Scientists/foreign spies

[Snoofleglax]

Just got the game a couple weeks ago, and really enjoying it, but one thing that's kind of irritating me a bit. I've been playing as Human for a few games, and it seems that more often than not, when a scientist pops up, one of his traits is "Foreign Spy". Like, right off the bat. The last four scientists I've gotten across two games have all been foreign spies.

Now I don't know how often the AI does the "Steal Technology" spy mission, but that doesn't seem to be a good trait for a scientist to have.

Is it common for scientists to be foreign spies, am I just having a run of bad luck, or is there some factor that I'm not aware of that affects how often scientists are foreign spies?

[onomastikon]

Hi snoofleglax and welcome to the forums!

Although I have never played the humans, most of the scientists I have gotten have not had this trait, so it may just be luck. With that being said, I believe that over 50% of the Personae I have "recruited" have all had some significantly debilitating or otherwise hindering trait (e.g. most of my admirals are poor space logicians or drunks). This is just part of the game (for good or ill).

I really like your handle (snoofleglax) by the way.

[Ralzakark]

Think it might be just a run of bad luck. You can also get a trait of 'Partiot' which reduces the chance of enemy spying missions.

[Dracus]

it is funny when you get the neg trait after winning a battle. Mostly the one poor shooting.

[jpwrunyan]

I thought it was a race trait thing. Nearly all my human spies started with corrupt for example. So I stopped playing humans. All my Securian and Ikuro scientists were also foreign spies (even if the scientist was from another race). Likewise I think all my securian admirals started with poor tactician. Kinda doubt it was just bad luck. At best its a bad random procedure (ie not random) at worst its by design.

Anyway, I think it sucks.

[Shark7]

Basically its the offset. That is there is no superman when it comes to leaders. While many of them have some truly great traits, it is not uncommon for a leader to have a quirk or a really bad trait.

This is very true of human nature as well.

[Beag]

Funny enough, in all my Zenox games I usually get patriots, which is good since I often have plenty of tech for others to steal.

[Kayoz]

ORIGINAL: jpwrunyan

I thought it was a race trait thing. Nearly all my human spies started with corrupt for example. So I stopped playing humans. All my Securian and Ikuro scientists were also foreign spies (even if the scientist was from another race). Likewise I think all my securian admirals started with poor tactician. Kinda doubt it was just bad luck. At best its a bad random procedure (ie not random) at worst its by design.

Anyway, I think it sucks.

Why not just dismiss them if they suck? I thought the spawning process was such that events have a possibility of producing - leaders. Victories in space gives you a chance at an admiral, construction of research facilities has a chance of making a scientist.

So, just dismiss the losers, scrap a couple of research facilities and rebuild them. Rinse and repeat till you've spawned another.

Or just dismiss the drunken traitor. You aren't losing anything if his net bonus is negative. When another spawns, great. If not, you're still ahead on the deal.