Team SIGINT

[John Robinson]

Team SIGINT

Cory Trese & fallen design characters with incredible precision.  A victim of my own preconceptions.  
Thinking a Spy was some kind of James Bond agent, I missed the whole point.  I didn't play deep with the Spy before
posting an  Rfe thread to increase stealth, and reduce electronics progression. Having devoted some effort to playing
a Spy, I sure hope my recommendation gets tossed in the circular file.  Instead of rejecting electronics I fully embraced it
with fascinating results

The Spy is not an infiltrator.  The Spy is an expert at orbital electronic surveillance.

 A chess player who must think three or four moves ahead of events, and the people involved in them. 
Anyone can become a Spy, as in chess, it takes years to become a master.  This promises to be
one of the most satisfying characters to play in ST2.

This is a pure spy ship, stripped of weapons. Talents of deception, and navigation defend the ship.
A small fast ship will always be outgunned, and under armored but fast enough to escape.  
A true spy never resorts to torpedoes. You may meet young spies, and old spies, but you will never meet an old spy that relies on torpedoes.
The  "Bolt"  +30 escape talent is kept in reserve in case of forced combat, the juror will take one round of ship damage 
before escaping.

Other advantages of playing the Spy.  Collecting data, while avoiding combat.  Poor morale, injury,  deaths, and desertions are much easier to control.
This keeps costs down but much more importantly allows the crew to develop their rank(11) talents.

This Juror Class ship build was a real gamble that payed off.

	Before			After
1	Bridge 1		1	Bridge 2	No clue what Bridge 2 gets me over 1
1	Medical Chamber		2	Passenger Cabin	Allows 2 passenger missions at a time
2	Valiant Autocannon		2	Small Fuel Tank 4	+38 fuel each
2	Hellfire Torpedo		1	Triple-Arch Signal Array	+50% Bonus spy records
1	Boarding Assault		1	Mass Modulator 4	-160 Mass, -2 Jump
1	Phoenix Lance		1	Mass Dampner 4	-240 Mass
1	Barracks(2) 18 crew		1	Barracks(3) 24 Crew	Max Navigator & Spy crew, add 1 diplomat, 1 doctor, 1 Pirate
1	Cargo I +25 Cargo, +40 fuel		1	Cargo Hold III +36 Cargo, +60 Fuel	Captain is Merchant, Diplomat, more fuel/cargo  = more $ & contacts
	Total Fuel Capacity 95			Total Fuel Capacity 191	Pass thru  enemy quads without refuel, extend spy deck play
	Ship Mass 3325/3400			Ship Mass 2970/3400	Still have significant mass for future mods

Navigators are crucial to this build.  Number one Defense is Navigator Rank(11) talent "Skip off the void"
Build core personnel:

Merchants	2	+1 Captain, +1 Hired
Navigators	5	+4 Crew, +1 Officer
Spies	5	+2 hired from retired spy, +3 Officers
Etechs	6	+3 crew, +3 Officers

Officers

Captain	Merchant	Spy	Diplomat	Bonus +10 Negotiate & Electronics +3 Doctor
Officer-1	Doctor	Spy	E-tech
Officer-2	Spy	Pirate	Etech
Officer-3	Navigator	Spy	E-tech

Fortune smiled on Officer-2 and 3 with the 25% chance of double XP trait.  (Officer 2 was a hidden trait) 

Crew

6	Crew Dogs	3	Electronic Techs	4	Navigators	4	Pilots	1	Engineer	1	Mechanic
1	Pirate	1	Merchant	2	Spies	1	Doctor

Gained +6 crew slots from barracks-3, All 6 available for specialists because fighters were dismissed.
I always hire 2 Mechanics or Engineers.  For some reason no matter how deliriously happy at rank(11)  one will always quit.

Ship Stats

Explorer	0 (+0)	Negotiate	36 (+10)		Officers	(4/4)		Gunnery	(89/0)
Repair	84 (+0)	Intimidate	12 (+2)		Crew	(24/24)		Electronics	(160/22)
Tactics	85 (+5)	Stealth	33 (+2)		Pilot	(81/12)		Navigation	(121/30)
Command	36 (+10)	Doctor	34(+8)		Ops	(110/28)

What about my Spy card deck?
My Team is at level(32) and can add no further talents.  Just noticed this morning a really cool card has been added that I will using in my next build.
This should add 5 more cards to my deck using the same build.

New Card

Cloak and Dagger

Spy(11)

Replace risk card with mission success card

Here is my Current SIGINT Spy card deck

Cards	Talent	Description	Crew/rank
6	Espionage Sweep	When Spying remove a risk card	Spy(1)
5	Wide Sweep	When Spying reroll a card	Etech(5)
4	Clink of Credits	Replace a risk with credit skim or score reward	Etech(11)
4	Swift Sweep	Remove a risk card	Pilot(8)
6	Scouring Search	Replace risk with Intel records reward	Spy(5)
25

What Worked?  
Allot of really fun surprises.  Here are two really important experiences.
1) Spies and Electronics techs talents, and skills mutually support the goals of this build.  Excellent! match made in heaven thanks guys.

