cooperative intelligence

[Dogboy]

If an ally devotes points to cooperative intel, does this add to my total or just add to the points I'm spending against enemies? Also, does defensive intel take effect immediately? i.e., if I devote massive intel this turn, will that apply to stopping intel attacks in the coming results file? Finally, does defensive intel build up, or is it lost if no one attacks?

[Captain Kwok]

It only adds the points to your offensive total. For example, if your ally has dedicated 20% of their 10000 total intelligence points to cooperative intel, you'll get 2000 extra points towards your offensive intelligence spending.

[Dogboy]

That is very helpful. I'll pass it on to my players!
Thanks, DB

[Dogboy]

Um...couldn't that result in infinite intel?

Say my ally and I both have 2000 points to spend. We both assign 1000 to defense, 500 to coop (targeting each other) and 500 to an attack. My 500 points to my ally becomes 750 because 1/2 his 500 coop goes to my coop. Which means his 500 becomes 500 + 750/2 = 875, so mine becomes 750 + 875/2 and so on...
That sounds crazy. I bet it only applies to attacks, so we each get an attack of 500 + 500 coop = 1000, right? But...then the total is no different than if we never helped each other. I'm missing something here, I fear.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I think (Not actually knowing) That the cooperative intel is a bonus, not an increase, to attack intel.

It also seems to not be useful with less than three empires in the treaty.

[Captain Kwok]

You only get the assigned percentage of points that they are producing, of which any bonus points from cooperative intel are not included. The cooperative points you gain are never seen in-game, but exist only in the intel script that runs during end turn processing.

If both players have cooperative intel to each other at the same amount, then it's a wash and not worth it. The main benefit of cooperative intel is for one party to contribute points to intel attacks via another empire, so that they are not implicated against the target empire.

[Dogboy]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand one thing: Say I have cooperative intel level 5 which gives me a bonus (+25%, I think) and I assign 1000 points to an ally. Does this effectively give him 1250 points (though they don't show up)? If not, what is the benefit of researching cooperative intel?
Also, does my ally's cooperative spending show up as "Intel used against you" from an ally?

[Captain Kwok]

Yes, if you had level 5 then you'd be effectively giving your ally 1250 points for every 1000 you spent on cooperative intel.

I'm not sure if they count towards any of the intelligence stats.

[BlueTemplar]

Damn, so you can't defend your allies with cooperative intel? That's a big problem! I guess you can give them some of your intel planets to protect them...

P.S.: Especially that there isn't much point to give your allies points to attack an enemy - you can just attack it yourself instead!

[Dogboy]

Thanks for the clarification. I agree with BT that it would be nice if you could help defend your allies, possibly assigning a % to defensive intel and a % to helping their attacks.

Is it the case that researching to a higher level in some area (e.g., sabotage ship) enables you to cause greater damage? Or, is the selection entirely random? (In the latest Balance Mod, in particular, QT).

Thanks!