Duggold:
Originally, the counter-intelligence system was one-for-one against enemy projects. Well, actually there was originally NO counter-intel in SE IV! The beta-testers were not pleased, and howled until something was added.
In the first counter-intel system, you "bought" a counter-intelligence project and it destroyed one intelligence project directed against you. Because this was not working well, it was changed to a sort of "hybrid" with the old SE3 system. Now, the POINTS you spend on counter intelligence are counted against the points that your attackers are spending. So, they get "used up" preventing the other guy from making progress instead of accumulating directly. Only if you are spending MORE per turn that the other guy will you actually finish the project.
There is still a relationship between the number of counter-intel projects you are running and the number of intel projects directed against you, though. Even if you're spending more points than all the others against you, if they have more projects in the works they can still win a few.
[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 17 November 2000).]