Fog of War

[wphyzic]

My Dilemna:

Now that I have finally found a live opponent to do a full campaign with (complete with "hot seat" detailed combat, I have discovered that the detailed combat screen ALWAYS shows all the units involved, even with the fog of war option on (I chaecked to be sure). When I played vs the AI the side that was moving could only see its own units and sighted enemy units. What's up?

[ericbabe]

Yes, hot seat games do show FOW penetration for all human controlled units.  The way the initiative system works, we thought it wasn't really feasible for two players seated around the same screen to avoid seeing the moves of the other player given that the control of units can change every few seconds without warning to units controlled by the other team.  In tests we did, it seemed to us less disorienting to have the same FOW penetration persist between players than to have it alternate under the perview of both commanders.  We actually gave this quite a bit of design consideration, and tested the alternative method, for what it's worth.

For future versions of the engine, we are considering new ways of organizing the detailed battle turn structure to make the game friendlier to multi-player battles (including, we hope, PBEM games).

[wphyzic]

Why not just have the detailed combat routine load a low resolution background screen every time the initiative changes side? It could be incorperated right into the unit execution loop. Initiative tends to go by the division/corps. It COMPLETELY eliminates any operational strategies involving flank marches, feints etc. It really wrecks one of the best multilevel simulations ever made by eliminating manuver in detailed combat. Having the equivalent of satellite intelligence combined with 19th century weaponry makes zero sense. It is an easy fix, IMHO.

Rick

[ericbabe]

Sure, we could block the screen.  I suppose it wouldn't be too much of an annoyance in hot seat play.

I personally don't think it "wrecks" the game -- I still enjoy playing VG and GMT table games that are regimental level recreations of the Civil War -- but this wouldn't be too hard of an improvement to add to the patch we're working on.

[2ndACR]

 I had noticed that too playing with me nephew. Sort of ruined my flanking move that would have crushed him utterly.