Very simple strategy which gives great uncertainty to your opponent mostly when defending, but also when attacking.
The basis is that when in a non-critical situation, simply having 2 hires can be a better deterrent than a security chief or double agent.
Simply having the POSSIBILITY of a dangerous combo, previously 33% (3 specialists), now 89% (9 possible combos), can be enough to discourage a player from sending an attack, since your combo could be a speed+offensive, aggressive+defensive, or any other combo.
So what are your thoughts? Do you guys think this works? Is it worth the non-immediacy of getting a specialist as soon as they're available to hire?

I don't have a lot of games under my belt, but if I don't need a hire, I don't hire. That's something I learned fairly quickly. Upgrades to Minister of Energy, Tycoon etc. sure, an Intel Officer if it's the very first hire in the game maybe, but if I don't need a smuggler right away and the hire also includes a thief and inspector, I'm not hiring!

pandasecret wrote:Very simple strategy which gives great uncertainty to your opponent mostly when defending, but also when attacking.
The basis is that when in a non-critical situation, simply having 2 hires can be a better deterrent than a security chief or double agent.
Simply having the POSSIBILITY of a dangerous combo, previously 33% (3 specialists), now 89% (9 possible combos), can be enough to discourage a player from sending an attack, since your combo could be a speed+offensive, aggressive+defensive, or any other combo.
So what are your thoughts? Do you guys think this works? Is it worth the non-immediacy of getting a specialist as soon as they're available to hire?

Defensively this is an awesome strategy. I Myself encountered this when facing Pmoney in the Forum's Regular Game. He had his queen hover between two outposts he was defending and one of his hires was a double agent, or he could choose to upgrade his Navigator. This kept me on my toes and stalled me from attacking him in fear of that double agent- which he ended up not hiring.

This is awesome for defensive specialists like Saboteur, Assasins, and Double Agents.
Offensively promoting a King or Engineer with global effects at a crucial moment so your opponent miscalculates in the time reel, is also something I do quite often.

My current stalemate is half caused by this

Champinoman wrote:My current stalemate is half caused by this

Dang that looks like an extreme case! Two cowboys waiting to see who draws first.

My first rated game I wasn't very social. All my allies had their own agenda which involved get their own territory and ignore the alliance that is attacking me which was orange and red. I was counting on light blue to cover for me as I moved my troops to defend but he was himself playing double so red was fine getting one more of my factories without repercussions. Told red and orange that they were better off leaving me alive for when my allies turn on me and feast on my corpse. That way at least I have no incentives to give my allies all my specialist and instead send my specialist to the stars like Enterprise. I also contemplated commiting Sepuku by having a neighbor send me 1 driller. Also thought about having someone send me 1 driller that I can intercept over two of the neighbors factories for fun but the guy just didn't talk much when I messaged him. Instead I resigned myself to a 5 day wait where I slowly got my driller back. Everyone was either an "ally" or had bigger fish to fry. People sometimes ask me why I don't hire specialist but I just told them I'm going all in on a poker hand that I don't even know what it is. I wanted to wait until I was at 100% because the minute I moved I was making myself a target. Then day 9 or 10 came.

Or neither of us ever shoot

I'm orange and have the clear driller advantage. However, pink (who shall remain unnamed unless he sees this) has a combination of specialists that are giving me a headache. Inspector on a 40 shield combined with a double agent is bad enough. Then add his pirate to the mix.

Yikes!

Champinoman wrote:My current stalemate is half caused by this

It came in damn handy when that engineer upgrade took out my General

Champinoman wrote:My current stalemate is half caused by this

I just can't see whats happening on the other side of your territory, fortunately for you....

Champinoman wrote:Or neither of us ever shoot

I'm orange and have the clear driller advantage. However, pink (who shall remain unnamed unless he sees this) has a combination of specialists that are giving me a headache. Inspector on a 40 shield combined with a double agent is bad enough. Then add his pirate to the mix.

Yikes!

And 2 thieves...
I was considering whether or not to get a third but I wanted the foreman more so....