Intelligence and Counter-Intel question (from a newb, of course)

[Zoupa]

Been playing for about a week now. I got the hang of it I think, just won my first game yesterday by a landslide and thinking of getting TDM modpack. The only thing I dont quite get is the Intel/CI interaction. Let's say I spend my 20 000 points of intel per turn on an attack project that costs only 5 000. Would that be considered a 20 000 Intel project? Also for defensive, CI projects, the AI attacks the total amount accumulated, right? Not the per turn you put in it? I'm having lots of fun with this fine game, but I can't seem to figure it out, even after reading the newbie FAQ Thanks a bunch in advance.

Zoupa

[tbontob]

The 5000 project would be a 5000 intel project.

You would then have an excess of 15,000 points to assign to one or more projects.

An attack would be covered by the CI project on the quque on the furthest right. If that is used up then the next CI project will be used to stop the attack.

And yes, it is accumulated CI points. Per turn points assigned to the CI will increase its amount for that turn. [Edit: and for succeeding turns]

[ April 19, 2003, 01:43: Message edited by: tbontob ]

[tbontob]

There is one other aspect of CI projects you may not be aware of.

Not all CI projects are equal.

The points in CI level one will stop 1.2 times the intel attack points.

The points in CI 2 will stop 2.4 intel attack points.

And CI 3 will stop 3.6 intel attack points.

All things being equal, it is better to go with CI level 3 projects.

[Slick]

Ok, first, if you are producing 20000 intel points per turn, then you need to spend them all or they are wasted. If you have 1 project which costs 5000, then that project will be completed and you will have 15000 left over. Like Research, you can divide points evenly (bad idea because points are frequently lost when completing projects) or you can have projects be done sequentially. If you had other projects after (to the right of) the first 5000 point project, they would consume their required points and be completed until the Last one was partially completed when the Last of your points for that turn are expended.

Now for Counter Intel...
As attacks come in, they are blocked with CI points. CI level 1, 2 and 3 blocks points as you read in the FAQ. When CI points are used to block an incoming attack, they are deducted from the CI project. When the Last CI project is lowered to the point where it cannot stop the following attacks, the incoming attacks will succeed. I *think* that any points you are putting into CI for are particular turn are added to your CI project before (not after) the incoming attacks are attempted to be blocked. Whatever you do, DO NOT COMPLETE A CI PROJECT. If you do, you will lose all the accumulated points with no benefit.

Hope this helps.

[edit: beat by a speedy typist ]

Slick.

[ April 19, 2003, 01:51: Message edited by: Slick ]

[Zoupa]

Well, that's the thing. I dont realy know how to manage my Intel points I usually research CI lvl 3 then let it accumulate for a while before going on the offensive. The thing is, if you have a high number of intel points coming in each turn and you dont want to complete that level 3 CI, you have to not spread your points around. That limits you to high level espionnage missions (if you spread them, eventually your CI will complete). I dont think there is a way to have 10 ship bombs a turn, is there?

Also, is there a way to tell, apart from the little green bars, how far along a project is in number of points, whether it be Intel or research?
That would really be helpful IMHO.

And thanks for the quick responses guys. I'm at work now and cant wait to get home to play

Zoupa

[tbontob]

You have expressed our own feeling on the intel scenario.

The trick is to maybe only half complete the CI project.

[EDIT: Or have a number of CI projects which have a low amount of points in them.)

And to my knowledge there is no way of knowing the exact amount in a project. Only when it could be completed in that turn will you know the amount...by subtraction.

[ April 19, 2003, 02:04: Message edited by: tbontob ]

[Zoupa]

Also, let's say you don't invest in that CI and just let it sit. As more and more attacks are defeated by it, will the green bars gradually go down?

Zoupa

[Fyron]

I dont think there is a way to have 10 ship bombs a turn, is there?

Sure, add a second one to the queue. You can have up to 12 projects running at once, and there can be duplicates. They will be treated as totally separate projects.

[Cyrien]

In fact running 10 ship bomb intels a turn has saved my butt on several occassions. Knock out key ships from invading fleets when your own fleets aren't quite upto the task. A few rounds of ship bombs can be nasty.

[Zoupa]

What I meant was there is no way to have 10 ship bombs/turn without investing some of it in CI too

Zoupa