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Two questions about this research option:

- Is there any difference in results for a player (say the Central Powers) in having a Level 2 in Spying and Intelligence for the Germans, versus a Level 1 for Spying and Intelligence for two of your major powers e.g. Germany and Austria-Hungary?

- Do different Major Powers have different intelligence sources? Thus, if the Ottomans have a Level 1 in Spying and Intelligence, does that produce different results for the Central Powers player than if the Germans had a Level 1?

Michael

For research purposes, Germany having the highest level in this is probably the best because if Germany surrenders then everything is lost, whereas the Ottomans may surrender in which case Germany would lose out on their boost.

However, each Major's success assists in the spotting of hidden enemy units, so there is a benefit to having the Ottomans research this too.

Hi Bill - let me rephrase my question. Do different Majors spot different things using spying and intelligence? Or if any of the major powers has a 1 level in this function, it will yield the approximately the same results each turn.

Cheers,

Michael

Yes, they do spot different things, so the more that have it, the more you should see. [:)]

My understanding is that each level gives 1% chance to reveal each enemy unit.
So if GE is at S&I 2, AH is at S&I 1, and Otto at S&I 0 then the CP turn start will check every Entente unit and have a 2% chance followed by a 1% chance to be revealed.

I thought the research bonus applied individually for each country. Is there no research benefit to researching spying for austria/ottomans if Germany already has level 2?

In my last game as Central Powers I had Germany, AH and the Ottomans research spying up to level 2 and I definitely saw an increase in intel. The popups also show you from which country (Germany, AH or Ottomans) the intel came.

The intel is fairly random and not always terribly useful (got several reports on a US detachment in Washington while America was still neutral) but others were quite helpful. Like intel in real life, I suppose.

Research Benefit and Spotting are different functions that both use S&I.

Research Benefit is gained only if your S&I level is greater than all of the opposing powers S&I level. So for defensive purposes (i.e. denying your opponent a benefit) only the power with the highest level on your side counts. Multiple powers investing in it does have the benefit of increasing the chance of 1 of them leaping ahead via a breakthrough.

If an individual power gets a Research Benefit because it's S&I level is higher than all of the opponents, it only applies to the power itself and does NOT provide any benefit for allies.

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Unit Spotting is directly based on simply having a level greater than 0 for S&I, and is checked for each power on the active (i.e turn taking) side individually. If UK has S&I 2, France S&I 1, Russia S&I 0, Serbia S&I 0, and Italy S&I 0, then there will be 2 checks for each CP unit to be revealed, 1st check is 2% chance and the 2nd check 1% chance.