What do you use assassins for?

[Didz]

Following the annoying theft of my knowledge of socket bayonets by a sneaky Russian scholar, I've more or less decided that its probably best to send all my assassins to school.

The asquisition of socket bayonets by the Russian militia has seriously affected my performance in battle and in future I want to keep any technological advances to myself for as long as possible. I got the academic thief in the end but not before he caused me a lot of trouble.

Does anyone else do this, and has anyone found any other priorities for these guys?

[Feanaro]

I mostly use them to knock off researchers and religious agents. I've had some success causing a revolt by knocking out key happiness buildings. The Mughal Empire is a... Republic now, thanks to that. :dizzy2:

[Quillan]

I use them only as counter spies and scouts. I do not infiltrate or assassinate, since the odds of failure are always high and there's a steep diplomacy hit for failing.

On the other hand, for a while I was running the KGB in this game, having my gentlemen steal technology from everyone. :laugh4:

[quadalpha]

If you see a suspicious enemy gentleman approaching your school and you don't have a rake handy, you can always try to duel with him.

[Didz]

If you see a suspicious enemy gentleman approaching your school and you don't have a rake handy, you can always try to duel with him.
I don't think the Ottoman's do that, at least I haven't seen a button that triggers it.

[Quillan]

Gentlemen can duel other gentlemen, but eastern scholars cannot duel or be dueled. Ottoman have scholars, if I'm not mistaken.

[MikeV]

Does anyone else do this, and has anyone found any other priorities for these guys?
Starting with S:TW, I would spam spies everywhere and have a handful of assassins trained up to high levels. E:TW tones this down a lot, by:

combining the functions into one agent type, forcing you to decide how to use them each turn
spawning them, rather than allowing their purchase, forcing you to decide whether it's worth using up a town slot on another Entertainment building

Since I now rarely have more than 2 or 3, I tend to have these priorities for them:

Finding/killing enemy Rakes
Sabotaging the college/university of the current tech leader
Assassinating enemy Gentlemen in their college/university (I use duels if they show up at mine)

[antisocialmunky]

Is it possible to jsut build 8 militia units and surround your University with them so no one can get in and out?

[A Very Super Market]

Don't think agents are affected by armies in this game...

[Prodigal]

If you see a suspicious enemy gentleman approaching your school and you don't have a rake handy, you can always try to duel with him.

Gents' seem to have a massive advantage over rakes, every duel in game so far has been 75%.

Generally use rakes & missionaries to try & provoke smaller nations with large protectors to declare war.

[Daevyll]

My rakes target religious agents as much as possible. Only way to get rid of them as far as I know.

Has anyone managed to actually rank up their rakes btw? After 3 or 4 succesful assassinations mine is still 3-star, though with a follower and bonus trait. But no star-increase.

[Kobal2fr]

My rakes target religious agents as much as possible. Only way to get rid of them as far as I know.

Has anyone managed to actually rank up their rakes btw? After 3 or 4 succesful assassinations mine is still 3-star, though with a follower and bonus trait. But no star-increase.

The star increases exist, but most traits are mission specific so won't increase the overall number of stars displayed. However, after 4 successful killings, yours should have at least +2 on assassination missions so 5 stars total in that case. Other traits boost sabotage, hiding&spotting, duel with swords or pistols etc...
I don't think I've seen a trait line that'd boost general purpose stars besides the ones they sometimes spawn with.

[anweRU]

My rakes have gotten ancilliaries or traits that are mission specific, but no general increase in stars. They alwas have 3 stars on the campaign map.

[Feanaro]

The star increases exist, but most traits are mission specific so won't increase the overall number of stars displayed. However, after 4 successful killings, yours should have at least +2 on assassination missions so 5 stars total in that case. Other traits boost sabotage, hiding&spotting, duel with swords or pistols etc...
I don't think I've seen a trait line that'd boost general purpose stars besides the ones they sometimes spawn with.

The sabotage line of traits does add one star, I believe. However, my Thugees and Rakes take forever to get any traits. I think the progression is bugged or something.