2) Careful management of Merchant captain with assistant diplomat provided plenty of cash.  Sure money is nice.  The most important
    thing is the freedom of movement to pursue influence, contact generating, low pay missions and impromptu spying.  It is also buying me time to really
    deeply explorer the workings of spy craft, especially in beginning to understand how contacts are interacting with other people and factions.
    The often unexpected results of the impact of who, and when I take missions.  The subtlety of manipulating the entire galaxy when selling records.
    All this wonderful research would be very difficult if I was chronically low on cash. 

What didn't work?
1) I'm still figuring that out.  The Spy is a new horizon  Now that the team has reached level(32)  along with intensive game study.  In my own crude
    manner I'm trying to stress test the game.  You just never can predict how a player will manage to break the game.

2)  Keep the faith and my mouth shut. Cory and Andrew are always catching me by surprise. I shoot my mouth off before taking the time to see
    what they are really doing. The denizens of ST2 bring a living breathing galaxy right into my home. This is not meant to be understood overnight.
   The best questions will get the best answers and help us all.

3) Intimidation skill rolls.  My builds are always intimidation light.  I would rather not hire a pirate because the only talent of value to me is Icy Stare.
    Every time I fail an in flight intimidation test, (very abundant in number), the result is equipment or crew damage.  This annoyed me,  I wish my crew build had another way
    to pass intimidation tests so I wouldn't waste the crew slot.

What I wish I knew?
I have 2 doctors, 1 engineer, and 1 mechanic aboard.
When I fail an in flight intimidation test are they doing anything to mitigate the damage I take from failing the test?

Recommendation:
If Cory or Andrew were just sitting around one day wondering what they could do for me.  I would ask when choosing initial contacts that 
the "Intelligence Officer" be replaced with the "Retired Spy"

To shorten the length of this thread. I've stored the Team leveling checklist as a spoiler.

SPOILER: Click to show

This group does not do crew/ship combat.
It is a team of orbital spies led by a Merchant Captain.
I noticed selling records to a character will flip neg to positive rep.
It also appears to change the attitude of the Faction towards you.

Officer-1 Is a promoted Etech
Officer-2 is a promoted Navigator
Officer-3 is a promoted Etech

Captain	MERCH	Diplomat	SPY
Officer-1	DOC	Etech	SPY
Officer-2	NAV	Etech	SPY
Officer-3	SPY	Etech	Merch(1)

Talents: That only trigger "When Spicing" are being skipped, my crew almost never spices.
                Spy(5) Character Insight (not used) is really cool, but only good if you take it early, you won't dismiss high level crew.  
                Spy(8) Data Haul Is the most important talent to take.  This is how you replace bad rep with good.
                            Can flip non faction contact to provide services.  
                Replacing Ship Medical with a Spy enhancing component. 

Captain Checklist

Job-1: MERCHANT

Job-2: Diplomat

Job-3: Spy

XP	LVL	Job/Rank	TP	Talent	Description
0	1	Merch(1)	0	x	x
50	2	Diplo(1)	1	__Winning Compromise	Bonus $ (10% + Negotiate) each  step
150	3	D2	0	x	x
275	4	D3	1	__Market Confidant	buy/sell > $5k (10% + Charisma) = New C
400	5	D4	0	x	x
600	6	D5	1	__Upstaged Success	+Contact rep/influ at end mission = Char%
800	7	Merch(2)	0	x	x
1,000	8	M3	1	__bank	use Merch(5)
1,200	9	M4	0	x	x
1,500	10	M5	0	x Garner Favor	> $5k +Rep local faction = Negotiate
1,800	11	M6	0	x	x
2,100	12	M7	1	__bank	use Merch(8)
2,400	13	M8	0	x Righteous Profits	> $5k buy/sell (10% + Negotiate) = Profit
------->	--->	Spy(1)	0	x	x
2,700	14	S2	1	__bank	use Spy(8)
3,100	15	S3	0	x	x
------->	--->	S4	0	x	x
3,500	16	S5	0	x	x
4,000	17	S6	1	__bank	use Spy(11)
4,500	18	S7	0	x	x
5,000	19	S8	0	x Data Haul	(10% + Elect) = +$,  +C Influ = Char%
------->	--->	S9	0	x	x
5,500	20	S10	0	x	x
------->	--->	S11	0	x	x
6,000	21		1	__Secrets Unbound	Enter Orbit (10% + Elect) =  faction recs
		used bank		__High Stakes	Double records
6,500	22	Merch(9)	0	x	x
7,250	23	M10	0	x	x
8,000	24	M11	0	x	x
8,750	25	M12	1	__Clink of Credits
9,500	26	M13	0	x	x
11,000	27	M14	0	x	x
12,000	28	Spy(12)	1	__Generosity
13,000	29	S13	0	x	x
14,000	30	S14	1	__Silver Tongue
15,000	31	S15	1
16,000	32	S16	1	__Wide Sweep
Total	36		13

