Spying 101

This is the talk I planned to give if there was ever another SWORD Boot Camp. As the possibility of that seems to be ever dwindling, thought I'd at least write it up here. For some context; at the inaugural SWORD Boot Camp, we basically played a beach version of the game Team Fortress 2, with some modifications. And I (and this dude here: http://modnarama.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/interview-3-kurt-routley.html) were ze spies. (If you're not at all familiar with Team Fortress 2... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_c3iQImXZg gives you a general idea.)


Now, the thing you've got to realise is this. Each person has a different part to play. The soldiers are the cannon fodder, the scout runs and grabs the flag, the heavy mows him down before he gets there, and the medic patches you up if you get too darn soggy. And the captain is the one that will lead you all to victory! Or utter and total failure, one of the two. But then...there's the spy.

The spy is the one who finds out the other team's plans and sabotages them. Reports that team's movements to the other team. And, at a crucial time, uncloaks and takes as many with him as he can. The spy is the wolf in sheep's clothing, the snake in hiding. Their job is to cause confusion, disruption and chaos amongst the other team, while strengthening their own. As such, each of you must realise what to do about the spy. Both the enemy spy, and your own.

First thing is this: your captain is not the spy. The leaders make sure of that before they appoint the captains, so you can count them out. Secondly: don't try and just have random guesses, or ask people if they are the spy. That promotes division and disruption, which is what a spy wants. You need to stay alert,  and unified. It's quite probable that before the war, you won't know who the spy for your team is. That's how it should be. They don't need people passing remarks at them and blowing their cover. But as soon as your spy reveals themselves, you need to protect them. Because, like as not, they are about to get everyone on the other team gunning for them. That's what happened to me, that's for sure. Oh, and as soon as the spy against your team reveals themselves, pelt them. XD

Captains. In relation to the spy that is FOR your team. Be discrete. That's their watchword, so when dealing with them, make it yours. Let them come to you, not the other way around, unless it's ridiculously urgent. By going to them, you can blow their cover much too easily. It's their job to report to you, not yours to tell them what to do. Guide them a bit, for sure. But they will basically try to get any and all information they can, and get it to you. You just make sure that you don't blow their cover. If possible, don't even tell the other people on your team who the spy for your team is, except perhaps your VC.

In relation to the spy that is AGAINST your team. One of your top priorities is to find out who that is. Do NOT approach your team members and ask them if they are the spy; while this may give you your answer (if you're good at that sort of thing), again, it promotes division and mistrust in the team. A better way to do this is to watch out for who in your team seems to be having conversations with the captain of the other team. Once or twice (particularly if over a meal) might be OK, but if it's happening a lot, you might be on to something. Again, don't go up and accuse them of being the spy. Perhaps just make sure you don't tell them too much about your war plans; or, if you want to take that route, feed them false information. One important thing to do is to tell your team that if any other member of the team asks them about the war plans, to just tell them that they should already know.

And lastly, to the spies: as I said, discrete is your watchword. Covert is your middle name. Don't let people see you talking to the other team's captain, and don't go asking your team for information. These are obvious giveaways. Be subtle. Find ways to get information to the other team that means you don't have to be near them. Be clever. And find out as much as you can. Your team is depending on you. They have a spy working against them. You have to work well enough so that what the other spy does to your team is overshadowed by what you do to the other team. Oh, and when you do reveal yourself, make it good. And get moving!