Recon and espionage

[searcheagle]

One of the essential elements of the game that is in the game but still lacking is reconnaissance (Recon). The only way to do that in the game now is through tedious micromanagement of either espionage or moving units in loops to gain advanced warning of ships and units outside your borders.

A slider for espionage missions: The more money you put towards espionage, the more successful your spies in getting information (along with spies other uses). Also if the opposing gov is more "open" then it should be easy to get info about the city. If there is freedom of the press, the press releases information on military buildups in certain areas, production, etc. And the better espionage would lead to better predictions about where an attack will come from, what country, what province, etc.

Satelites: Satelites would reveal portions either the whole globe or parts of it to the country that either has space flight or launches them into orbit. THe mechanics of this I am unsure about. However, they have to be in here.

Patrol: This would be an ability for all units to use. This would create a track for the unit to follow until either there is use for it elsewhere or it spots an opponent unit. This would reduce the total number of required.

Recon and espionage are essential parts to an invaision- this neglect in these areas cannot continue!

 

[Waiguo_Chaoren]

I really like this idea. Perhaps more money into espionage can help reduce the chances of internal dissent, especially under Communist/Dictatorship governments.

How about the patrol function also extending the visible range of units?

 

[warpstorm]

Have you tried "Steal Plans"?

I do like the effectiveness being tied to government choice of the target.

 

[Colonel]

i would want to have the satelite be able to reposition to a certian area of there country and u would be able to launch more than one and make it so it just like buildin something maybe the same amounts of shields as a ICBM in civ3

 

[searcheagle]

@Warpstone: Steal plans requires a lot of gold each turn (My current game required 4700 gold). This is too much to use except in extreme cases after my coffers are full.

 

[searcheagle]

I would like to see a slider for espionage, not individual missions as the current civ has. This would reduce micromanagement.

 

[ybbor]

well satalites already does reveal the entireworld, and you can always use stealth/jet/regular fighters

 

[searcheagle]

@ ybbor: That only reveals the terrain, not the units that a country has. And having to use (valuable) fighters in recon not air superior or bombing missions is part of my complaint- its too much micromanagement. Recon and espionage are the only way to prepare for the future.

 

[xiaoafei]

Yeah!
A spying satelite will be very cool, just like in real world.

 

[ybbor]

@ ybbor: That only reveals the terrain, not the units that a country has. And having to use (valuable) fighters in recon not air superior or bombing missions is part of my complaint- its too much micromanagement. Recon and espionage are the only way to prepare for the future.

it reveals the units in that square, and fighters weren't designed for bom,bing, that's why they fial so much when they do

 

[searcheagle]

But it only reveals what is in the square for one turn (and even less that that if decide to bomb there). I'm talking a long term solution, not micromanagement for every turn.

 

[sir_schwick]

It sounds like this would be a good place to revive the SMAC satellite system. You would start off with a basic satellite program(Small Wonder, possibly Apollo). As techs develop you could get several types (All would require Satellites). Some could only be built a limited number of times, others indefinite amounts:

(Computers, Ecology)
Radio Telescope - Max of 4, 500 Shields, each increases Research prod by 5%, produces 3 cpt, cost 10 gpt
Atmosphere Probe - Max of 1, 300 Shields, gradually reduces pollution in cities, 4 cpt

(Miniturization, Ecology)
Geological Satellite - Max 1 per city, 500 Shields, increases food production by 2 w/Ecology, 4 w/Recycling or Genetics, and 6 w/Recycling & Genetics for Statellites target city. cost 10 gpt

(Miniturization)
Spy Satellite - Unlimited. 400 Shields. Sees all terrain not in a city and units not in a city in a 3 tile radius around target square. cost 10gpt

(Robotics)
Communication Satellite - Max of 2 per city. 600 Shields. Increases trade by 20%/50%. Adds 4/9 happy faces. All this in target city only. generates 3/7 cpt. cost 10/25 gpt.

(Robotics & Synthetic Fibers)
Radio Telescope - Max of 2. 700 Shields. Plus 10% research. 50 rpt. 20 cpt. cost 15 gpt
GPS - Requires 2(Tiny), 4(Small), 6(Normal), 8(Large), 10(Huge). 600 Shields. When complete, aircraft get +2 range and ships get +2 movements. Also increases effectiveness of bombard attacks.
Advanced Spy Satellite - Unlimited. 800 Shields. Gain complete knowledge of terrain, city improvements, happiness, and units in a 4 square radius from target square.

 

[Punkymonkey]

I think the current system whereby if you plant a spy in a civ you know all the military units they have, and if you steal map you get to see see where everything is to be really effective right before an invasion. Realtime data on terrains(not really realtime but permanently revealed terrain) would slow the game down immensely if abused and needs a viable alternative like limiting the amount of spy satellites or making them expensive to maintain. As most are not geostationary, you would have to set a path around the globe you would like and would be a cool concept but difficult to implement. I guess you could just make them orbit in one spot but it could become pointless if the conflict shifts from that spot and you couldn't move it anymore. Perhaps a self-detonator???

 

[sir_schwick]

My satellites already orbit in one spot. That spot is chosen based on the satellites target city(Weather Satellite, Communication Satellite) or a spot you choose to get the coverage you want for spying,etc. The assumption that all these satellites is geosynchronus(spelled wrong i know) has to made because Civ 4 will be turn based. All satellites have Computer navigation and would be able to make self-corrections and move. If you didn't want one anymore you could deactivate it. This would cause it to stop accrueing costs and decay into earth orbit(maybe a nice shooting star graphic the turn they burn).

How could spy satellites be abused and slow down the game? They provide constant real-time information(in game terms you have no fog of war). It is supposed to replace spys in the late game, who now can be used to find nuclear weapons, certain production items(Wonders), and carry out covert attacks against nation-states and their cities.

I meant to put in their that Adv. Spy Sat. cost 10 gpt per satellite