Warning - this isn't really a rules question, but a question (or rather, a rant) on whether this particular Special Skill should be Private. Right now, both units that have this skill have it on all their profiles, so the only thing that this skill's privateness does is that it punishes newbies who do not yet remember all the profiles in the game. I know, I know - CB might yet introduce new units that would have this skill only on some profiles; and we already have an example of a skill that is private, but relatively easy to find by knowing enemy profiles (Chain of Command). But unlike CoC, Counterintelligence only comes into play (if it even does) in the first decision any player takes after deployment - Strategic token use (so the opponent will know of it anyway - the only difference is if it affects his decision process or not). Note that it is still VERY powerful even if the opponent knows that you have a trooper with this skill on the table - but if he somehow misses it, it becomes doubly so, because resources are still used up, but the payoff is less than expected. P.S. By the way: the Army puts it on the units' skill list in courtesy list, as if it wasn't Private Info - as I think it should be =)
Army is an underfunded piece of software, and as a result of poor quality. :( As far as “privateness” goes, see Strategos and giving away the Lieutenant identity. :p
@Gunmage Yes, this betrays a fundamental mistake that CB makes with private/public information. (See also: Chain of Command). They should just make it public.
If Counterintelligence was an Open Info, i'd have a serious "fluff" WTF. It HAS TO BE private. "Woooo-oooo... Can you see my Counterintelligence from over there? Hi, i'm Shukra Bob from Counterintelligence!" (note: from now on it will be my IMP new cover, thanks). As you say, it has no reason to be Private, apart fluff reason.
Why? For all we know, Shukra Bob might be something like KGB politofficers in Soviet Union - assigned to a unit to watch out for potential infiltration by enemy intel agencies and/or information leaks. In this case, he isn't necessarily some kind of covert agent (especially since as far as we can tell all Shukras work in Counterintelligence, can be hard to hide that). And by the point he is on the table his job is done, the op is defended from enemy machinations - which is represented by the effect of the skill.
It's private however I tell my opponent. Because all profiles have it so I don't want the fact my opponent doesn't know units at well to be an issue .If there was a profile where some had it and others didn't. Id be less likely to give that info.
