Covert operations and a stealth mechanic defined

[Shaithias]

The stealth mechanic works as follows:
1) if you can't be seen, there is no penalty for entering enemy ZoC
2) if you are not in range of a stealth detector, you cannot be seen.
3) the stealth tech is a age of warfare tech upgrade.
4) if you are seen, you are revealed for the rest of that turn. ie, if you are discovered, you can't vanish. by just getting out of range.

stealth detectors function as follows:
All ships/star bases have a range 1 stealth detector default
Ships and star bases can be upgraded from the advanced detector technology to gain a max range of 4 detection. The advanced detector cannot see beyond 4 for starbases, and is a unique upgrade for ships. This leaves a small perimeter around a starbase that a stealthed ship can sneak in, and that a defender should patrol or post a guard ship at. Enemy stealthed ships in your territory can be attacked without a state of war, or any penalty.

Covert Operations works as follows:
1) it is researched after stealth generators in the warfare tree
2) if you are in 4 tiles of an enemy planet with a covert operations ship, you can initiate covert ops. All planets have a weak side that is impossible to cover with a single starbase. Enemy covert operations ships in your territory can be attacked and destroyed without penalty or need for war.
3. Covert operation ships must stay in range of the enemy planet to keep the operation going. If they move out of range, the operation pauses, and when the ship moves back in range the operation resumes.

The covert Operations
1) political: grants +1 relationship with the enemy faction. This can be done for each planet.
2) monetary: steals some of the credits a planet produces each turn
3) approval: decreases planetary approval
4) influence: increases the rate at which a culture flips/rebels.
5) sabotage: destroys a structure once every 3 turns. Players are alerted 1 turn after the destruction. The structure chosen is always the highest value structure.

[a0152570]

Very cool ideas, i like the idea a lot. A new race specializing in covert Operations would be something else to add

[Syrris]

Espionage of this sort has been in previous GalCiv games but unlike some other series you didn't need to maneuver a unit to a target. Spy training and assignments were handled at the empire management level, as was counter-intelligence.

[Shaithias]

@a0152570
traits
sneaky (automatically can build stealth ships)
Long range operations +1 to covert operation range

@Syrris Handling covert ops at the galactic level has the drawback of not being a thinking game. Just clicking "stop spying on me" is not enough. There needs to be a resource cost, an investment, and planning in the defense.

[Im Just A shadow]

Very cool.

[Shaithias]

You could also have a covert operations resistance building. It would increase the time covert operations take to complete, and the effects they have.