, spying is so prohibitively difficult and expensive now that all I use it for is to spy on total units so why shouldn't I be able to bend the rules because of something designed ridiculously?
1) Save the game.
2) Plant the spy.
3) If unsuccessful, restore the game.
4) DON'T try to plant the spy again, move to the next turn and try again.
Frankly, planting a spy is hard. Then again, maybe it should be. Then again, spying is so prohibitively difficult and expensive now that all I use it for is to spy on total units so why shouldn't I be able to bend the rules because of something designed ridiculously?
Perfection
The Great Head.
Thats cheating, And it destroys the fun of the game
TheDS
Regular Riot
I once had them DoW me on failed spy implantation, but other than that, it's just a diplo hit.
I have no problem with casting the savegame spell on a poorly designed game feature. I wouldn't do it on multiplayer or for GOTM, but for my own games, I can't stand BS. Having the game bilk you out of tons of money because you didn't know that one failed implantation means it's impossible to do it for real, but the game will take your money until you're dry. I consider that BS. I consider the exhorbitant costs of spy missions and the incredible failure rate to be BS.
I generally don't use spies for anything more than occasionally finding out when a wonder will be built or keeping track of the overall size of the enemy military. I rarely steal tech or use propaganda or anything else. Just the basics. I guess I'm getting myself used to not using these options because I won't want to risk the money in a MP game.
I have no problem with casting the savegame spell on a poorly designed game feature. I wouldn't do it on multiplayer or for GOTM, but for my own games, I can't stand BS. Having the game bilk you out of tons of money because you didn't know that one failed implantation means it's impossible to do it for real, but the game will take your money until you're dry. I consider that BS. I consider the exhorbitant costs of spy missions and the incredible failure rate to be BS.
I generally don't use spies for anything more than occasionally finding out when a wonder will be built or keeping track of the overall size of the enemy military. I rarely steal tech or use propaganda or anything else. Just the basics. I guess I'm getting myself used to not using these options because I won't want to risk the money in a MP game.
Gundam
Chieftain
I use the spy only for exposing another enemy spy 
.They should change the way the spy is planted...the way it is right now just sukssss; it is like u're gambling your spy and as far as I know luck doesn't have anything to do with the infiltration of a spy in real life.
.They should change the way the spy is planted...the way it is right now just sukssss; it is like u're gambling your spy and as far as I know luck doesn't have anything to do with the infiltration of a spy in real life.
TheDS
Regular Riot
Luck has a lot to do with everything!
And in this game, they give you the option of just throwing him in there and hoping he doesn't get caught, or of taking your time and carefully crafting the cover and tools and whatever else he needs to successfully perform his mission. I gotta give em credit for that, at least. What I don't like is spending several turns' worth of income on a single mission and then always have it fail.
I have yet to see an enemy AI implant a spy on me, and I occasionally make the check, not that the AI needs a spy. They already know where all my units are. I usually also go for Democracy, so Propaganda is out. They already know what I'm building. Not much else for them to do.
And in this game, they give you the option of just throwing him in there and hoping he doesn't get caught, or of taking your time and carefully crafting the cover and tools and whatever else he needs to successfully perform his mission. I gotta give em credit for that, at least. What I don't like is spending several turns' worth of income on a single mission and then always have it fail.
I have yet to see an enemy AI implant a spy on me, and I occasionally make the check, not that the AI needs a spy. They already know where all my units are. I usually also go for Democracy, so Propaganda is out. They already know what I'm building. Not much else for them to do.
gugalpm
Veteran of psychic wars
Yeah, it's unfair...
I agree with it being expensive because if it wasn't, it would become trivial and exploitive...
but the way the spy is planted is dumb... I don't like to rely on luck for things...
I agree with it being expensive because if it wasn't, it would become trivial and exploitive...
but the way the spy is planted is dumb... I don't like to rely on luck for things...
thefrenchzulu
Warlord
I get spies after getting MPP with everyone in the game. Also before I'm about to declare war anyway. Mostly caught attempts are ignored.
Knowing the AI's exact military compliment is key! Especially once nukes comes into the picture...
Knowing the AI's exact military compliment is key! Especially once nukes comes into the picture...
Fredric Drum
Civilizator
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2001
- Messages
- 270
I use this policy:
1: Make sure you're already at war with the civ you're planting a spy with. UNLESS starting a war is exactly what I want.
1: Make sure you're already at war with the civ you're planting a spy with. UNLESS starting a war is exactly what I want.
meldor
Deity
The best times to attempt to plant spies (IMO):
1) You just signed one or more long turn deals with them that either involve them getting gpt form you or several luxes. They are less likely to declare war as they will lose the goods.
2) You just signed an alliance or MPP with them. Again they lose any benefits if they delcare.
3) You want them to declare war! In this case you gain benefit even if you aren't succesful.
4) You are already at war.
Some of the spy missions are expensive. The cost to safely steal a tech is pretty close to what you would have paid for the tech to buy it outright, however, if you steal it the money goes into limbo and not to someone who is a) already even or ahead of you in tech (at least that tech path) and b) soon to be fighting against you. Of course, it does come with some risks. It seems to me, that the better your relations, the easier it is to plant a spy, unless you go to war. That last though is just from my "feel" and not hard data.
1) You just signed one or more long turn deals with them that either involve them getting gpt form you or several luxes. They are less likely to declare war as they will lose the goods.
2) You just signed an alliance or MPP with them. Again they lose any benefits if they delcare.
3) You want them to declare war! In this case you gain benefit even if you aren't succesful.
4) You are already at war.
Some of the spy missions are expensive. The cost to safely steal a tech is pretty close to what you would have paid for the tech to buy it outright, however, if you steal it the money goes into limbo and not to someone who is a) already even or ahead of you in tech (at least that tech path) and b) soon to be fighting against you. Of course, it does come with some risks. It seems to me, that the better your relations, the easier it is to plant a spy, unless you go to war. That last though is just from my "feel" and not hard data.
DB_Terror
Chieftain
I'm totally with hellfire. Save game, plant spy, reload if it fails.
TheDS, the AI does use spies. I'm currently in a Monarch game, and am fighting a modern age war. I had to go to Communism because war weariness was too high in both Republic and Democracy. The AI stole my military plans, sabotaged my Manhattan Project, and tried to start a revolt in one of my cities.
TheDS, the AI does use spies. I'm currently in a Monarch game, and am fighting a modern age war. I had to go to Communism because war weariness was too high in both Republic and Democracy. The AI stole my military plans, sabotaged my Manhattan Project, and tried to start a revolt in one of my cities.
billindenver
King
The worst bug in espionage is the 'expose spy' thing. I swear I will never do that again. I spend the money to put a spy in someone else's capital. I do the 'expose spy' thing, he fails, is caught, I lose my spy, get a rep hit, and the other civ declares war on me.
The only time I plant spies is when I'm ready for war. The only reason I plant them is to monitor spaceship production.
The only time I plant spies is when I'm ready for war. The only reason I plant them is to monitor spaceship production.
