Do you use the Strategic Map?

[Vathris]

I'm curious as to whether anyone uses the Strategic Map in Civ 5.

I just can't figure out how to make use of it. To me, it appears harder to read than just looking around the map. I am trying to find a use for it however, perhaps finding units on the map or managing trade routes.

FYI for those that don't use it, there's a list of settings that you can toggle when you switch to Strategic View, such as unit type, trade routes, resources, etc located at the bottom-right.

Anyone use it?

 

[direblade99]

I occasionally use it when doing city placement and the nature of the 5 hex grid makes tiles positions look weird especially relative to the end of a river. However I can't stand playing the whole game like that.

 

[Magean]

My cheap laptop simply can't display the normal map. It's awfully ugly and sluggish. So when I'm playing on this computer, I use the strategical mapmode and I'm fine. I'm glad they implemented a way for low-end computers to still run the game.

On my desktop, I play on the normal map, I set things to display resources, but not the grid or tile yields. It would feel bloated otherwise. And I find it sometimes clearer, before planting a settler, to look at the strategic map. To check if a resource is in range and all. Things are clearer than on a normal map displaying the grid. And finally, antiquities sites are easier to spot at a glance on the strategic map.

 

[Tarbo]

I learned it the hard way and i can tell you that now i play more in strategic map than the normal one

 

[joncnunn]

I use both.
For moving units, I'm normally in strategic.
For seeing at a glance what cities are building along with going into the city screens, I normally use the regular view.

 

[George Abitbol]

I like to play on strategic map sometimes. It gives a old-fashion board-wargame style

 

[Helmling]

I switch to strategic between turns during the late game slow down, especially after satellites. But I switch back when I'm in battle.

 

[cpm4001]

I never actually play in the Strategic Map, but I'll use it as a reference when planning out where to settle cities.

 

[MattZed]

I use strategic view to find which tiles I have unimproved (those half-completed farms are really hard to spot) and to quickly scan for resource tiles, especially when coal comes out.

 

[local_hero]

It was very difficult to "learn" to play in strategic, but now I play in the strategic view almost exclusively, haha. It's awesome. Too bad there are some bugs in some map scripts. Or in the Scramble for Africa scenario, a lot of tiles starts flashing. Annoying.

 

[aljung]

I use it to double check if an improvement is complete or only half-complete.

 

[rkade8583]

I always use it! I HAVE BAD EYES! IT'S ORGANIZED!

I seriously hope Civ 6 has it too.

 

[Sharples]

I use Strategic Map for MultiPlayer, it is a lot easier moving units closer to enemy territory and the hexes are smaller which means I can click faster, and you don't get a short pause when switching in between units of course.

 

[Pietato]

I use it to find dig-sites mainly.

 

[Talcove]

Only when I'm being strategic.
As George said earlier in the thread, it really gives the game a more classic board-gamey feel. It's nice.

 

[chazzycat]

mainly just to check for offshore oil near my borders after discovering biology

 

[Callonia]

I've yet to give it a try, I really should though.... those newly discovered oil and uranium and such is impossible to spot if you load the game one day later because they become hidden by hex improvements ><

 

[Barghaest]

I use Strategic Map quite a bit. It's easier to find specific resources (or even barbarian camps early when you're Honor) with the various highlight/icon tools and the fact it pans a lot faster when you aren't having to render all those unit/terrain graphics (side note: makes AI turn times faster late in games with large maps).

If it seems hard to read, just filter some of the information to what you need to find.

 

[Walter R]

Yes, definitely. I don't actually 'play' on it but I refer to it about as often as I check demo etc. (i.e. pretty often). Also I find it extremely helpful for planning campaigns (sorry, not trying to sound grandiose, what I mean is it makes it blindingly obvious where hills etc. could mess with line-of-sight, what strats/luxes are available, probable defensive positions etc. etc. - sadly what it doesn't tell me is where individual city borders are when there's a conurbation, so sometimes I capture the 'wrong' city)

 

[Inawordyes]

When I first started playing CiV, it was on a not-so-great computer that couldn't run the graphics that well, so I played in Strategic Mode to be able to actuallyplay the game. I have a better computer to play it from now, though, so I don't use Strategic Mode as much, though if I want to check things such as contested borders or managing large amounts of troops faster (graphics speed-wise), then I might switch to Strategic.