17-03-2001 21:33									#1
	Probe Team Protocol? Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

It seems like all those of you who post here in the 'Mac' forum, for SMAX, are pretty much regulars, and with illiria gone for awhile all our PBEM games are on hiatus. I thought I would ask this question of everyone involved here in various SMAX PBEMs;

Is there a protocol that you follow/use/adhere to when using Probe Teams in PBEM games? Or do you just use Probe Teams with abandon?

I ask this for two reasons;
First, as you know, when a probe action takes place in a PBEM game there is no message informing the victem that they have just been probed. In PBEM the victem has no idea if a prbe action has taken place unless its something ambitious like a mind control probe of a base, or bribing of enemy troops. Most 'subtle' actions, like tech steal and drain energy reserves, remain undetected (unless the player is parrticularly vigilant—ie. friendly probes stationed in bases).
Secondly, this issue seems to have come up from time to time over on the General/Strategy boards, discussing whether a protocol of sorts should be implemented. One suggestions has been to send an e-mail to the 'probed' party after the act, informing them of the action.

I thought I'd ask you all what you think, since I'm involved in a game with some of you now, and maybe with the rest of you in some future game. What are your thoughts? How do you conduct Probe Team actions in your various PBEM games? Is it fine the way it is (ie. let the victem be vigilant, and figure it out on his own whether or not he has been probed)?

Personally, I'm not advocating we implement any Probe Team protocols, just asking what you all think (before I unleash my Probes on some unsuspecting nation ). I like it the way it is. Seems more real to me (ie. more cloak and dagger). I think players, who don't protect against enemy probe team actions, shouldn't be informed that they were just probed. Let them (myself included) figure it out on their own.

Thanks for the input

	19-03-2001 21:39									#2
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I actually didn't realize there was no way for the probee to know that something had happened. What about if you blame someone for a probe action? Do they get alerted that they were blamed for something?

	22-03-2001 01:14									#3
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I don't think you can blame another faction for a Probe Team action in MP games. Its never come up as an option for me before. Mind you I've only ever probed factions (human and AI) that I was already at Vendetta with. I may just have to try it out on an allied faction

Does anyone have any thoughts on my query? Or should I not worry about it and use Probe Teams to my hearts content—as I've already being doing for the last 10-20 turns (ie. steal tech & energy reserves with reckless abandon, and then sabatoge some key base facilities in some prime targets before I send in the ground pounders).

Just kidding.

	22-03-2001 06:17									#4
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You can do anything you want, as long as you don't do it to me

Seriously, I think you should assume the worst. Defend against those you consider a threat, don't waste the production if you think you can get away with not putting in spy defenses, and as far as using them... if you are assuming others are doing it to you, you can pretty legitimately do it to them. Of course if somehow you WERE to get caught, trying to pull something, you'll need to accept the consequences.

Of course, I'm stuck on an island with the Data Angels, so I'm not taking any chances.

**F**

	22-03-2001 07:11									#5
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Sounds good to me! It's what I've been doing all along. And I'll keep doing it til I get caught. Heh, heh, heh...