Whats the deal with the spy?

[Wozza182]

I went and built the intelligence agency. I had like 1600 in the bank so i decided to plant a spy in my enemies and allies cities. Too my amazement I tried about 10 ten times (using all my money) to plant a spy but they just kept discovering me trying to do it? Has anyone else had this problem?

How can i improve my odds of successful placement of the spy in the opposition country? I know Communism helps but I ain't change governments just so I can use spies.

Can anyone comment on this?

 

[panav]

The spy must be a woman...

jk

hmm no idea mate....i ve never had that problem

 

[Chuckster]

I just ran into that problem. I think if you are at war with a country, you can not place a spy until you are at peace with them again. hope that helps

 

[Chuck]

trying to steal my name eh?

 

[Chuckster]

Yeah by replying to that guy's post, I was trying to steal your name....and techincally my mom stole your name when she named me 21 years ago. (Chuck Beuttel) Its funny though because people love to use their own version of my name. Old people call me charlie and young people call me chucky and people my own age call me charles half of the time. So if we were in a legal battle, we'd have to see who had the name first and whether variations of the name still count as the same name.

 

[shirleyrocks]

Originally posted by Wozza182
I went and built the intelligence agency. I had like 1600 in the bank so i decided to plant a spy in my enemies and allies cities. Too my amazement I tried about 10 ten times (using all my money) to plant a spy but they just kept discovering me trying to do it? Has anyone else had this problem?

How can i improve my odds of successful placement of the spy in the opposition country? I know Communism helps but I ain't change governments just so I can use spies.

Can anyone comment on this?

I know that your chances for successful 'infiltration' (or whatever) *decrease* after unsuccessful attempts because now the enemy is alerted to your presence. Wait a little while and then try again. I think espionage, for the most part, is worthless...it costs buttloads of money just to do anything.

 

[Magnus]

Originally posted by Chuckster
I just ran into that problem. I think if you are at war with a country, you can not place a spy until you are at peace with them again. hope that helps

I planted a spy while at war! I was also able to use espionage functions immediately like view the city I was attacking.

 

[Drederick_Tatum]

If you try to plant a spy and fail, then all subsequent attempts on the same turn will also fail. Wait one turn and try again.

 

[Qaz]

I am having the same problem as you are. I try to infiltrate my neighbors and every time I try I get caught. I was finally able to do it agains one of them after many tries on different turns. I am the most advanced nation, culturally and tech, with Democracy as my Gov.

I am thinking that maybe Government type and any treaty agreements that you have might influence your chance of success.

Also I am wondering if a spy gets more successful the longer the spy has infiltrated said nation.

 

[Mack the Knife]

i read that you have about a 50% chance of successfully inserting a spy and if the attempt fails, you are an instant enemy of the victim civilization. i think the thing with communism is that once you've successfully inserted the spy, he/she has a slightly better chance at succeeding in the nefarious deeds (sabotage, propaganda, etc).

 

[jc011]

are your chances better if you send them earlier?

 

[PaulNAdhe]

are your chances better if you send them earlier?

How much earlier? I've never had the Int Agcy all that early to begin with. But, I do start to send them as soon as the Int Aagcy is available.

I've had AI civs declare war when they caught me. Other times they just seem to shrug it off.

 

[Dillo]

I have only once been able to plant a spy, but it seemed to do nothing anyway. but 99.9999999% of the time they are discovered imeadiatly plungeing me into war.