View Full Version : Fog of War


Pacifist
Sep 02, 2005, 03:17 AM
Fog of War (FOW)

nb: assuming FOW will still be used (AFAIK, no screenshots have been made public showing FOW)

The fog of war is the lack of knowledge that occurs during a war. Most importantly, it refers to each side's uncertainty about the enemy's capabilities and plans, but it also includes the chaos that can occur in one's own forces, for instance when a unit misinterprets its orders, or takes a wrong turn and becomes lost
--Wikipedia: Fog of War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_of_war)


RESOURCES
When a TECH is discovered that reveals new resource/s, ONLY explored terrain within Line of Sight (LOS) should reveal its resource/s (if any)
LOS covers any explored terrain NOT under the FOW ...
... so city borders, unit sight range and outposts should reveal resources automatically. Anything under the FOW needs to be explored again by units or by some other method

CITIES
Opposing cities built under the FOW should NOT be revealed until the fog has been unveiled by units or by some other method

TERRITORIES
Opposing territory border expansions under the FOW should NOT be revealed until the fog has been unveiled by units or by some other method

TERRAIN IMPROVEMENTS
Civ3 already implemented this so I would assume Civ4 will do the same if FOW is still in use

UNITS
Civ3 also did this already so I would assume Civ4 will do the same if FOW is still in use

TRADE/DIPLOMACY
The player should be able to "gather intelligence" of the whereabouts of resources, cities and the extent of territory boundaries known by other civilizations
Alternatively, information of locations should be able to be "traded"

Trading maps should be divided into
ONLY terrain (unexplored terrain is revealed)
terrain with ... (either ONE or MORE combinations of the following)
resource locations
city locations
civilization boundaries


nb: what is revealed by map trading is limited by the knowledge of the Civilization the player is trading with (just like in Civ3)

-Pacifist-
"Truth is the torch that gleams through the fog without dispelling it" -C.A.H.

RCL
Sep 02, 2005, 04:27 AM
Very nice idea.

And AI should not cheat and shouldn't know resource locations before you trade them.

Saltylicious
Sep 02, 2005, 03:00 PM
Great ideas, Pacifist.

FOW will more than likely be in again, I don't see any reason it wouldn't be...And I'm pretty sure it was in the videos of Civ4 they've released.

The_Architect
Sep 03, 2005, 07:30 AM
And the satellite technology followed by a satellite launch should enable the payer to do away with the FOW in some areas and some cases.

Theoden
Sep 03, 2005, 09:10 AM
This is pretty much as it was in civ2 except for the trading part. I have always thought it was a bit weird how in civ3 you could explore it once and then never have to gain intelligence again.

Corn Shucker
Sep 04, 2005, 12:35 AM
(AFAIK, no screenshots have been made public showing FOW)
Well just to list a few...
http://www.civfanatics.com/gallery/files/2/9/9/7/9/ign624_8.jpg
http://www.civfanatics.com/gallery/files/1/screen023.jpg
http://www.civfanatics.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=17&c=5
http://www.civfanatics.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=44&c=2
http://www.civfanatics.com/gallery/files/1/screen015.jpg
but theres many more too that display fog of war in their screenshots.

Krikkitone
Sep 04, 2005, 10:13 AM
Actually it might be good to have the option of trading Only Civilization Boundaries (we want you to know how big we are but not what we have

So I'd say the options should be

Terrain in Territory
Terrain out of territory
My Cities
Other Cities
My resource locations (ones conected to or in my territory)
Other resource locations
Civ boundaries (automatically comes with 'my cities' or if exactly one of 'terrain in/out of my territory' is picked)