Additional Fog of War option

[bbragnar]

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I have some slight issues with having fog of war on or off.

When on I get a bit frustrated with the "ambush" mechanic.

When off the naval portion losses the hide and go seek feel.

So I am suggesting the possibility of have the ability to turn fog of war on or off separately for land and naval portions of the game.

Thoughts?

[Ostwindflak]

Personally I like the "all or nothing" approach. Either you do it for everything or not at all. My preference though.

[Ason]

It would be nice if researching 'spy and intelligence' would make your naval units see further, since they have radars and stuff.

[Mountaineer]

Intel tech should have an impact on the amount of fog of war visibility.

[n0kn0k]

Imho the amount of espionage hits on intel research could be upped. Only getting one for each faction each turn is a bit to few.

[Ason]

ORIGINAL: n0kn0k

Imho the amount of espionage hits on intel research could be upped. Only getting one for each faction each turn is a bit to few.

yeah or just keep it like it is but also decrease fog of war by like 0.5 hexes/level so at level 5 you could see 2-3 hexes further into enemy territory.

[TheBattlefield]

[/quote]

Intel tech should have an impact on the amount of fog of war visibility.

I honestly do not exactly know what Intel has to do with the Fog of War. For a sufficient reconnaissance existing recon units must be used tactically. Otherwise SC3 transformed into a board game.

[Ason]

Correct me if I'm wrong but most if not all divisions/corps/armies have recon/signal regiments that are used at the front of the front to spot enemy units and movements. In my opinion Fog of war simulates the fact that you don't have enough intel and information about enemy formations and their locations. Therefore it would be logical that spy and intelligence would make those (recon/signal) parts of the army/corp/division better trained and equipped and would therefore do a better job. The recon units could still be used tactically.

But honestly I don't have much trouble with fog of war on land atm, I mostly don't like on the sea, naval units should be able to see a bit further imo.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: n0kn0k

Imho the amount of espionage hits on intel research could be upped. Only getting one for each faction each turn is a bit to few.

It isn't limited to 1 per turn. Instead there is a % chance per unit that is currently hidden.

It will go up with more research success in this field, and if all three main Allied powers research it to decent levels, then they will receive a lot of reports.

[BillRunacre]

Upgrading with Long Range Aircraft increases air units' automatic spotting ranges by +1 per level, with Airships and Maritime Bombers' going up by +2 per level.

[TheBattlefield]

[/quote]

Correct me if I'm wrong but most if not all divisions/corps/armies have recon/signal regiments that are used at the front of the front to spot enemy units and movements. In my opinion Fog of war simulates the fact that you don't have enough intel and information about enemy formations and their locations. Therefore it would be logical that spy and intelligence would make those (recon/signal) parts of the army/corp/division better trained and equipped and would therefore do a better job. The recon units could still be used tactically.

Of course, you are right. But, unfortunately, you probably do not understand what I meant. I do not speak of a representation of reality but of the way this game is structured. There are separate artillery units, although corps, but at least armies have tremendous artillery components. There are anti-tanks. There are anti-air and the are recon units. That's the way this game reflects the army structure and their use. Their existence only makes sense if global developments do not make (radar for all![;)]) their use meaningless. After all it's a game. A great game, I think!

[TheBattlefield]

Intel tech should have an impact on the amount of fog of war visibility.

How about a separate research area for "reconnaissance", then all units with Recon properties benefit. And at the same time differentiated Intel messages on the respective positions of enemy troops. For example: Ship unit in the port - safe message. Ship unit on the march - message with a question mark (as with the u-boat messages). Land units rest longer than 14 days - secure message otherwise question mark. In case of a higher oponent intel-level there might occasionally appear a Phantom message of (somewhere) existing units.
The hoped-for US carrier group anchored not (more) at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attack began.

[Ason]

I really don't think this is a big issue but I will ask this anyway. Why can't both just be included in "spy and intelligence"? I mean it's the same thing..

The biggest problem I have with 'spy and intelligence' at the moment is it shows you enemies everywhere on the map and imo it's not really good enough to spend MPP's on.
I want to see what is directly behind the frontline, not what is going on 5000 km from my units..

Imo either 'spy and intelligence' should keep showing random units on the map but also give fog of war buffs for all units.
Or every level should give you an option to click anywhere on the map and it would then reveal what was within 1 hex of the hex you select.

I don't expect the latter being possible before release but the first option seems easy enough to implement.
Also your idea would mean they would have to add a new research area and I also think that would be more than possible before release, but I leave the devs to answer that..

[TheBattlefield]

ORIGINAL: Mrslobodan

I really don't think this is a big issue but I will ask this anyway. Why can't both just be included in "spy and intelligence"? I mean it's the same thing..

The biggest problem I have with 'spy and intelligence' at the moment is it shows you enemies everywhere on the map and imo it's not really good enough to spend MPP's on.
I want to see what is directly behind the frontline, not what is going on 5000 km from my units..

Imo either 'spy and intelligence' should keep showing random units on the map but also give fog of war buffs for all units.
Or every level should give you an option to click anywhere on the map and it would then reveal what was within 1 hex of the hex you select.

I don't expect the latter being possible before release but the first option seems easy enough to implement.
Also your idea would mean they would have to add a new research area and I also think that would be more than possible before release, but I leave the devs to answer that..

You're right, that is rather not a particularly important aspect of the game. Just the recon range of the individual units and resources as well as the adjustments through research, can be easily adjusted with the editor to personal taste.

[Ostwindflak]

I have to disagree. I liked the Intelligence research and how it was implemented in SC2 and I still like it. I like how it is different from other games in the respect that it is random.

I feel that it is a bit more realistic in the sense that it is your intelligence department sifting through SigInt reports and doing their best to confirm what they can.

[BillRunacre]

Don't forget that Spying and Intelligence can also boost your research success, making it perhaps more worthwhile than might appear at first glance.