Spies - more than just watchtowers with legs

[bandicoot]

Probably a stupid question and something that already exists that I never knew, but is there any way to mod the scripts for the effect that having a spy has on your own towns?

I think spies in general are one of the more wasted units out there and could have more potential/value if they could be used as a secret police network increasing the Authority of your existing governors.

Part of the reason for this suggestion is I'm a little frustrated with a few of the silly hoops I have to jump through with a monarch to get them to increase their authority whereas having a spy network in your capital seems like a logical way to actually increase authority.

Mucho gracias.

[Kjertesvein]

Using spys eventually gives your faction leader the retinue Spy Master (or an equivalent name). This perk gives the leader (iirc) 1 + personal security and + 1 command. So this should cover that field, at least in the de jure sense. De facto - adding X authority bonie to the Spy Master shouldn't be that hard tho. That is, if you're determined to mod the change.

Spys are probably the best agent there is (except for the diplomat). They make boat rides through misty pirate waters and forest army travels much safer. With them, you can see the enemy before you're ambushed, stop, and go around the danger. They also protect your nobles from opportunistic assassins and spys. They even cause unrest in non-allied settlements - Not only by leaflets campaigns (resulting in uproar), but are also excellent in delivering local plagues from one settlement to the targeted victim/city (the art of biological warfare). The last function + a priest on a foreign religious city can easily bring it's administration to it's very knees and into anarchy.

The indirect bonie to the spy, is that it doesn't effect your diplomacy. When you use the assassins, your faction leader gains dread. When you use diplomats, your reputation will go from mixed to rock-bottom if you make one wrong move, but with spys it's a different ball game. The other faction doesn't care. So their training is harmless. The only reason not to use the agency, is the fact that it makes the governor a tad more corrupt via the brothels.

The easiest way inorder to raise authority is to make the future heir/monarch fight and win 3 battles. You can monitor this (inexperienced commander, proven commander, etc.). There are also swords + over-lordships out there (like Palma on Balearic Isles providing 1 authority). If you're in a dire situation right now, then there is one emergency trick up the sleves.... This is how you do it: When you're joining a crusade you press the "join crusade" -button. Now unpress this just afterwards. Continue to join/abandon crusade over and over and over... As you go on, this person will eventually end up getting the following nick-name: [first name] the Saint. This not only give the character 2-3 authority, but also 2-3 chivalry which is good for governing. But, it's a double edge sword. It may give the faction leader unmovable Crusader retinues. This means that you'll get (1-4) worthless retinues that you can't throw away. The second reason not to do this, is that it can hamper your mil/gov -point script (if it's activated).

As I said, the simplest ways to hold authority is to make sure your sovereign isn't afraid of blood, has a clean faction credit history and keeps a healthy devotion to his personal religion.

~Wille the Excessive Writer

[Tokus*Maximus]

Dang it Wille!

That fantastic post of yours in reply to Bandicoot's question should be in a game event all of it's own. Instead of the out-of-game-context historic tokus*pics I orignally did for Repman many years back, we ought to collaborate upon a series of DLV game mechanic events; a series of your extremely revealing aspects of the game mechanics you type so excessively well in partnership with these well sourced Tokus*event images (with graphical mini-icons).

Top marks!

[Kjertesvein]

Hah, like a "Ask a hermit"-pop up once in a while. The player accept a random/one of many subjects (espionage, corporatism, diplomacy, etc.).

~Wille

[Tokus*Maximus]

Aye, it would really spell out game mechanics in an exciting clear way as people play - really underline the mechanics. Explaining in an informative but entertaining way (that you write so well) what other affecting qualities of priest, spy, assassin characters do, how to train fighting generals, how certain traits manifest, what to do to turnaround civil war, how to attract the different guilds, why crusaders leave after 2 or so turns, how to buy off other factions...

...and all the incredible ways of tackling different problems in the DLV game. I'd be delighted to assit with suitable well formed event pics with each one.

Shall we start a devthread in the mini-mods to gather the best ones?

[bandicoot]

You guys should get a hotel room or something.

Thanks for the info though. I did know much of what you mentioned but have never had the opportunity to use the spy as a bacteria bomb as for some reason or other I've never been hit with a plague in DLV.

The fighting and winning 3 battles are the artificial "silly hoops" I was talking about having to jump through to get an Authority increase. Same goes with the "Saint" option - I had noticed you can trick the game into traits like the Saint trait, but I didn't know about all of the potential fallout you mentioned.

I appreciate the help but I try and shy away from cheats, but if I ever do go that option I'll do so just before enabling nukes. For now, I'll stick with pitching stakes right inside my gates when I'm besieged and I tweak the trait bonuses for spymaster and the like.

Thankee

[lafeeverted]

That sounds like a great idea There is just so much information/knowledge needed to get the most out of this game with DLV and other mini-mods. It is all available on the forums but centralizing it and integrating it into game play would be such an enhancment.

[Tokus*Maximus]

That sounds like a great idea There is just so much information/knowledge needed to get the most out of this game with DLV and other mini-mods. It is all available on the forums but centralizing it and integrating it into game play would be such an enhancment.

I utterly agree...

Take it away Wille - ready to make the eventies...

[Kjertesvein]

Now as bandicoot has clearly run for the hills, this thread is ours!

It's now up to myself to dig up some elaborative posts as well as any others who either wish to help out or just ask genuine questions in that thread.

~Wille

[bandicoot]

@ Silvilo...

Sorry Pirate Bob, but I don't follow the reference to genuine questions (although I do admire the creative use of underlining).

What giveth with that reference?

[Tokus*Maximus]

Shall we moot a new thread in the mini-mod section Wille? 'Game mechanic explained events - please post your for consideration'...?


EDIT - OOPS - just spotted the DLV Hermit thread - ignore this post of mine gang! heh