I like the ideas proposed in this thread, though I wonder how much of it is possible. I do hope Malrubius finds a way to complicate the spy system.

Quote Originally Posted by orwell
How common were spies and assassins.
I don't know much about the other factions, but the Romans didn't have an centralized intelligence system. Then again, they didn't have a centralized army until the empire either. Julius Ceasar relied for his intelligence on the reports of Roman merchants that did business in Gaul, while one of Marius' officers once disguised himself as a tribesman to infiltrate the enemy camp. This does not indicate the existence of an advanced spy network. Assassination of enemy war leaders did happen occasionaly, but the Romans usually just offered a reward and hoped another war chief would try it. Perhaps they saved their assassins for use in Rome.