Help as Spy

[Zer0Winds]

Finally got up, then wondered why I got up, sat back down, and decided to unlock spy/zealot. I've mostly just been too lazy. ANYWAY, I got spy, since it's the most time consuming, I think, and I tried playing a Rychart Spy... well, I'm not doing a very good job... surveillance is never successful, destroys rep, and the cost of fuel outweighs the gains in spying.

Any tips?

In the meantime, I'm getting zealot.

[starfixer]

For surveillance success, you could be doing it too early. Get some contracts first, gain rank and death warrant and permit with everyone, then do surveillance later in the game. Also invest in Tactics and Stealth, and have a ship with a good amount of Engines. Having some Electronics and a Spy Officer helps as well, but not necessary for success alone later in the game.

For reputation, just do it during a spy battle and have rank and warrant with both factions. Make sure to sell records back to the faction you are spying on and don't trade with anyone in an embargo. You should gain rep with both parties of the conflict. Spy Officer will increase reputation during Spy Battles. Varying locations in deep-space help in preventing morale loss. Experiment and see which location leads to the slowest rep loss during surveillance.

For profits, invest in Pilot to decrease fuel-consumption. Your ship also matters. FAST/QUICK ship or lots of crew will waste fuel. Having Spy Officer, Electronics, Stealth and Tactics will increase records generated for each surveillance. Being over a planet vs deep-space can make a difference also. More records = more profit. Omni-stealth array might help also, or at the very least decreases encounters which are good for spies.

Get a ship with high hold, a decent amount of engines, not both FAST and QUICK, not high crew, not high hull. Invest a small amount in Intimidate also.

I think based on your problems you are not waiting long enough. You cannot do blockades or surveillance from turn one or you will fail. You need to wait a little, as you become more successful as time passes.

[Zer0Winds]

Got it! Thanks!

I'm doing okay as a Zealot right now, so I'll try what you said for spy.

[poryg]

For surveillance, it's never a bad idea to have some tactics. I usually customize my build to have 30 tactics, that is enough to success in about 40% (if we count in the encounters with ships), and about 80% (if we exclude the encounters with ships).
If you become a torper, then the numbers will increase as well, because stealth helps reduce the ships encounters.

Also, be careful, if you begin participating in spy battles while having a too low reputation with the faction you are spying for (during spying in a spy war there are two factions - one is spied on, second one is spied for), you can get to negative reputation after with the faction you are spying for after you sell the records! It happens sometimes when your reputation is under 15.

[starfixer]

Aug 1, 2016 9:29:42 GMT -5 poryg said:

For surveillance, it's never a bad idea to have some tactics. I usually customize my build to have 30 tactics, that is enough to success in about 40% (if we count in the encounters with ships), and about 80% (if we exclude the encounters with ships).
If you become a torper, then the numbers will increase as well, because stealth helps reduce the ships encounters.

Also, be careful, if you begin participating in spy battles while having a too low reputation with the faction you are spying for (during spying in a spy war there are two factions - one is spied on, second one is spied for), you can get to negative reputation after with the faction you are spying for after you sell the records! It happens sometimes when your reputation is under 15.

You must be starting too early as well then. I have at least 95% success for surveillance and my Tactics is way lower than that. I do have a 62 Engine ship though.

[poryg]

Aug 1, 2016 12:24:42 GMT -5 starfixer said:

Aug 1, 2016 9:29:42 GMT -5 poryg said:

For surveillance, it's never a bad idea to have some tactics. I usually customize my build to have 30 tactics, that is enough to success in about 40% (if we count in the encounters with ships), and about 80% (if we exclude the encounters with ships).
If you become a torper, then the numbers will increase as well, because stealth helps reduce the ships encounters.

Also, be careful, if you begin participating in spy battles while having a too low reputation with the faction you are spying for (during spying in a spy war there are two factions - one is spied on, second one is spied for), you can get to negative reputation after with the faction you are spying for after you sell the records! It happens sometimes when your reputation is under 15.

You must be starting too early as well then. I have at least 95% success for surveillance and my Tactics is way lower than that. I do have a 62 Engine ship though.

My goal is to level up as quickly as possible, so I begin with surveillance around 66 AE, in the worst case around 75 AE. 

[starfixer]

Aug 1, 2016 15:37:47 GMT -5 poryg said:

Aug 1, 2016 12:24:42 GMT -5 starfixer said:

You must be starting too early as well then. I have at least 95% success for surveillance and my Tactics is way lower than that. I do have a 62 Engine ship though.

My goal is to level up as quickly as possible, so I begin with surveillance around 66 AE, in the worst case around 75 AE. 

Yeah success would not be too high at that time. Though its still the way to go if you want to level up as quickly as possible.

[poryg]

The best thing is, quite a lot of builds require some tactics, so my 30 tactics are often well worth it in the end.

[Zer0Winds]

What type of ship should I use? Also upgrade to consider getting?

[poryg]

And what do you intend the character to do?

[Zer0Winds]

Try to remain undetected, mostly, but can still fight if needed. And spy of course.

[poryg]

And in the end you have answered yourself your question... In a way.
Being detected is affected by ship's attributes, but only minorily. What is more important is captains build. If you want to remain undetected, there is nothing better than stealth. If you want to fight, grab some torps. Simple. If you add Omni stealth array, even better... The only thing you should look at is decent cargo hold (100) and stats of the ship suitable for conflicts. 
But if you ask me, it's useless to try to stay hidden. The rep loss from fighting enemy ships is far from being enough to negate reputation gains.
So in conclusion, just bring your regular battleship and have fun.