---
key: mechanic/strategy-planning--t076
type: mechanic
id: strategy-planning--t076
lang: en
title: 'Fog of war, reconnaissance and information advantage'
summary: >-
  Hidden information requires acquiring, evaluating and updating intelligence
  instead of acting on a complete map.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/strategy-planning--t076/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/strategy-planning--t076.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/strategy-planning--t076.md
aliases:
  - Fog of war and reconnaissance
tags:
  - Strategy games
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-32d0598945d8807a
  - source-cdd68b3569df12cf
sources:
  - id: source-32d0598945d8807a
    title: OpenRA
    url: 'https://www.openra.net/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-cdd68b3569df12cf
    title: Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: strategy-planning
    id: t076
    title: Strategy games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/strategy-planning/#t076'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Fog of war and reconnaissance
    description: >-
      Hidden information requires acquiring, evaluating and updating
      intelligence instead of acting on a complete map.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/strategy-civilization6-06.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/289070/ss_cf53258cb8c4d283e52cf8dce3edf8656f83adc6.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792602288
      credit: >-
        Firaxis Games / Aspyr (Mac) / Aspyr (Linux) / 2K / Aspyr (Mac) / Aspyr
        (Linux)
      rights: >-
        © Firaxis Games / Aspyr (Mac) / Aspyr (Linux) / 2K / Aspyr (Mac) / Aspyr
        (Linux). All rights reserved.
      caption: Explored terrain is surrounded by hidden map areas
      alt: Explored terrain is surrounded by hidden map areas
      markers:
        - x: 76
          'y': 38
          label: Unexplored terrain is drawn as an abstract map
        - x: 48
          'y': 38
          label: Explored land reveals terrain and resources
    tips:
      - >-
        Distinguish unknown territory from outdated information about a
        previously visited place.
    examples:
      - title: Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/strategy-planning
---
# Fog of war, reconnaissance and information advantage

id: strategy-planning--t076
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/strategy-planning--t076
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/strategy-planning--t076/

Hidden information requires acquiring, evaluating and updating intelligence instead of acting on a complete map.

## At a glance

![Explored terrain is surrounded by hidden map areas](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/strategy-civilization6-06.webp)

[Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI](https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/) · © Firaxis Games / Aspyr (Mac) / Aspyr (Linux) / 2K / Aspyr (Mac) / Aspyr (Linux). All rights reserved.

1. Unexplored terrain is drawn as an abstract map
2. Explored land reveals terrain and resources

- Distinguish unknown territory from outdated information about a previously visited place.

- [Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI](https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/)

## How it works

Hidden information requires acquiring, evaluating and updating intelligence instead of acting on a complete map.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t076-variants"></a>

- Vision shows only currently observable areas. <a id="t076-v1"></a>
- Last contact preserves an outdated position. <a id="t076-v2"></a>
- Scouts trade safety for useful information. <a id="t076-v3"></a>
- Decoys distort estimates of enemy strength. <a id="t076-v4"></a>

## Design example

A spotted column disappears into woods, prompting observers to check two likely roads.

Prototype check: Test whether interface cues, selection sounds or automatic targeting reveal unscouted enemies.

## Context and limits

Strategy connects production, territory, information and long-term commitments against an uncertain opponent. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [OpenRA](https://www.openra.net/) (id: source-32d0598945d8807a)
- [Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI](https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/) (id: source-cdd68b3569df12cf)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors