As a long-time strategy player, I use statistics and calculate my actions before launching attacks. However, as a newer player: I do not understand the combat system.
My questions are

How do shields affect the course of battles?
Are there attacking/defending penalties associated with combat?
Are these battle advantages linear? (say for example I have 10 men. I attack someone with 5. Will I have 5 men? Or will instead have 6 or 7 due to my numeral superiority)
Is there perhaps a spreadsheet with these values?
Furthermore, at what rate do facilities produce units?
Can I launch a coordinated attack from multiple locations to hit the same target at one point in time?
Is there any 'random' factor associated with combat? (Imagine die rolls in D&D determining efficiency)
Do my subs move faster between my outposts compared to attacking hostile places?
Can someone gift an operative?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of funding allies?

And are there any repercussions to backstabbing players? So would I be able to report them for misconduct, or rate their profile in a manner in which others can anticipate their nature?

I don't know whether these are obvious or not, I have yet to play the first game - thus I warrant greater caution in my fighting since I am unaware of how these battles will occur. So far, I have made a coalition of 3, and intend to take on the world by force. Furthermore, I admire the cohesiveness of the combat and diplomacy -but I dislike my initial 3 operatives whom are simply defensive and do not satisfy my offensive nature. In regards to the randomization of operative, I would suggest that perhaps there be a function in which allies could *trade* operatives like the gifting mechanism. Overall, I anticipate that I will enjoy this game, and that perhaps I may participate in Subterfuge.

Most of these you can experiment with in the time machine to determine the outcome. Send a couple test orders, and scroll into the future to see what happens. You can also click the attacking sub and there's a little magnifying glass that tells you the outcome of the battle and breaks it down.

Personally I like to jump ahead 10 min in the future before experimenting so that no one can see what I'm thinking.


How do shields affect the course of battles?
They're added to the total driller count, just arithmetic. So 32 drillers + 10 shields = you need 42 to tie, 43 drillers to win. If you zoom in a little to look at the shields you can see the exact count of shields that are present.

Are there attacking/defending penalties associated with combat?
Just shields. And specialists that you've hired that might help with defense or offense

Are these battle advantages linear? (say for example I have 10 men. I attack someone with 5. Will I have 5 men? Or will instead have 6 or 7 due to my numeral superiority)
You'll end up with 5

Is there perhaps a spreadsheet with these values?
Nope, the rule book is here - http://play.subterfuge-game.com/docs/Rulebook/. You might have seen that already though.

Furthermore, at what rate do facilities produce units?
6 drillers every 8 hours, unless you have a specialist that boosts it.

Can I launch a coordinated attack from multiple locations to hit the same target at one point in time?
Yes. You can use time machine to coordinate it.

Is there any 'random' factor associated with combat? (Imagine die rolls in D&D determining efficiency)
Nope

Do my subs move faster between my outposts compared to attacking hostile places?
Nope. But it's usually a good idea to hire a smuggler when you get the chance. He moves 3x speed between your outposts.

Can someone gift an operative?
Yep

What are the advantages and disadvantages of funding allies?
It doesn't cost you anything. The person being funded gets +50 electrical output and each factory makes 2 extra drillers every production cycle.

And are there any repercussions to backstabbing players? So would I be able to report them for misconduct, or rate their profile in a manner in which others can anticipate their nature?
Nope, shifting alliances is a part of the game. That being said, I think the stronger players that I've seen all seem to play the game upfront and let you know when they're going to attack you.

Thank you for the information