Matrix Games Forums

Hello,

Im not sure if this is a bug or just a balance issue.

For some time now having 4 spies in a zone leads to 100 recon level on every zone in that hex. This basically gives you full visibility of all non player units in that zone.

I did a little test on this in a current 4 player game and we found that the non owner of the zone has a better recon level than the owner!!!!!!! even with units on it so suggesting something is not working as it should.

Getting 100 recon level on every hex in a non players zone with 4 spies seems way over powered. I think that getting 100 recon on all hexes should not be possible regardless of the number of spies. I think this should have some systematic randomness where you are more likely to have higher recon on hexs with roads, rail, population, assets etc....(prehaps higher levels on rail > metal > dirt roads), Larger Cities > smaller towns, Less recon level on complex terrain so Forest / Mountains < Swamps < deserts < plains etc..... and less recon as you move away from infrastructure and roads....


Link to example here;
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f67qakn8a5xfz ... e.JPG?dl=0

Owners view on left, Spying Regime on the right....

The Recon Points shown on friendly terrain are minimal or those of the Units (to help you know the recon points of your formations). For all intents and purposes recon on your own hexes is unlimited.

I'll need to know some more context as 30 zone recon points is def. possible. 1d4 per spy. extra 1d4 per spy possible if secretBonus>0. On top of that each 10 points of Regime Recon (by diplomatic contact for example) will give another zone recon point.

I'll need to know some more context as 30 zone recon points is def. possible. 1d4 per spy. extra 1d4 per spy possible if secretBonus>0. On top of that each 10 points of Regime Recon (by diplomatic contact for example) will give another zone recon point.
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Hello Vic,

Ok Im not sure what your saying in the above is

1. how it currently should work or
2. this is a possible way it could work....

Lets start with 1.

1. I havent looked into the mechanics and calcs but as I said in the initial post, I know if I get 4 spies in an enemy zone I will always get 100 recon points on every Hex in that zone....and Im pretty sure this is regardless of the Regime Recon level....

I know 100 recon points on every zone in a hex lets me see all the enemy units in that zone with details on the model types and some fuzzy intel on morale, supply etc...but I get all the units and names - thus allowing me to know exactly which units are in the zone.

In a current game I have 19 Regime Recon points...I have from 4 to 4+ spies in all enemy zones yet I have a flat 100 recon points on every hex in these zones....so Im guessing this would be a bug as it does not seem to be working as you are outlining above

2. If this is how it could work - then I guess we are talking about suggestions and feesback. This post is basically raising all the point I would;

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 7&t=392022

But Ill outline from my perspective.

1. Currently way to easy to get full unit recon in all enemy zones....simply via use of spies and this is military intel. This makes the game far to linear as you always have perfect intel on enemy units and makes recon assets way less relevant....
2. Be good to have some variation say where its easier to build up hex recon on city > rail > road > plains / open > mountains > forests > jungle > cloud forests. For most immersion have a distance decay fuction where ease of recon decreases as you move away from infrastructure....
3. Spies should have greater effect on Economic / Political Intel...be great to add intel in enemy personnel!!!!
4. I think way more "fuzzy" intel on all intel areas - military, tech, economic, poltical, leaders etc would add to the game...loads more potential to expand the tech tree as well!!!! and fuzzy intel based on 2 above....
5. By reducing the certainty on enemy unit disposition it would force less gamey and less linear strategies....

Note: all comments and observations are on games with max FOW setting....

Cheers

Gaz

Looking through enemy zones in a recent game, it seems like an order of magnitude more zone recon is being generated than expected - if I have 12 spies in a zone, they should be giving a maximum of 48 zone recon based on the manual, but the typical amount actually shown in-game is around 300-400.

Can also confirm the experience that just 4 spies is enough to get the 100 recon per hex on a zone consistently. Based on the manual, it's supposed to be more like 20 spies.

it seems like an order of magnitude more zone recon is being generated than expected

Anyone know if spying overstated in the official release? i.e., is this just an issue with the beta test versions?

-Mark R.

Found a major calculation bug and making some sizeable nudges to the rules. Expect things to be much more difficult next version.

Big thanks for persisting with this issue!

Once Oceania is out of the way i'll also be planning for more some more in depth military stuff. (including reconnaissance)

best wishes,
Vic