Counter-spying

[GiftGruen]

The same old tale: Espionage is useless! But what if we added a counter-spy option (against a specific country like other covert actions) that gave a lot of spy defense against that specific nation, completely cancels claim progress when a claim fabrication from that country is discovered, and gives all spy actions cooldowns when discovered, as it currently happens to all spy actions, without conditions.

Alternatively, disable spy actions from that country against the counter-spying nation completely as long as the diplomat is active.

 

[Fluffy_Fishy]

Would be nice to see added to an espionage rework. I'm not sure if it should entirely stop but make it a longer process, I also think that it would require a diplomat, and the AI can struggle using what it has already so that might be a balance point.

 

[GiftGruen]

Let's face it: This would be mostly an anti-trolling measure against both AIs and other players, and since trolling an AI isn't really doing anything, I don't think the AI would need to use this feature at all.

 

[Fluffy_Fishy]

It would make some of the pinch points on the maps incredibly sought after in multiplayer, places like the pyrenese borders between france and spain. I guess it would make things a bit more historic if morocco stopped spain from annexing the whole of north africa.

 

[GiftGruen]

Uhm, I cannot really see how this would change that situation in any way. Spain gets mission claims and after that they get Holy War.

 

[Fluffy_Fishy]

Bad example but you know what I mean, it would just make things a bit more stable between borders rather than some of the mess EU4 can turn into, although I'm not sure whether I like it or not

 

[GiftGruen]

Holy Wars, but especially Imperialism will still be destabilizing even without claims, so it would just diminish it at best. Also, not every one gets discovered, not every country has the diplomats free for counter-spying. I think the problem with Espionage is that it is only good for trolling, not for actually getting an advantage over your opponent. The only useful covert actions are unlocked by the ADM tree: they're already unlocked at gamestart or very soon after for most nations. Counter-spying would at least alleviate the trolling part. But I admit it's not a very good solution overall.