espionage bug/feature

All this would take is another bar below the espionage bar... Counter espionage. Basically it subtracts espionage points (or however it is calculated) from the other race's knowledge of you. This would allow espionage to drop back below advanced level.

I've never stolen a tech, advanced espionage or no.

When I reached advanced and I have more money than I know what to do with I sometimes increase the money in espionage to mad levels (500bc's+) on races who have techs that I don't. It may just be wishful thinking on my part but I seem to steal tech more then, so money still has an effect, I think.

Why not put the money in more research facilities and do the research yourself? It is much faster that way, as well as making it more unlikely they will have a tech you actually need.
I never waste money on spying. All I need to know is what they are putting on their ships, and that info is free.

I would like to see some categorisation of the technology list for a spied-on race not unlike that which we see on the technology tree. Put them under headings, so I don't have to pick them out of a long sentence list.

Or, maybe have an option to view another race's technology tree (however incomplete the information might be).

I put a good idea of enhancing on espionage on the thread called for what you wish in an expansion or something like that, go check it out.

Why not put the money in more research facilities and do the research yourself? It is much faster that way, as well as making it more unlikely they will have a tech you actually need.

Three reasons, 1) No free planetary tiles. 2) At suicidal level the AI virtually always has a tech advantage over u. 3) The techs I steal r usually from the weapon/defensive branches I did not follow. So useless u say? Not so, every tech researched scores u more metaverse points, I believe.

Why not put the money in more research facilities and do the research yourself? It is much faster that way, as well as making it more unlikely they will have a tech you actually need.

Three reasons, 1) No free planetary tiles. 2) At suicidal level the AI virtually always has a tech advantage over u. 3) The techs I steal r usually from the weapon/defensive branches I did not follow. So useless u say? Not so, every tech researched scores u more metaverse points, I believe.

Sorry for double post, got server application unavailable...again...

I think that Espionage should also include something like sabotage. You could bring up a screen and it could show you all the stuff that the opposing race is doing and you could look down the list and find that they are building something that you don't want them to complete and you could try and destroy it...there would be a risk factor...like if you don't succeed then you are caught and you entire espionage investment is cut-off and you can't increase it again for a while without them catching you again. and if you were caught trying to spy/sabotage another race and you fail then your entire civilization gets a moral degrading...unless you and the other race are already at war...

I never waste money on spying. All I need to know is what they are putting on their ships, and that info is free.

the next time your ambassador insults the wife of the enemy civ and you are forced to make war, you wish you would have spent some money on espionage

When I reached advanced and I have more money than I know what to do with I sometimes increase the money in espionage to mad levels (500bc's+) on races who have techs that I don't. It may just be wishful thinking on my part but I seem to steal tech more then, so money still has an effect, I think.

Heh, try forgetting about espionage late in the game, getting around to investing in it, and dropping about 5000bc's into 2 or 3 races at once... you will get to the 'Advanced' level in one turn, even though it will only say you are at 'Low' in the screen that pops up, but the Report screen will say "Advanced"

I never waste money on spying. All I need to know is what they are putting on their ships, and that info is free

Well, being able to see what planets are producing ships the fastest, where their capitals are, and where any other Super Projects or Galactic Achievements they may have built that you feel like liberatting are, I find espionage quite useful! How else do you think I have 4 Hyperion Shrinkers (+160% Miniaturization), and 4 Hyperion Logistics Systems (61 Logistics). The best part is that all I did was planet 1 - 3 influence starbases next to those planets and let influence do it's job.