fogofwar

Fog of war is a term used in strategy games, particularly real-time strategy (RTS) and turn-based strategy games, to describe the limited visibility of the game map. Initially, the entire map is obscured, and players can only see areas that are within the line of sight of their units or structures. As units move and explore, the fog of war is lifted in the areas they reveal. However, the fog of war typically returns to previously explored areas once the units are no longer present, meaning that enemy movements or changes in the revealed territory might not be immediately apparent without active scouting.

The fog of war serves as a crucial gameplay mechanic, introducing elements of uncertainty, surprise, and strategic decision-making. Players must balance exploration with defense, as venturing too far into unknown territory can leave their base vulnerable, while insufficient scouting can lead to being caught off guard by enemy attacks or missing out on valuable resources. The management of information, through effective scouting and intelligence gathering, becomes a key skill in games featuring fog of war. The visual representation of fog of war can vary, sometimes appearing as a completely blacked-out map, or as a map where previously visited areas are visible but static, with only current line-of-sight areas showing dynamic elements.