Hire a  Diplomat from Politician, to increase Negotiate, and add another Upstaged Success talent.
x

I originally had a great design using Doc Spy Etech but was taking
too many failed Doctor and intimidation tests so radically changed the plan

Officer-1:

Job-1: DOC

Job-2: Etech

Job-3: Pirate

XP	LVL	Job/Rank	TP	Talent	Description
0	1	Etech(1)	0	x	x
50	2	Doc(1)	1	__Medical Staff	autopass Doc Check
150	3	D2	0	x	x
275	4	D3	1	__Assisted Care	Reduce Doc bill = (10% + Doc)
400	5	D4	0	x	x
600	6	D5	1	__Life Saver	autopass 1 Death test
800	7	D6	0	x	x
1,000	8	D7	1	__bank	use Spy(1)
1,200	9	D8	0	x	x
1,500	10	D9	0	x	x
1,800	11	D10	0	x	x
2,100	12	D11	1	__Solace in Battle
2,400	13	Pirate(1)	0	x
2,700	14	pS2	1	__Icy Stare
3,100	15	pS3	0	x	x
3,500	16	pS4	0	x	x
4,000	17	pS5	1	__Bank
4,500	18	pS6	0	x	x
5,000	19	pS7	0	x	x
5,500	20	pS8	0	x
6,000	21		1	__ Menace Demeanor
6,500	22	D12	0	x	x
7,250	23	D13	0	x Secrets Unbound
8,000	24	D14	0	x	x
8,750	25	D15	1	__High stakes
9,500	26	D16	0	x	x
11,000	27	D17	0	x	x
12,000	28	D18	1	__Faked Signature	autopass Bounty Hunter test
13,000	29	D19	0	x	x
14,000	30	D20	1	__
15,000	31	D21	0	x	x
16,000	32	D22	1	__
Total	32		12

Dumping Med module replacing with Triple-Arc Sensor array component
x

Officer-2:

Job-1: NAV

Job-2: Etech

Job-3: Spy

XP	LVL	Job/Rank	TP	Talent	Description
0	1	Nav(1)	0	x	x
50	2	N2	1	__bank
150	3	N3	0	x	x
275	4	N4	1	__bank
400	5	N5	0	x	x
600	6	N6	1	__bank
800	7	N7	0	x	x
1,000	8	N8	1	__Talk of far Worlds	Spicing (10% = Nav) = New Contact
1,200	9	N9	0	x	x
1,500	10	N10	0	x	x
1,800	11	Nav(11)	0	x Skip off the Void	autopass ship combat (2pts)
2,100	12	Spy(1)	1	__Espionage Sweep	remove risk card
2,400	13	s2	0	x	x
2,700	14	s3	1	__bank	use at Spy(5) (3pts)
3,100	15	s4	0	x	x
3,500	16	s5	0	x Scour Search	Spying replace risk with reward card
		used bank	0	x Character Insight	Landing can discover crew trait
4,000	17	s6	1	__bank	use at Spy(8)
4,500	18	s7	0	x	x
5,000	19	s8	0	x Data Haul	Bonus rec $, =/- Contact rep = Char%
5,500	20	s9	0	x	x
6,000	21	s10	1	__ bank	Spy(11) (2 points)
6,500	22	s11	0	Secrets Unbound	Enter orbit (10% + Elect) = +recs local faction
		used bank		High Stakes	Spying double recs
7,250	23	Etech(1)	0	x	x
8,000	24	e2	0	x	x
8,750	25	e3	1	__wide sweep
9,500	26	e4	0	x	x
11,000	27	e5	0	x	x
12,000	28	e6	1	__bank
13,000	29	e7	0	x	x
14,000	30	e8	1	__Listening Post	Urban Land (10% + Elect) = new C
15,000	31	e9	0	x	x
16,000	32	e10	1	__Character Insight
Total	32		12

x

Officer-3:

Job-1:  SPY

Job-2:  Etech

Job-3: Merch(1)

