After reading the post about spies and their merits I have a question about agents.

I use agents but mostly on defence. I love to use them on the offence but once they are out of their safe enviroment in the harsch world they die to soon or can't do anything useful. The obvious reason: they don't have enough valour to go on the offensive.

So how do you valour up spies, assassins, (grand)inquisitors, bishops and cardinals?
How many stars do they have to have before you can use them offensively?
What are your strategies for using those agents (that has reasonable success)

Thanks in advance