Heavy Problems with Spies (Full Version)

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Dregula -> Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 12:07:23 PM)

I have reactivated DWU and use the bacon mod 1.75 along with Starfall 1.12 corrected (I use not the *.txt files from bacon, because they interfere with Starfall).

I have contact to one Pirate Fraction only (its early game, i researched the Warp drive shortly). I have cancelled the "Protection" from the Pirates because they are military weak and could not harm me.

But now the pirates send spies. I can't build any station, because the new station nearly instant explodes due sabotage. My Agents capture an Spy, then this spy escapes TWICE. Few minutes later one of my Stations explode. When i try to rebuild, sabotage and BOOM.
What the hell can i do? Is this a bug? Eventually because the mod combination? I don't remember such problems with my games years ago.



Aeson -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 1:15:17 PM)

As a caveat, know that I have never used any version of the Bacon mod.

Factions that like you are less likely to send their intelligence agents out to blow up your stations. If you have a pretty good idea of which faction is sending the spies, you can try to sweeten them up (get a protection agreement or buy stuff from them), you can try sending out your agents to assassinate their agents or blow up their stations (risky for your agents, especially if your agents are worse than theirs), or you can try to wipe them out with your space navy (not feasible in the prewarp era and usually not feasible until you have something better than warp bubble generators).

If you don't have a good idea of who's attacking you, you can do the same things as above, but blind, or you can hope that your empire produces one or more characters with a decent counterintelligence score and starts killing off the saboteurs. Beyond that, there's not really that much that you can do to counteract sabotage.



Dregula -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 2:10:02 PM)

Hmmm... Is it possible, that the spies come from the Ancient Guardians? They are cautios with +2 to me. And this could explain the strenght of their spies, because they are technological advanced. I have send one of my spies to the pirate fraction to steal their map. Then i tried to set a kill mission to a spy. But the pirate fraction have no spy.



zebanovich -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 3:05:48 PM)

Sorry to say but what I would do is start a new game because you already lost too much time trying to get the spaceport built which is so important in early game.



Aeson -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 3:07:53 PM)

quote:

Hmmm... Is it possible, that the spies come from the Ancient Guardians? They are cautios with +2 to me. And this could explain the strenght of their spies, because they are technological advanced. I have send one of my spies to the pirate fraction to steal their map. Then i tried to set a kill mission to a spy. But the pirate fraction have no spy.

As far as I am aware, none of the technologies in the game affect sabotage, assassination, or espionage missions, and I'm a bit doubtful that the Ancient Guardians would go after you if relations are at +2; they're one of the more aboveboard empires in the game, and I'd only really start to expect the directly-harmful covert ops to start up somewhere around -10 or -20 with most empires.

Thinking about it, you might not be able to directly target intelligence agents for assassination; I seem to recall being unable to target space stations for sabotage without having it on the map, and spies might be handled similarly. Offensive covert ops aren't really my thing, though; maybe someone else can say more.



Dregula -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 3:36:32 PM)

@zebanovich:
This is my third game. The other two i had given up because this Problems. In every game it is so. :(

I could try a game in Vanilla, but i more likely the mods. :)

I play on this game, because nonetheless i am in a good condition.



zebanovich -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/9/2018 6:54:22 PM)

It could be due to a mod, but impossible to tell for sure.

If you really wan't to play the game with good mods here are 2 which I'm sure everyone will suggest you.
(can't post links so try to google out following)

"AI Improvement Mod (1.05 Extended Release)"
and
"Distant Worlds Extended Universe 1.0.3 released 40 races"

the first AI mod should include the 40 races mod, but just in case if it doesn't install both mods and change theme to AI Improvement Mod.

I play with these 2 mods all the time, it's must have stuff :D



RogerBacon -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/11/2018 1:43:17 AM)

Having a captured spy escape twice is pretty rare. The default chance is only 2% if you didn't adjust it. Are you by chance using a European keyboard that uses commas as decimal points? I thought I accounted for that but if not, then the 0.02 chance might be being read as 2, which would be 100% chance of escape.

Try building the smallest base you can. Then you can upgrade it. It is much harder to blow up a completed base than to blow up a base under construction. Other than that, it's probably just a string of bad luck.



Dregula -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (12/11/2018 12:59:36 PM)

I have not edited any file. I have found out, my own spies escape with 100% chance too. Which file contains the informations? Then i could have a look into it. Your Idea with decimal points etc. sounds interesting. :)

Yes, i have reduced the small spaceport to a minimum. Now i have much colonies, which build all there stations, the enemy spies can not destroy all oft them *g*
But its annoying. I don't like the spionage stuff anyway, but now its terribble for me. I wish there where an option to disable spionage.