XP	LVL	Job/Rank	TP	Talent	Description
0	1	Etech(1)	0	x	x
50	2	Spy(1)	1	__Sly Move	autopass Stealth check
150	3	S2	0	x	x
275	4	S3	1	__Espionage Sweep	Spying remove risk card
400	5	S4	0	x	x
600	6	S5	1	__Scouring Search	Spying replace risk with +Recs card
800	7	S6	0	x	x
1,000	8	S7	1	__bank	use Spy(8)
1,200	9	S8	0	x Data Haul	+ $ = recs sold, +/-  Influ = Charisma%
1,500	10	S9	0	x	x
1,800	11	S10	0	x	x
2,100	12	S11	1	__Secrets Unbound	Enter Orbit (10% + Elect) = +recs local faction
2,400	13	e2	0	x	x
2,700	14	e3	1	__High Stakes	Spying Orbit = Double records
3,100	15	e4	0	x	x
3,500	16	e5	0	x
4,000	17	e6	1	__bank	use Etech(8)
4,500	18	e7	0	x	x
5,000	19	e8	0	x Listening Post	Urban Landing (10% + Elect) = New C
5,500	20	e9	0	x	x
6,000	21	e10	1	__ bank	use Etech(11)
6,500	22	e11	0	x Clink of Credits	Spying replace risk with $ or recs
7,250	23	e12	0	x	x
8,000	24	e13	0	x	x
8,750	25	Merch(1)	1	__Market Confidant	> $5k (10% + Charisma) = New Contact
9,500	26	e14	0	x	x
11,000	27	e15	0	x	x
12,000	28	e16	1	__Faked Signature	autopass Bounty Hunter test
13,000	29	e17	0	x	x
14,000	30	e18	1	__Bolt	Ship +30 escape 3 Turns
15,000	31	e19	0	x	x
16,000	32	e20	1	__Character Insight	Discover crew trait when landing
Total	32		12

x

[LordofSyn]

Damn fine work John. Mighty fine indeed. I was playing a spy before the last update locked out my save. When I went to try and open it to continue, it switched to the screen you get when your captain is dead. Major bummer. But this insight will help with my next spy.

[fallen]

John Robinson - all of the +1s are yours! So glad that the Spy really shone for you once you invested in them, and you see why we are set on Electronics as a key skill. Very exciting build and really cool, I love that you made it all the way to 32 in a small ship built to avoid combat, that's fascinating play.

To answer your question -- if a Skill Save (like Intimidate) fails, then no other Skill is tested to reduce the negative results.

[fallen]

Jul 1, 2017 17:36:05 GMT -5 LordofSyn said:

Damn fine work John. Mighty fine indeed. I was playing a spy before the last update locked out my save. When I went to try and open it to continue, it switched to the screen you get when your captain is dead. Major bummer. But this insight will help with my next spy.

Just to be sure it is clear, the last update was marked as "all saved games null and void". So this is expected behavior and was included in the update "What's New" text.

[LordofSyn]

Oh, I missed that particular line. I am not upset, I figured it would happen eventually

[bobc]

You could try the Zealot for your intimidate save instead of the Pirate.  They have a couple of nice non-combat talents too, one prevents a crewmember from deserting and another that increases mission reputation.

Nice write up too, think I might have to try a spy next!

[grävling]

I would rather not hire a Pirate because the only talent of value to me is icy stare?

I can see that you don't see a great need for Barrel Roll as you want no ship combat at all, but should you ever get attacked by something that manages to close on you, you will be glad to have it. I think that Menacing Demeanor is something you want as well. And Faked Signature is like Skip off the Void for Bounty hunters, which also doesn't damage your ship.

[grävling]

If you are going for a spy build, and have room, hire more pilots. They have a nice talent where you get to remove a risk card when spying. And they have a whole lot of nice talents for the rest of the time.

[Officer Genious]

Jul 1, 2017 17:44:29 GMT -5 bobc said:

You could try the Zealot for your intimidate save instead of the Pirate.  They have a couple of nice non-combat talents too, one prevents a crewmember from deserting and another that increases mission reputation.

Nice write up too, think I might have to try a spy next!

But where can you buy Zealots...?

[LordofSyn]

That's a Damn good question

[MintDragon]

John Robinson i think you defined the model for sharing strategy/build paths amongst players. Thank you for sharing your insight and knack for logically breaking down approaches to strategy games.

[bobc]

Officer Genious I think you can get Zealots from an ex-mercenary.  I usually add them as an officer job though

[LordofSyn]

Jul 2, 2017 3:02:44 GMT -5 bobc said:

Officer Genious I think you can get Zealots from an ex-mercenary.  I usually add them as an officer job though

Thank you. I was unaware of this as well.

[bobc]

LordofSyn check out the ST2 Wiki thread above, it has a stack of links to a wealth of information, including Contact Services, Traits and Talents. The TB are generating the tables direct from the game, it's an awesome asset to any Captain

[grävling]

re: 'No Clue what Bridge 2 gets me over Bridge 1' -- more soak, and I believe that should you get shot in ship combat, and the bridge is the target, you will take less damage/your captain and officers are less likely to end up dead -- should you be playing at a difficulty level where this is an issue.