Re: MEPBM: agent strategy

From: jaede@acsu.buffalo.edu

Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000

To correct and clarify a few points ...

(1) Assassinating is easier than kidnapping.  GSI has confirmed this.

(2) Patrick McGehearty raises the important point of nation relations.
This is crucial.  Downgrade your prospective targets RIGHT AWAY.
Conversely, target nations should downgrade the enemy agent powers as soon
as possible.  This is especially crucial for the Gondors in both T.A.
scenarios.

(3) Building an agent power or two should be a team effort, and the
willingness of teammates to cooperate on this is probably the single most
important measure of team effectiveness and cohesion.  Transfer agent
artifacts to the nations with stealthy characters.  ENCOURAGE gold thefts
by friends unless you are in dire straits.  A theft from a non-gold
producing camp yields only a couple hundred gps but the full 1-10 point
skill advancement.  Find the big agent artifacts imediately and get them
to characters who can use them.

(4) Remember that information is as important as your agents' skills.  Get
a double-scout nation to detail you a permanent assistant for your agent
company.  Coordinate with emissaries and double your opponents.  Think
twice about killing off your double agents even when presented with a
golden opportunity.  Also -- double friendly agents and encourage your
allies to double yours.  It makes them harder for the enemy to double and
gives you a heads-up if the enemy succeeds.

(5) As an agent power, make a collossal nuisance of yourself with your
teammates if you have to to get their cooperation on artifact, etc.  They
will thank you later when you show them that agents are the most powerful
characters in the game.

(6) Remember what will reveal you to the enemy: a high challenge rank on
their pop centers, a high-profile artifact they are tracking, a scout in
the hex you are in, a rumor of a recent agent action.  Because of the
first you may not want a challenger in your agent company.  Stealth will
provide some protection against scouts and pop center sightings, but it's
not reliable, especially if your have a high challenge rank.  Also,
starting characters are more likely to be spotted.

(7) Finally, a few super agents are generally better than a lot of
mediocre ones.  At about net 110 (agent rank + artifacts + stealth) an
agent starts to be a thoroughly reliable assassin.  Below that the agent
will sometimes succeed but will often fail, sometimes fatally.  Especially
when hunting army commanders, load the artifacts onto one or two
characters.

Good luck,

Mark

References

Re: MEPBM: agent strategy
Rick Fletcher <rfletche@dnaent.com>
Thu, 26 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: MEPBM: agent strategy
Patrick F. McGehearty <patrick@convex.COM>
Fri, 27 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Hyborian War #596
UK05647@ukcc.uky.edu (John Lewis)
Mon, 16 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: MEPBM: agent strategy
Rick Fletcher <rfletche@dnaent.com>
Thu, 26 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Re: MEPBM: agent strategy
Patrick F. McGehearty <patrick@convex.COM>
Fri, 27 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Hyborian War #596
UK05647@ukcc.uky.edu (John Lewis)
Mon, 16 Dec 1996 00:00:00 +0000