Based on recent Dev Diaries, it seems likely that the next expansion is going to Espionage related. I have been toying around with some ideas for Espionage-related Civics and Traits that I wanted to share. These are just some rough ideas with no real numbers attached since I don't actually know how the Espionage mechanics will work in the game.
Espionage Civics
Easy-Going Culture (“That’s just like, your opinion, man”)
This empire’s culture is extremely non-rigid with few (if no) taboos on behavior. Xenos from other cultures easily assimilate and find its people welcoming. However, this welcoming and open nature makes them vulnerable to foreign spies. Bonus to migration and espionage activities. Negative on counterespionage activities. Cannot be Xenophobe.
Highly Complex Culture (“Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra”)
This empire’s culture is extremely complex and nuanced requiring a vast amount of knowledge or experience to understand its people. This makes it harder for foreign spies to infiltrate their society but also makes training spies difficult. Xenos also have difficulty in assimilating to this empire. Bonus to counterespionage. Negative on espionage activities and migration. Cannot be Xenophile or Spiritualist.
Ritualistic Culture (“Book of Armaments, Chapter Two, Verse Nine through Twenty-Two”)
This spiritual empire’s culture is steeped in complex rituals that cover every aspect of daily life both in and out of people’s homes. This makes it harder for foreign spies to infiltrate their society but also makes training spies difficult. Xenos also have difficulty in assimilating to this empire. Bonus to counterespionage. Negative on espionage activities and migration. Cannot be Xenophile. Must be Spiritualist.
Cloak and Dagger
This empire has a long and celebrated history of espionage work from the early foundations of their government to present day. However, the preference to working in the shadows has caused their more direct military activities to weaken. Bonus to espionage and counterespionage activities. Negative fleet capacity. Cannot be Militarist. (Design note: Balance idea is that their fleets fight well enough; they just cannot build large fleets. In theory, good for tall empire combined with Cutthroat Politics to dominate the espionage aspects of the game.)
Espionage Traits
Simple Linguistics (“Learn Blorg in 30 Days”)
Sounds used in the language of these people are easily replicated by most other xenos. This makes learning and replicating their language easy. This makes first contact encounters easier and increase effect of envoys. However, it also makes counterespionage activities more difficult. Bonus to first contact investigations and envoy actions. Negative on counterespionage activities.
Complex Linguistics (“Learning Prikkiki Ti Before You Die”)
Sounds used in the language of these people are highly complex and difficult (if not impossible) for other xenos to replicate. It takes years to learn the subtle differences between a pleasant greeting and a vile insult about their mother. This makes espionage activities more difficult but aids them in counterespionage. Bonus to counterespionage. Negative to espionage, first contact investigations, and envoy actions.
Chameleon
Species can change their skin color at will to better blend into the background and avoid detection. Bonus to espionage and counter-espionage activities. Costs 2 trait points. Excludes Shapeshifter and Inept Spies.
Shapeshifter
Species can alter their shape to mimic other biological species of similar height and mass. Large bonus to espionage and counter-espionage activities. Costs 4 trait points. Excludes Chameleon and Inept Spies.
Inept Spies (“Sorry about that, chief. Missed it by THAT much!”)
Negative on espionage and counter-espionage activities. Due to too rigid thinking and lack of imagination, this species makes terrible spies. Minus 2 trait points. Excludes Chameleon and Shapeshifter. FYI, the quote is a reference to the old Get Smart tv show.
Espionage Civics
Easy-Going Culture (“That’s just like, your opinion, man”)
This empire’s culture is extremely non-rigid with few (if no) taboos on behavior. Xenos from other cultures easily assimilate and find its people welcoming. However, this welcoming and open nature makes them vulnerable to foreign spies. Bonus to migration and espionage activities. Negative on counterespionage activities. Cannot be Xenophobe.
Highly Complex Culture (“Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra”)
This empire’s culture is extremely complex and nuanced requiring a vast amount of knowledge or experience to understand its people. This makes it harder for foreign spies to infiltrate their society but also makes training spies difficult. Xenos also have difficulty in assimilating to this empire. Bonus to counterespionage. Negative on espionage activities and migration. Cannot be Xenophile or Spiritualist.
Ritualistic Culture (“Book of Armaments, Chapter Two, Verse Nine through Twenty-Two”)
This spiritual empire’s culture is steeped in complex rituals that cover every aspect of daily life both in and out of people’s homes. This makes it harder for foreign spies to infiltrate their society but also makes training spies difficult. Xenos also have difficulty in assimilating to this empire. Bonus to counterespionage. Negative on espionage activities and migration. Cannot be Xenophile. Must be Spiritualist.
Cloak and Dagger
This empire has a long and celebrated history of espionage work from the early foundations of their government to present day. However, the preference to working in the shadows has caused their more direct military activities to weaken. Bonus to espionage and counterespionage activities. Negative fleet capacity. Cannot be Militarist. (Design note: Balance idea is that their fleets fight well enough; they just cannot build large fleets. In theory, good for tall empire combined with Cutthroat Politics to dominate the espionage aspects of the game.)
Espionage Traits
Simple Linguistics (“Learn Blorg in 30 Days”)
Sounds used in the language of these people are easily replicated by most other xenos. This makes learning and replicating their language easy. This makes first contact encounters easier and increase effect of envoys. However, it also makes counterespionage activities more difficult. Bonus to first contact investigations and envoy actions. Negative on counterespionage activities.
Complex Linguistics (“Learning Prikkiki Ti Before You Die”)
Sounds used in the language of these people are highly complex and difficult (if not impossible) for other xenos to replicate. It takes years to learn the subtle differences between a pleasant greeting and a vile insult about their mother. This makes espionage activities more difficult but aids them in counterespionage. Bonus to counterespionage. Negative to espionage, first contact investigations, and envoy actions.
Chameleon
Species can change their skin color at will to better blend into the background and avoid detection. Bonus to espionage and counter-espionage activities. Costs 2 trait points. Excludes Shapeshifter and Inept Spies.
Shapeshifter
Species can alter their shape to mimic other biological species of similar height and mass. Large bonus to espionage and counter-espionage activities. Costs 4 trait points. Excludes Chameleon and Inept Spies.
Inept Spies (“Sorry about that, chief. Missed it by THAT much!”)
Negative on espionage and counter-espionage activities. Due to too rigid thinking and lack of imagination, this species makes terrible spies. Minus 2 trait points. Excludes Chameleon and Shapeshifter. FYI, the quote is a reference to the old Get Smart tv show.
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