Hands-On Usage
network_strength is commonly used in intelligence system-related mod scenarios, such as checking whether the player's infiltration level in a target nation reaches a threshold to unlock specific decisions or event branches. It can also be employed in AI strategy logic to restrict a nation from triggering espionage operations or collaboration-related content until sufficient intelligence networks have been established in a specific state.
# Allow activating a decision when this nation's intelligence network strength in Germany exceeds 60%
available = {
network_strength = {
target = GER
value > 60
}
}
# Only check network strength in a specific state (e.g., capital state)
trigger = {
network_strength = {
target = GER
state = 4
value > 40
}
}
Synergy
[has_collaboration](/wiki/trigger/has_collaboration): Collaboration level and network strength typically grow in tandem; check both together to verify comprehensive infiltration of the target nation.
[has_active_mission](/wiki/trigger/has_active_mission): Intelligence missions (mission) must be active to accumulate network strength; commonly used as a prerequisite to confirm the mission is executing.
[add_collaboration](/wiki/effect/add_collaboration): Once network strength reaches the threshold, trigger this effect to convert intelligence advantage into actual collaboration benefits.
[decryption_progress](/wiki/trigger/decryption_progress): Use in combination with decryption progress to holistically evaluate intelligence control over the target nation, avoiding misjudgment from a single metric.
Common Pitfalls
- Ambiguous scope when omitting the
target field: Without specifying target, the trigger checks this nation's network strength within the designated state, but beginners often mistakenly assume it checks all nations or the current scope's target. Omitting target only applies to the state dimension and does not mean "any nation"—if both fields are omitted, the script may error or produce undefined behavior.
- Swapping the scope to the wrong nation: The scope of
network_strength belongs to the side possessing the intelligence network (the dispatching party), while target is the infiltrated nation. Beginners often switch scope to the target nation and then write target = ROOT, completely reversing the logic and checking the target's network strength against itself rather than the intended direction.