Re: Most useful Intelligence Projects
 

Intel choice depends on taste.

- In general:
Tech theft.

Playing in mondo-huge games, I tend to spend time researching atmospheric plants, research, propulsion, stellar harnessing and so forth while enemies research shields, PPBs, etc. So I steal to fill in the gaps.

- Economic warfare:
Economic disruption /
Resource procurement /
Industrial sabotage

combined w/ biological warfare (colonies will be rioting while they die off) and independent raiding ships. Possibly with space-port smartbombs if you've got 'em. If you wipe out their production base, they won't be able to increase or even maintain a fleet, which makes them easy prey.

- Military:
Crew insurrection and engine bombs. In my experience (PL1, haven't had a chance for PL2 -- been away) it's VERY reliable, even when you target specific ships. That means that if somebody's sending a fleet towards your territory, you can snarf the biggest, meanest ships in the fleet (which will happen at the end of your turn... before the fleet moves against you) and use them to trash the other half. AFAICT, PPP is much less reliable, but when it works (targetting homeworlds) it can be quite nasty, indeed.

Engine bombs are cheap, and a stranded ship is usually worth *less* than nothing to an enemy since it's costing maintenance.

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night