Why is fog of war so popular?

[Lebatron]

Hi guys,
I've noticed that most of the games listed in opponents wanted play with FOG on. Given the problems I heard about, like not being able to take back a move, would make it more of a novelty than the preferred way to play. As a long time player of games like Chess, Third Reich, and A&A I have grown accustomed to seeing all game pieces. Therefore I have never bothered trying to play with FOG in solo play. My first experience with PBEM was with another player who preffered the game with fOG off, but now it seems very hard to find someone who will play that way. Why is that?

[jvgfanatic]

It makes the game a lot more suspenseful and exciting when playing multiplayer, IMO. Of course, since the AI isn't hindered by FOW it's kind of ruined in the Single Player experience...

[Forwarn45]

I think one of the main reasons FOW is popular is it hides current research and units in the production queue. I would hate to play the Axis without having my current research obscured, in part because it would be too easy to guess where and when Germany is planning to attack Russia or the WA and also to determine Japan's intentions.

[aletoledo]

with equal players I think it would be impossible to win as axis without fog of war. when the allied player can see your research and production queue, he can just match it with the counter.

IMO, its not really an issue with seeing the pieces on the map.

[Lebatron]

ORIGINAL: aletoledo

IMO, its not really an issue with seeing the pieces on the map.

Thats what I thought you guys were concerned about. Since I never played with it on, I completely forgot about the hidden aspect to research and such. Now I can see why the Axis would want it as you guys pointed out. But I would still like to see all units on the map as that is what I'm used to in other games. It would be cool if FOW could be split to hide units and research separately. If that was the case then I would play with FOG for reasearch and leave FOG off for the map.

What you guys just pointed out to me raises an idea. Since the balance of the game can change depending on whether FOG is used, then I think we need to have different victory conditions. If FOG being off is harder on the Axis, then the PP total reqired to win should be dropped a point or two to compensate.

Right now most play with FOG on with AV set at 70 +London or Moscow
If FOG is off perhaps games should be set at 68 +London or Moscow

Am I on to something here, or is it a bad idea?

[Forwarn45]

What you guys just pointed out to me raises an idea. Since the balance of the game can change depending on whether FOG is used, then I think we need to have different victory conditions. If FOG being off is harder on the Axis, then the PP total reqired to win should be dropped a point or two to compensate.

I think you are exactly right. I'm not sure how lowering the AV would work, but it is one option to help the Axis a bit. Another would be to give the Axis a little supply help. Depending on how things go from here with the next patch, I think bidding for supply help rather than for AV might be the better way to balance the game in general. Supply help assists the Axis in getting an AV, but if there is no AV - it also helps the Axis in the later game have a better shot at surviving. [8D]

[aletoledo]

actually I don't think dropping points required for victory would change anything. seeing the production and research basically tells the allied player which capitol the axis is going to go after. for example, I doubt any axis player would attempt to take moscow with increasing sub evasion, fighter speed and lots of transports! therefore it doesn't matter if the points are dropped the WA player knows to defend england to the exclusion of everything else.