Intel on opponent's movement

[beorn]

In recent games, I have been mystified by how opponents get +3 or +6 intel on my movements quite early in the game.

I assume that this is based on diplomatic visibility. But as far as I can see, they do not have any basis for gaining that. In the current game, it looked as though Alexander went from +3 to +6 simply by starting a trade route.

It's too early for him to have the printing press, so I really have no explanation. Can anyone suggest possibilities?

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

It might be Trading Posts. Trading Posts are another way to have Diplomatic Visibility.

 

[beorn]

But as far as I know the only way to get a trading post is to complete a trade route, and Alexander had just started one.

 

[Buktu]

It might be Trading Posts. Trading Posts are another way to have Diplomatic Visibility.

This is not correct. Trading posts don't provide diplomatic visibility unless you play as Momgolia. You can check all sources for diplomatic visibility in the wiki. The trade route provides one level of visibility for Alexander. I guess the other source for visibility is a delegation in your empire.
Both don't matter when he goes to war with you since the trade route will get cancelled and the delegation will be send home once the war starts.

 

[Duke William of Normandy]

This is not correct. Trading posts don't provide diplomatic visibility unless you play as Momgolia. You can check all sources for diplomatic visibility in the wiki. The trade route provides one level of visibility for Alexander. I guess the other source for visibility is a delegation in your empire.
Both don't matter when he goes to war with you since the trade route will get cancelled and the delegation will be send home once the war starts.

Really? I thought they did... Oops.

 

[Galvatron]

In recent games, I have been mystified by how opponents get +3 or +6 intel on my movements quite early in the game.

I assume that this is based on diplomatic visibility. But as far as I can see, they do not have any basis for gaining that. In the current game, it looked as though Alexander went from +3 to +6 simply by starting a trade route.

It's too early for him to have the printing press, so I really have no explanation. Can anyone suggest possibilities?

Most common sources early are trade routes and delegations.

 

[Equilin]

Most common sources early are trade routes and delegations.

both of which are gone when a war is declared......

 

[KingPiggyXXI]

both of which are gone when a war is declared......

Well, both of those sources are relevant for Religious combat. In the situation that was described, Alexander gained a level of Diplomatic Visibility via sending a trade route, which is impossible to do while you're at war.
As a side note, this is one of the reasons why Mongolia is surprisingly useful in Religious Victories. They can get ridiculous amounts of extra Combat Strength on their units from Diplomatic Visibility.

 

[Galvatron]

Well, both of those sources are relevant for Religious combat....

Unless of course: war were declared.