Spying

[Hartmann]

Is it really worth it? It speeds up research by 1% per turn and lowers your enemy's research speed by the same amount. A chit costs 150 MPP though - I feel these MPP are badly needed elsewhere in the beginning (especially for the UK), while later, when we might be able to spare them, the most important stuff is already researched (and thus the acceleration effect espionage has on research becomes less and less worthwile).

I'm not sure about it, though - what do you guys think?

[Razz1]

I do it for the chance of a break through in research after 45%.

For me at this point in time, YES.

[Hartmann]

ORIGINAL: Razz

I do it for the chance of a break through in research after 45%.

For me at this point in time, YES.

You're right, I forgot to mention that additional benefit. In effect, spying speeds up research. Speeding things up makes sense if otherwise I fall behind or if I have more money than I know what to do with. The thing is, though, that I neither seem to fall behind without spying, nor do I not need the money for other things like reinforcing or purchasing (or even researching other things than spying). That's why I'm not sure whether it really pays to speed research up through spying.

Btw I *think* spying also affects how many "intelligence reports" of enemy unit placements we get.

[Heavensmith]

I'm in the habit of always keeping one chit invested in Spying. I feel like in the long run the speed boost really helps (I got Lvl 4 tanks in 1942 already as Germany).

Also, I'm pretty sure it affects the number of enemy units that get revealed at the beginning of each turn. I find those to hardly ever be of value though, except for HQs or transports.

[Hartmann]

Yeah, the intel is really randomly all over the place - rarely something important (except subs, of course). I also tend to keep one chit in spying, but I begin with this relatively late. I think, though, that if spying has value, it should commence as early as possible.