question about technology stealing

[apocalypse105]

I have a question about technology stealing.

I just noticed in maddjinn lets play of venice :
that he was continue spying on the same civ withouth getting cought.

It seems that the AI doesn't bother to put a spy as counter intelligence in his capital when they know a unknow person is stealing from them. Does the AI only use a spy for counterespionage if they cought you spying and they know who it was (you).

Is this changed in the patch? Because i have the habbit to move my spy after i stole a technology even though they don't know it was me.
because I thought that as soon someone steels they will put a spy in the capital.

So basicly my question is should I move my spy from a Ai capital if I captured a technology even if they don't know it was me. To avoid getting killed

 

[Beaver79]

That is a good question, but you are implying that the AI is smart. I think you are giving it too much credit.

I haven't looked at the code so I have no proof but I haven't noticed it doing that. I always move mine after I get caught the first time. Or sometimes I don't, it's a good way to pick a fight.

 

[chazzycat]

There is certainly a bit of luck involved. If your first theft is successful and you get promoted, odds are much better that the next few thefts will also be successful. If not then you're in for a tougher slog.

The AI certainly will put spies on defense and kill you, this happens to me quite frequently. But if the first one is successful, usually that means you can get 2 or 3 before getting killed. So typically I will look to move my spy after a few thefts in a row, not just one.

Of course it also depends on which AI actually has techs that you need and how big their capital is relative to the rest of their empire (which determines the "potential" value).

 

[Barghaest]

The AI tends to put a spy in their capital sometimes and will place a spy if they are aware of people stealing tech... I tend to locate a secondary city of AI to steal from and there's less risk (especially when they aren't informed I've stolen anything).

 

[apocalypse105]

The AI tends to put a spy in their capital sometimes and will place a spy if they are aware of people stealing tech... I tend to locate a secondary city of AI to steal from and there's less risk (especially when they aren't informed I've stolen anything).

Well that was my question if they aren't imformed it was you will they still move spies?

 

[Barghaest]

Depends. There's a chance you get no message about tech being stolen, a chance you don't know who but know where and a chance you know who and where. If the AI knows where, it will generally move a spy, but there's no way to tell if they get this message. Even if they do place a spy, a level 1 spy has about only a 30% chance of catching you.

A lot of times I get no message and I'm pretty sure AI is spying on me because they're gaining fast in tech (can track via CS quests or 25 turn status screens) and other times I'll see messages of them stealing tech where I have a spy (sometimes a level 3) posted and still miss killing them.

 

[apocalypse105]

Depends. There's a chance you get no message about tech being stolen, a chance you don't know who but know where and a chance you know who and where. If the AI knows where, it will generally move a spy, but there's no way to tell if they get this message. Even if they do place a spy, a level 1 spy has about only a 30% chance of catching you.

A lot of times I get no message and I'm pretty sure AI is spying on me because they're gaining fast in tech (can track via CS quests or 25 turn status screens) and other times I'll see messages of them stealing tech where I have a spy (sometimes a level 3) posted and still miss killing them.

Yeah thats because if you steal a early tech like optics its olmost impossible to catch them.

The faster you can steal the smaller the change of getting cought so basicly you have to steel early early techs and after that when you got promoted techs like banking chivalry , printing press

The reason why he left his spy in the video was because it was LV 3 i thinx still wierd the Ai didn't kill his spy

 

[UTBear]

Is there a reason for putting your spy in the capital? Can you steal technology just as easily from another city, with less chance of spy defenses?

 

[apocalypse105]

Is there a reason for putting your spy in the capital? Can you steal technology just as easily from another city, with less chance of spy defenses?

Only put a promoted spy LV 2 or 3 in you're capital for counter espionage because they have more change of killing of spies.


The speed of stealing depends on the amount science a city produce so basicly high population cities are good spots

 

[UTBear]

Great, thanks.

 

[Barghaest]

Is there a reason for putting your spy in the capital? Can you steal technology just as easily from another city, with less chance of spy defenses?

Depends on value of the target... sometimes the capital is NOT the best science city but it usually is for AI. I tend to go with a slightly lower value city for less risk (less likely AI with have a spy parked there since all other AI will be sending spies there as well).

 

[Dardis]

I only move the spy after they make me promise not to spy. You're only considered to have broken your promise if a spy takes a further tech.

There's a trade off here as the setup time for establishing surveillance is 3 turns, so not moving the spy shaves 3 turns off your next steal. The flip side of this is that if your theft is caught, then moving when they AI raises it with you costs you an extra turn. But a potential saving of 3 turns makes the gamble more favourable towards leaving the spy in place.

 

[njmfff]

I still have no clue how Renessance Attila can manage to steal from Atomic Era me, while I have 3rd rank spy in my capital, const\police stations in all cities and NSI? Yet he still manages to steal my techs, sometime even several before he is even identified\killed? o.O

but me stealing AI's tech? No way, it's usually 70-80 turns and I am certain that AI has no const\police stations? and I don't steal from tech leaders, usually from second or third guy.

 

[Barghaest]

Bad luck. Even a level 3 spy has less than a 40% chance to catch and kill an enemy spy.

 

[Callonia]

Never send spies to steal tech from Order cities or you will regret it.

They're impossible to steal tech from.

I have 100% failure rate. So many dead elite spies.

However, Autocracy, Freedom, and non-aligned cities is fair game.

 

[njmfff]

Never send spies to steal tech from Order cities or you will regret it.

They're impossible to steal tech from.

I have 100% failure rate. So many dead elite spies.

However, Autocracy, Freedom, and non-aligned cities is fair game.

Yeah, I know, but it seems that it's just my bad luck. It happens even before ideology kicks in. Worst thing is, AI usually tells you he'll stop, then continues to steal from you. You can either denounce him or declare war on him, which makes you the bad guy, especially if you are friends. Would be nice if other AIs knew why are you denouncing him, kinda to send them a warning. ("This guy is a thief!")

Bad luck. Even a level 3 spy has less than a 40% chance to catch and kill an enemy spy.

Well as long as Attila is happy stealing Sailing.