EDIT:
Have found the setting. When i set all to 0, then should all captured spies be killed, or? This setting i would prefer. I don't think, as it is a problem with decimals, because all setings are made with ".", and they are okay. :)

I have begun a new game with standard theme, only with bacon. Would see, waht happens now.



Hattori Hanzo -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/18/2019 4:25:16 PM)

why not simply pay the protection fee to the Pirate faction that send their spies against you [if you have captured one of these spies you should know by now who is the one that send them..], grow-up without interferences and when ready destroy as usual those annoying Pirates.. ?????



Timsup2nothin -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/18/2019 4:45:06 PM)

In my admittedly limited experience I've seen this happen. I think the pirates just 'picked a high card' and popped a good spy. The more he succeeds, the better he gets, so the galaxy is stuck with him, and in the early game you might be the only empire his pirate masters have to use him on. My solution was to just keep building stations. The spy was blowing up mining stations, and since he kept blowing up the same one as long as I kept rebuilding it my other constructors just went about the business of building other stuff I needed. Eventually either their superspy gets KIA, or they broaden their horizons and send him to blow up someone else's stuff for a while. Just a bump in the road.



Retreat1970 -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/19/2019 7:51:23 PM)

Hattori is right. Pay the protection. Problem solved.



Hattori Hanzo -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/19/2019 9:13:01 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Retreat1970

Hattori is right. Pay the protection. Problem solved.

thanks Retreat.. [:D]



Shogouki -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/22/2019 5:51:51 AM)

Pay off the pirates?! Never! [:D]

I hope DW2 has a better way to recruit spies (as well as other heroes) as starting the game with a crappy spy is extremely difficult if you are near a pirate clan with an ace spy. A system like MoO2 would be cool for recruiting heroes.



Timsup2nothin -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/22/2019 3:23:57 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Shogouki

Pay off the pirates?! Never! [:D]

I hope DW2 has a better way to recruit spies (as well as other heroes) as starting the game with a crappy spy is extremely difficult if you are near a pirate clan with an ace spy. A system like MoO2 would be cool for recruiting heroes.


On the other hand, starting the game with an ace spy makes things pretty easy...or at least turns whole parts of the game somewhat irrelevant. I put very little effort into exploring already. Even moderately capable spies mean that stealing the galaxy maps of every pirate clan I meet will reveal the entire map anyway, and long before I could possibly see much of anything no matter how much effort I put into it.



Shogouki -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (1/22/2019 3:37:58 PM)

This is very true!



ElanaAhova_slith -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/13/2019 2:31:06 AM)

This has happened to me several times. Hate it. What has worked for me is to play only species that have decent spys. Humans = spy +15% etc. While I'm not elated being restricted to a small subset of species - its better than fighting a spy war that I can't even see happening until bases blow up.

A work around would be to use the console to add a spy, and keep trying until you get a good one - and delete all the others you created using the console (game editor?).



Aeson -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/14/2019 12:13:40 AM)

quote:

A work around would be to use the console to add a spy, and keep trying until you get a good one - and delete all the others you created using the console (game editor?).

You can use the game editor to give yourself characters, including spies, it's true. If you do, though, you might as well edit the first character you create to ensure that it has the skill(s) and trait(s) you want on it as well, rather than wasting time randomly generating a bunch of characters until you get one that does what you wanted.

[image]local://upfiles/46000/FE17CE7DC7F54E389476169D5124EE43.jpg[/image]

Edit Empires => Characters tab => Edit Characters => (select a character) => Edit Skills and Traits



Retreat1970 -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 2:59:49 AM)

Again, pay the pirates. It's not much. Problem solved. Or is there a pride issue here?



Hattori Hanzo -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 11:19:36 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: ElanaAhova_slith

This has happened to me several times. Hate it. What has worked for me is to play only species that have decent spys. Humans = spy +15% etc. While I'm not elated being restricted to a small subset of species - its better than fighting a spy war that I can't even see happening until bases blow up.

A work around would be to use the console to add a spy, and keep trying until you get a good one - and delete all the others you created using the console (game editor?).

what you exactly mean when you say: "use the console to add a spy".. ????? [&:]



ElanaAhova_slith -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 12:37:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hattori Hanzo


quote:

ORIGINAL: ElanaAhova_slith

This has happened to me several times. Hate it. What has worked for me is to play only species that have decent spys. Humans = spy +15% etc. While I'm not elated being restricted to a small subset of species - its better than fighting a spy war that I can't even see happening until bases blow up.

