Map shroud?

[vartan]

Useless.

[Ca Putt]

I thought this was about the standard RTS blackmap from Kingdoms rather than the "new world"-expanding map in M2TW which (without non-playable Factions) is totally useless likewise any universal blackmap.

[Cute Wolf]

I thought this was about the standard RTS blackmap from Kingdoms rather than the "new world"-expanding map in M2TW which (without non-playable Factions) is totally useless likewise any universal blackmap.

I like that... maybe all will start black except some trade routes and the seashore?

[seienchin]

Useless.

Nice and friendly today? ;)
I dont think it is a bad idea, but its impossible, because we dont know much about antic maps, esspecially about the barbarians and there knowledge of the world.

[vartan]

Nice and friendly today? ;)
I dont think it is a bad idea, but its impossible, because we dont know much about antic maps, esspecially about the barbarians and there knowledge of the world.

I am nice and friendly, every day, but I don't like to use many words unless necessary. I'm saddened to hear that the shrouded map is a universal aspect (i.e. part of every faction) and not on a per-faction basis. It is this exact universal aspect of this "darkness", if you will, that makes it so unappealing. The Americas being darkened makes sense. But 272BC, what would you darken? I think that is one question with one too many answers.

[Ludens]

Useless.

Are you referring to your own post? As it is neither constructive, nor clear whether you are referring to the original suggestion or the objections.

[Smeel]

I guess this needs clarification, as some don't really knew which m2tw feature the op is talking about.
[spoiler][/spoil]
As you can see, in the americas campaign, the usual slightly greyed out but still visible parts of the map that you never see, it's black instead. And like the usual map shroud, you can make a different "map" for every faction. I think this is a great feature, btw.

[Kuningaz]

I think it's a nice idea, you could just 'blacken' the same parts on the big campaign map that were hidden on the minimap in EB I for the factions.

[The General]

A black fog to the style of the "Americas" campaign would be rather cool and realistic imho. I've always thought it was silly how the entire map was revealed from the start for all factions.

[vartan]

It's confusing though. The fog of war in Rome:Total War would still show geography and topology, but you wouldn't be able to see provinces and armies. The darkness in M2TW, whatever it's called technically (I do not know), was a complete blackness. It did not even show the landscape, etc. Certainly the individual starting maps (which province locations are known) can be individualized for factions, but the darkness, if I follow correctly, cannot be individualized. If this is true, then it's quite unfortunate. Nonetheless, the fog of war in RTW is not bad at all, the landscape isn't that beneficial a piece of knowledge anyway, since you still do not see enemy units.

[B-Wing]

Wow, I feel like a moron. Didn't even realize there was such a shroud feature in the Americas campaign for Kingdoms. I thought the original poster was referring to the time-based event that allows factions to see and travel to the western hemisphere in the grand campaign. I actually never played the Americas campaign even though I have Kingdoms; just doesn't appeal to me.

Anyway, now that I understand what is being suggested, I kind of like it, but can't really see any utility in it. I mean, everyone who plays this mod will almost certainly already have a very good mental image of the entire campaign map, so it's not like there would be any real "discovery" taking place. Just a lot less to see for the first several turns before your spy has wandered everywhere, even though you pretty well know what's there already. I wouldn't want any time or resources spent implementing it, at least.

[Smeel]

Certainly the individual starting maps (which province locations are known) can be individualized for factions, but the darkness, if I follow correctly, cannot be individualized. If this is true, then it's quite unfortunate. Nonetheless, the fog of war in RTW is not bad at all, the landscape isn't that beneficial a piece of knowledge anyway, since you still do not see enemy units.

Sorry bro, I think you're still confusing the grand campaign black curtain over america with the black fog of war specificaly in the America campaign. In Americas, All factions do have a unique starting map with areas that they know of, not only provinces that they own. The rest of the map, is blacked out until you travel there. The black fow will dissappear where you go and become the usual "You can see the terrain but nothing else" fow.

The Mayas, in the picture I posted earlier, have knowledge of three cities outside their control right from start, without the player ever been there. The Spanish is the only faction that only have map information on their own lands.

Instead of that good ol' ancient sattelite map of europe, you would get a rough outlining of your surroundings. I think this would be good for immersion.