(NOT A BUG) Early Espionage

[vedoreus]

The manual says that espionage becomes available with the alphabet tech.
But as you can see in the screenshot the espionage-slider is already in place in 3400 BC, and set at 40% to accumulate ESPionagepoints!.

 

[homan1983]

I think with alphabet you get to build spies for active espionage, but you get the slider with the 1st person you meet or something.

 

[vedoreus]

Maybe, but the culture-slider e.g. is not available because the specific tech isn't discovered.

 

[lroumen]

You can do some basic espionage before you reach Alphabet. I do not think that this is actually a bug, but more something that is ill-explained in the (very brief) manual.

 

[ainwood]

Yes, this is actually a game design feature. The palace actually provides espionage points, so as soon as you meet other civs, you can assign espionage points for counter-espionage, even if you can't do any espionage missions yourself. This is to provide people who chose different early tech paths with at least some defense against someone who rushes straight to espionage.