A work around would be to use the console to add a spy, and keep trying until you get a good one - and delete all the others you created using the console (game editor?).

what you exactly mean when you say: "use the console to add a spy".. ????? [&:]

Console = game editor. Sorry, Fallout and Elder Scroll games call it the console, my bad. In DW:U it's the " in game editor." It's one of the options in the drop down menu when you hit the escape key. Pause game first. Once in the editor, select add character (for your empire). Select spy, AND the location you want your spy at. Then click the edit character, and a dialog window listing all your characters appears. Select your new spy. How to do it is shown a few post before this one.



Hattori Hanzo -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 12:52:34 PM)

thanks for your reply [:)]
I know the Game Editor in DW:U, but I never used it to modify anything in my saved games.
I cannot play this way, it is like to cheat in my opinion.
I prefer to try to solve the issues with "legal" means.
in the above situation, paying the Pirates fee in the beginning of the game until you get stronger it's safe, more simple and 100% satisfaction guaranteed.. [:D]



ElanaAhova_slith -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 2:57:20 PM)

H Hanzo: Generally I agree with you. However, consider cases where the random generation algorithms produce an unworkable situation. I like challenges, but starting with a solar system almost devoid of resources, and being critically short of almost every resource is not my idea for a game. I usted to restart, and restart until i got a system with at least half the resources not orange-ed out in the expansion planner. Waste of time.

So, instead, I edit home system to have a reasonable start. I'm just helping the RND god do its thing. RNG = random number generator.

I feel the same if I start next to more than four pirate bases. Try paying off FOUR pirate gangs at start. Such fun!

AND,if I don't have one decent spy, why bother? Read the post that started this thread = hopelessly outmatched by enemy super spies right at the beginning. Again, not the game I want to play.

Now, if the spy vs. spy aspect of DW:U was a little more transparent - maybe. But its not. It's not balanced. So, as long as I moderately adjust my starting system - I don't see it as cheating - just helping a less than ideal generation process. Of course, each of us live in our own universe, and may play any way we wish. Carry on Commander.



Retreat1970 -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 8:21:33 PM)

Elana, all of us have been where you are a long time ago. We know how to beat the game without the editor. Listen to us we'll help.



ElanaAhova_slith -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 8:29:40 PM)

Of course. Retreat, advise advise away!



Retreat1970 -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/15/2019 8:37:54 PM)

My advice then? play something else



ElanaAhova_slith -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/16/2019 3:38:24 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Retreat1970

My advice then? play something else

Always such kind people here. Well, almost always, 'hero.'



Hattori Hanzo -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/16/2019 4:08:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ElanaAhova_slith
Of course, each of us live in our own universe, and may play any way we wish. Carry on Commander.

absolutely yes Elana, this is out of the question !!!

I personally consider this kind of discussion a way to compare the different styles of play and - why not ? - an incentive for me to learn and/or experience something new.

I learned a lot from very expert older players like Retreat1970, and I will never cease to thank him for the massive amount of advice that has greatly shortened my learning process of Distant Worlds some years ago.. [:)] [&o]

having said that, no one claims to have the "Truth in his pocket" and, as you rightly say, each of us is obviously free to enjoy himself as he sees fit.

cheers Admiral



Retreat1970 -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/16/2019 2:15:49 PM)

"I used to know how to play Distant Worlds. I still do, but I used to too."

Anyone who knows the comedian that's based off of gets a dollar. Hint: He died in 2005.



ElanaAhova_slith -> RE: Heavy Problems with Spies (3/16/2019 8:33:46 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Hattori Hanzo

quote:

ORIGINAL: ElanaAhova_slith
Of course, each of us live in our own universe, and may play any way we wish. Carry on Commander.

absolutely yes Elana, this is out of the question !!!

I personally consider this kind of discussion a way to compare the different styles of play and - why not ? - an incentive for me to learn and/or experience something new.

I learned a lot from very expert older players like Retreat1970, and I will never cease to thank him for the massive amount of advice that has greatly shortened my learning process of Distant Worlds some years ago.. [:)] [&o]

having said that, no one claims to have the "Truth in his pocket" and, as you rightly say, each of us is obviously free to enjoy himself as he sees fit.

cheers Admiral

Hi H H. I played years ago. Started with Return of the S... All thru Universe. Beat the game several times. - without using the editor. Back then it was just "ElanaAhova." Couldn't get back on w that - so new handle in use. I learned alot from the old crew - who mostly don't seem to be around anymore. Alas. Enjoy exploring distant...



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