Officially Stumped!

[skalapunk]

I just finished my first BTS game - and I got schooled!

My biggest question is, how on EARTH do I prevent spies from doing missions against me? The entire game I was constantly poisoned, pillaged, razed, and had buildings destroyed, all by spies!

Espionage hurt me more than enemy military units did!

ANY and all tips are greatly appreciated!

 

[Iranon]

Generally, doing anything much about it isn't worth the bother. Once they are available, build the things that give free espionage (if you have more EP, missions against you become more expensive) and maybe run the odd spy specialist, but generally don't assign commerce to it.

Oh, and kill off the Native Americans.

 

[Jimmyballz]

I just finished my first BTS game - and I got schooled!

My biggest question is, how on EARTH do I prevent spies from doing missions against me? The entire game I was constantly poisoned, pillaged, razed, and had buildings destroyed, all by spies!

Espionage hurt me more than enemy military units did!

ANY and all tips are greatly appreciated!

buildings and/or turn up the espionage..

build a Security Bureau, Intelligence Agency, & others that increase espionage %

 

[zbelg]

Turn up your espionage spending a bit, just 10% or so for defense unless you're really getting hit hard. If you know or if you have an idea of whos causing trouble, send a spy into one of their cities and perform counter espionage.

I tend to get hit by espionage the worst when I'm on conquering someone, when I capture a city the AI likes sending spies into the cities I've taken from them and taking out buildings, even stealing techs sometimes. When I'm at war with someone I usually put all my points into them for a little while and keep a spy or two in the battlefield.

 

[Terrance888]

Get Spies and perform Anti-espionage.

Join a Nes!

Spend on Espionage for a few years.

 

[skalapunk]

Join a Nes!

What's a Nes?

 

[TheWilltoAct]

A Never Ending Story apparently......

Sounds uber LAME to me but could be fun

 

[sabo]

buildings and/or turn up the espionage..

build a Security Bureau, Intelligence Agency, & others that increase espionage %

10-4 and may I also add it doesn't hurt to keep one of you own spys in each city you have.

 

[digitCruncher]

I find turning espionage up to 10%, and using VERY little espionage points throughout the whole game will cause the AI to waste tons of hammers using spies, who just get caught. I am currently playing a game where I haven't built a SINGLE SPY unit, and no-one has made a successful espionage mission against me . Its not OPTIMAL game-play, as a couple of well-placed spy units can do DEVASTATING damage (I like the support city revolt (to reduce defences in a city to 0% instantly), and the forment unhappiness (+8 unhappyness, it devastates a city, and is just as expensive and risky as pollute water) alot. Steal techs would also be cool, except I am normally well in the lead for techs )

Security Bearaus, and a VERY SMALL number of spies on the 'hot spots' also helps

 

[Bob-san]

If you don't start a spy war, you won't have a spy war... most of the time. It's inevitable that the AI will create and send spies into your territory. The difference is that very few AI will do the first mission. I've seen Roosevelt start wars with me. I've been in wars with Isabella and Julius Caesar too--as well as a number of others. Spies make sense to wreck their important cities--send in a dozen (stack) to destroy buildings, create unhappiness and sickness, and cause revolt.

 

[Dubai Vol]

Espionage is one more thing to manage i BtS, but as people above have noted, can be worth it.

The first thing to do is always try to keep a lead on your enemies. Go to the espionage screen and see what the % cost for each civ is. If it's over 100%, you are losing the spy war with that civ: try to find ways to make more spy points against them. Use the + button there and weight more of your spy points to that civ. Build the spy buildings for more points, and even turn up the spy slider if you have to.

Also, build spies and let one sleep in each of your own cities. That makes it harder for enemy spies to perform missions. Once you build a security bureau, that takes over the job and the spy is no longer needed in that city.

Keep running the "perform counterespionage" mission on your neighbors. That makes it more expensive for them to attack you.

If all this fails, and a spy gets through, do what I do: immediately attack the most likely suspect and reduce his cities to smoking rubble!

 

[skalapunk]

Very nice and informative tips everyone..thanks so much!

 

[BalbanesBeoulve]

The best method is to take over your landmass. I don't think the AI will send spies on caravels, and if they do, it's very rare.

 

[TheWilltoAct]

And even if spies are invisible caravels are not

 

[FlatFeet]

Hey Skalapunk!

If you just starting playing BTS, I suggest you update to patch 3.13 and then download Bhruic's Unofficial BTS 3.13 patch. Download here!

I seem to remember it helps the AI to not be so spy / corp crazy. Either way, it will help!

 

[Supr49er]

buildings and/or turn up the espionage..

build a Security Bureau, Intelligence Agency, & others that increase espionage %

10-4 and may I also add it doesn't hurt to keep one of you own spys in each city you have.

Actually, if you build a Security Bureau in a city, you no longer need a spy there. Move that spy to your border, or fortify her on a critical resource.

As stated, increase EP against other civs on continents and run counterespionage missions.

Build Privateers and sink any caravel that enters your territory.