Hello, here is a long awaited and requested update: the one bringing more actions to the game!
In this update:
Regional Intelligence Bureaus: Focuses Reworked
New actions
Editor fixes
Regional Intelligence Bureaus: Focuses Reworked
The cooldown before the bonuses of a new Regional Intelligence Bureau focus apply is now 3 turns instead of 12 turns.
You will still need to plan ahead and know what you will be doing in a few turns, but it is now less punitive than the old 12 turns paying the upkeep without getting the effects.
4 focuses now unlock special actions:
-The political influence focus unlocks Smear Campaigns
-The Special Operations focus unlocks Guerilla training (testers loved that one)
-The COIN focus unlocks Search and Destroy
-The Military focus unlocks Major Offensive
New actions
Illegals:
This one is for the Soviet player only.
These sleeper agents can remain dormant for years before being activated. Each year they remain underground increases their level by 1.
After one year, the Soviet player may activate them.
Once activated, they provide a bonus to subversion actions equal to their level.
Yes, this means an agent left dormant for 20 years will grant a +20 bonus to subversion actions. Once activated, illegals will lose 1 level every turn. However, if your opponent has the Counter-Intelligence focus, illegals will usually lose 5 levels instead of 1.
Call to the Coalition:
An action the testers found very useful.
It is available in countries at war where you have boots on the ground.
You will call on your allies for assistance, and countries with which you have a defense agreement may send troops to assist you in this country.
Beware: if your alliance is small or its member countries have few troops, it is possible that no one will answer your call. If this happens, you will lose 100 prestige.
And now the 4 actions related to the regional Intelligence focuses.
(remember that the cooldown must be at 0 to use these actions)
Smear Campaign:
Rumors, blackmail, disinformation, dark secrets brought to light...
You will use every tool at your disposal to destabilize this country.
If successful, this action will inflict the "Political Distrust" trait, making the country more vulnerable to subversion.
A successful campaign also reduces Stability.
"Political Distrust" lasts for 12 turns. Once it expires, you may launch another Smear Campaign.
Smear Campaigns are especially effective in democracies, where a free and vibrant press amplifies their impact.
Search and Destroy:
Deploy forces to hunt down guerrilla units wherever they hide.
Successful operations reduce the target's Strength by 1.
However, the last Strength point of a guerrilla with the Extra-Territorial Base, Small Guerrilla, or Sanctuary trait is extremely difficult to eliminate through Search and Destroy operations.
This operation requires both the COIN Intelligence Focus and boots on the ground (Military Advisors or a Military Base count as boots on the ground).
Search and destroy or napalm?
Search and destroy enables you to target a specific guerilla and won't make you lose prestige points.
While Napalm is great for dealing with large guerrillas.
Having both actions in your toolbox will greatly help you whatever the guerilla you are fighting.
Major Offensive:
This action should help you get out of military stalemates.
Using military intelligence, serious HQ staff planning, an important logistic and heavy artillery and air preparation, you will launch an offensive to break the enemy lines.
A success can decrease enemy forces by up to 5 points and the enemy stability by 1.
However, a failure will make you lose 25 prestige points.
Guerrilla Training:
Your special forces can turn any guerrilla force into an efficient war machine, provided they have enough time to train them.
This action can provide a guerrilla force with up to 4 buffs.
However, this training may bear no fruit if the guerrilla force is highly unprofessional, cornered, corrupt, or otherwise unable to benefit from it.
I am sure you want to know the list of new guerrilla buffs, so here it is:
Radios & Signal Training:
Radio equipment and signal training improve coordination between guerrilla units, making them more effective in combat.
Trained Commanders:
A cadre of trained commanders provides guerrilla units with effective leadership and improved battlefield coordination.
Counterintelligence Bureau:
The guerrilla has established dedicated counterintelligence networks, making it harder for enemy agents to infiltrate their ranks.
Standing Army:
Guerrillas organize permanent, professional fighting units, allowing them to field a larger force. Its ranks will also grow faster.
Editor fixes
I won't list all the fixes so far as I usually tell directly the people who reported the issues about the fixes.
I plan to keep fixing, updating, and improving the editor in the months to come.
I hope the new actions will bring more variety in your strategies and that you will enjoy them.
Have fun!
Maestro cinetik