Research effects of Spying and Intelligence

[DoXiTXxX]

I have a question on Spying and Intelligence research, I checked the manual but found no answer. Are the effects of Spying and Intelligence against the enemy alliance cumulative? For example if Germany, Italy and Japan all have level 1 Spying and Intelligence is the negative effect on the enemy just 1% or is it 3%, and then if all 3 make it to level 3 would it become 3% or 9%? Also does the American and Soviet Spying and Intelligence work against the Axis research prior to those countries entering the war?

[John B.]

I've wondered that myself. I also wonder if there could be a decision event regarding ultra when the French surrender. the Brits can invest in Betchley Park and get an automatic increase in their spying and intelligence level. And, perhaps the Soviets should start one level higher given their outstanding spy network.

[Hubert Cater]

It takes into consideration only the highest applicable Spying and Intelligence level and only considers those that are fully mobilized.

Hope this helps,
Hubert

[BillRunacre]

Hi

If you look in the Manual at section 9.2.5. Spying & Intelligence it should hopefully answer your questions. [:)]

[ringoblood]

Thank you Bill, for pointing us in the right direction i was wondering my self and could not find it. Thanks [;)]

[DoXiTXxX]

Yes it is, it`s at 9.2.5, I somehow missed it, but thanks a lot.

[Christolos]

So there is no apparent then reason to invest in this with multiple majors at the same time if the idea is to get just one of them to level three, and once this is achieved, all it takes to negate it by the other side, is from them to also have one major power be at level 3 as well.

So for example, is it right to say that there is no point in investing say one chit each for Germany, Italy, and Japan?
The only advantage in doing this that I can think of, would be in the event that Japan or Italy, may suddenly be in a better position than Germany to invest the second or third chit, and so having them all at level 1, gives the Axis some flexibility in determining who will get the second and third chits. Is this so?

Cheers,

C

[John B.]

But I think it also gives the power that has the spying and intelligence a boost to their own research efforts.

[BillRunacre]

It also increases your chances of spotting enemy units, so while having one Major invest heavily is a good thing, if they all invest in it then you'll have a better idea of enemy movements throughout the game.

[Christolos]

Hi Bill,

It seems by your answer that John B. is right in that it also gives the power that has the spying and intelligence a boost to their own research efforts. Is this so? If so, then it makes sense to invest with all powers, right?

Thanks,

C

[BillRunacre]

Yes, from a research point of view having one concentrate on it helps more, but from an intelligence perspective, having them all do it helps more.

[Christolos]

Thanks Bill, but because you said that having one power concentrate on it helps more, I'm still left wondering whether there is some lesser research bonus to any power that has even one chit invested, regardless of how many chits are invested by the other side.

For example, if Germany, Japan, and Italy, each have one chit invested, and the UK, Russia, and the US each have one chit invested; does any of them get a slight research bonus? I'm thinking that none of them get any research bonus at all, and that the only way to get a research bonus for one whole side, in this case, would be for that side to have one of the powers invest a second chit, right?

Thanks,

C

[BillRunacre]

That's right, if everyone is on the same - including the enemy, then there is no bonus. So having one Major concentrate on it can be wise, although you need to choose wisely (e.g. Italy may not be a good choice as it is the most fragile Axis Major).

[John B.]

Now I'm confused about what I think are three different effects of spying an intelligence. As I understand it, the effect of reaching a higher level on spying and intelligence is that you (a) see more units and (b) you get a boost to ALL of your research efforts (e.g. anything you have invested a chit in such as fighters or tanks). The higher level, and third effect, also gives a boost to your allies research, but only for their efforts to reach your level of spying and intelligence.

But, for the first effect of seeing more units, the game only applies the actual highest level of intelligence reached by either side. So, if Italy is at level 1 and Germany is at level 2, then the game will apply Germany's level in seeing other units, Germany will get a level 2 boost to its attempts to research other technologies and Italy will get a level 1 boost to its attempt to research other technologies and will get a little bit of an extra boost in its attempt to research spying and intelligence from the fact that Germany is at a higher level.

Am I right?

[BillRunacre]

Hi John

Not on the first point, as the Spying & Intelligence research for spotting units doesn't just pick your highest, all can count there. It's only with research that they are competing.