Gaining Access to Spies

Not far into the technology web, you gain access to Computing, and, thus, the Spy Agency. Once building that is completed, you access an entirely different mechanic of the game: covert operations. Your Agents let you harvest free Energy and Science from your rivals, grab extra Units, attack enemy Cities, or even gain control of another person's City.

This chapter tells you how to recruit and use Agents. Become a master of covert operations, and take your play to an even higher level.

Gaining Access to Agents

Unlocking Agents (Quicklist)

• Research Computing
• Construct the Spy Agency building
• Use the Covert Operations screen to assign your Agents

Computing is on the first circle in the tech web, but it's more expensive than the other choices in its tier and requires at least 1 other tech to reach it. Don't grab this immediately unless you really know what you're doing. It's better to collect a few vital Research items so that your cities have something to construct while you build up toward Computing.

Once you're ready, research Computing, and have one of your production Cities build the Spy Agency. As soon as this is complete, you get your first three Agents. All three start out as Recruits, the lowest of three skill levels. You must then figure out how to distribute your people. This chapter explains what you can do with them a bit farther along.

You eventually get access to even more Agents. These are given as Quest rewards as you progress through the game.

Ways to Get Extra Agents or Improve Their Actions

• Complete the Feedsite Hub Quest "Hearts and Minds" (option for +1 Covert Agent)
• Complete the Covert Ops Quest "Special Delivery" by establishing a network (option for +1 Covert Agent)
• Complete the CEL Cradle Quest "By Our Powers Combined" (option for +1 Covert Agent)
• Take Information Warfare: Tier III Knowledge Virtue (+1 Covert Agent)
• Complete the Surveillance Web Quest "Big Brother" (option to have Covert Agents advance faster in rank)
• Take Special Service: Tier II Might Virtue (+40% Intrigue from Covert Operations)
• Complete the Covert Ops Quest "//Redacted//" by performing a high-level operation (all Agents automatically become Special Agents)
• Receive the Tier II Virtue synergy bonus (+1 Covert Agent)

Agents can be killed while on assignment, but the number of slots that you've unlocked remains consistent. Slain agents are replaced over time, so you always return to your maximum number of Agents eventually.

There are three types of locations for your covert agents. You can send them to one of your Cities (counterintelligence), to a rival's City (on assignment), or leave them in their Headquarters. There are advantages to each.