[Mavlin]

The system as it stands, results in IPERs only being useful if one has espionage level substantially higher than the player that one is attacking. Given the exponential costs of espionage this tends to lead into the result of espionage only being useful when attacking players substantially weaker than one's self. For instance, let's assume I have level 12 espionage currently. The next level of espionage would cost
Iron : 409,600
Gold : 4,096,000
Crystal : 819,200
Moreover, it would take up to lvl 16 espionage (the grand total of over 60m additional crystal) to make an informed portal raid. This seems rather a ridiculous sum of resources simply to make informed decisions. As such, perhaps it would be better to give all information at equal levels of espionage and begin reducing it at each level below that. Thus making espionage a usable tool in the game rather than a luxury only the wealthiest beyond measure can afford.

[hell]

So you will want more than simple espionage has a certain level to level???

[Corporal Aston]

Well, espionnage is not the only way to find out what player has. You can also use the rankings list to find out if you army or fleet is bigger than yours and you can also ask another player to help you out. In alliances a strategy often used is for one player to concentrate on researching espionnage and therefore developping his gold mine an trading resources. This player then gives information, and the person who attacks usually offers a part of gains to his ally.

Espionnage is the most useful technology therefore the most expensive. alot of players are at the same level of espionage at the moment, and suggesting to be able to see everything at the same level actually cancels the fun of trying to pool together to research the next level.

[Mavlin]

The issue though, is that while espionage is valuable in a sense, due to being able to do calculations based on rankings and the like, it is much cheaper to simply blindly take pot shots at people than pay over 60m resources to get detailed information. While I agree that the most valuable technology in the game should also be most expensive, it makes little sense to make it nigh unattainable.