Spy Profession

[okazaki]

I think that Bounty Hunter is the best profession (especially for mid to late game) due to it's built in Surveillance for Bounty Contract.

But sometimes I get in to the mood to try other professions. This time it's Spy.

I find it impossible to survive in early game (in impossible mode) while practicing the occupation. There is no advantage, as far as I can see, starting as a spy. Actually, it may be a handicap starting as a spy, carrying illegal cargo.

Spying with 9 tactics, 9 stealth, 9 pilot, bunch of electronics have about 10% success rate, maybe even less, and about 75% rate of encounters, mostly against patrols, bounty and pirates that will either get you negative rep or get killed.

Maybe in lower levels, Spies have a little advantage, but none in impossible. Even with that, it only makes me wanna try harder and dominate impossible level as a spy.

So my question would be, at what point in terms of abilities (tactics?) would surveillance have a success rate at around 40% or more?

At what point of stealth where encounters would start to noticeably decrease?

How much electronics is effective?

Do Spies have a long-term advantage over other profession?
Since by mid-game, Credits would be easier to come by, and reps is easier to manipulate.

[slayernz]

I've really only used Spies in Impossible - haven't tried any other profession. Yes, there are some distinct challenges when starting out with this class on the hardest difficulty. The first is, as you pointed out, the restricted goods you carry. You don't have enough RP to buy a trade permit. Best best is to cache the items in the nearest wilderness area until you're able to sell (or use them) later. The biggest advantage (at least to me) is the starting stats of the Spy. You start with higher pilot, tactics, and stealth, which are the only three attributes I really focus on. I know though that you can build them up with other captains, and the Pirate is pretty good with Pilot and Tactics as a start.

You need to survive the initial phase of character building by doing the run of the mill stuff - contracts, shortage selling, etc. It's all very tight in the beginning because your fuel consumption is through the roof, and you don't get any class benefits for doing the standard stuff.

However, when you get your pilot and tactics to around 15 - 20, and then get stealth to around 15 as well, you're able to start the surveillance activity with more success. Having electronics is useful in that activity too. Dunno by how much though as I've not really had time to do clinical tests as I was too busy trying to stay alive!!! Getting bonus records from surveillance is useful in the short to medium game, especially in spy wars. Money is "okay", but records are great currency that you are effectively printing. Money for nothing so to speak.

For capture/kill missions, I have purchased the predator tracking array so have the same benefits as a bounty hunter.

[okazaki]

Thanks Slayernz. I was thinking the same thing. I guess I was just too eager to start with my real job and spy prematurely. At the same time, I was doing some testing as to how early does spy have the advantage since it gives you these toys in the beginning. I just got frustrated coz i kept dying (well, literally died twice). And I was so close to getting black heart when an indy pirate got me.

Spy officer is definitely a great addition and the standard mechanic. what would be a good third officer?

[slayernz]

pilot is useful to help when surveillance goes bad and you have an encounter
mechanic useful for the flimsy Solar Sales Consortium product repairs
political officer somewhat useful for selling stuff, although political officer doesn't report on spy wars, only trade embargoes. Hmmm ... sounds like an enhancement request

[Cory Trese]

Military Officer is an interesting compromise for late game. Has some of the BH ability and can save a lot of Credits hitting multiple Ranks above 12.

[slayernz]

I last played a military officer in 2011 ... so perhaps it's time I went back and checked him out

[whitegauntlet]

My favorite class is [by far] the M.O., but, I rarely use him. It gets too comfy after a while.

[boeu]

I've just hit lvl7 as a spy and just stole my new Templar Raider to be my new invisable ship, what upgrade suggestions do ppl have to (stay under the radar so to speak) stay alive?
In on hard atm and the yr is 77.1

[boeu]

Too late

Attachments:

[boeu]

20 minutes later same again

Attachments:

[boeu]

Is pilot for sails and tactics for engines?

[HateSolstice]

I think the Spy needs some real tweaking. But that's only because I want a freakin' intergalactic James Bond.

Open up gambling halls, and give the spy special bonuses for high stakes games. Also make random losses due to some gorgeous but deadly femme fatale causing our man of mystery to get sidetracked.

Plus, he would need political dirty work and national security to keep him busy and paid.

Oh my god, this game would totally need super villains. That would so epic, updating the spy into a Bond type and giving archnemesis to find and stop.

Cory Trese and fallen, make this happen! Space Bond is genius!

[boeu]

Agreed. Spy definately needs an overhaul coz it don't match the other play styles. By right I shouldn't be noticed by factions even with null field. Ok I get enuff aliens with null but I shuldnt be hulled by faction

[boeu]

Was there an end rusult in that thread ages ago about having odd number of sails or even effecting fuel?

[HateSolstice]

I must've missed that one. Why would odd or even numbers make a difference? I would think just the higher of the two would be more efficient.