Fog of War rule question [Answered]

[douglasefresh]

Sorry if this is answered somewhere else:

In a fog of war game, I have used the game chat to post information about another players growing strength and have been accused of secret diplomacy! Is there any rule - written or generally accepted - that says you shouldn't reveal another players troop numbers in a fog of war game? Seems like some kind of stupidity to me, but I don't want to be knowingly guilty of bad form.

[oaktown]

So long as everybody can read it (which they can if it is in the game chat) there's nothing secret about it, so any charges of secret diplomacy are ridiculous.

Whether or not posting opponent info is bad form is an individual decision; I personally find formal alliances distasteful whether public or private. I have certainly made in-game comments about how so and so is running away with the game and maybe somebody might want to wake up and smell the pending eliminations, and I am selective about whom I attack, but I don't post specific instructions about what I want players to do. If other players in a game can't look at the territory count and the game logs and figure out what needs to be done to keep themselves in a game I'm not going to hold their hand and risk offending another player.

[NickPapagiorgio]

I agree ith oaktown.

Revealing another person's troop strength in a Fog of War game does seem to defeat the purpose OF a Fog of War game. I think if you were to just sign a non-agression pact (in the game chat, of course), you'd be in the clear. Instead of saying "Red has 18 troops in Hawaii", say "Green, want to do a 3-Round treaty".

[Echospree]

Providing and using given information in a fog of war game is a double-edged sword.

You can provide good or bad information about troop counts, and how would the other players know? It's not like they're going to believe the guy who supposedly has 30 troops stacked up somewhere.

[Timminz]

In a fog of war game, I have used the game chat to post information about another players growing strength and have been accused of secret diplomacy

Whoever accused you of secret diplomacy would probably do well to look up the meaning of the word "secret". If you're doing it in game-chat, it is completely within the rules. Just be careful. A lot of people don't like that kind of thing.

[douglasefresh]

Thanks for the responses. I agree that the last thing you would want to do is earn a reputation for giving misleading info in a fog game. Merely pointing out a potential run-away leader is fairly reasonable I would say and while other players may find it irritating - they should perhaps specify that they wish to make their experience of the peloponesian completely authentic by only communicating by carrier pigeon BEFORE the game begins. I disagree with NickPapagiorgio. If you're going to communicate at all, why do it in a round-about way?

[sirron]

Here is my opinion in a fog of war game. It is in bad taste to out an opponent. Your pretty much sicking the dogs on him. I've had it done to me and i didn't like it, I was pretty much done with in a round or two. Use your game log to see who is winning then act, if the others our smart they would go after the other guy as well. If you need a truce with somebody then ask for it, so you can go after the big player. Telling where the other player is and troops I believe is unfair and chicken shit. just my opinion.

[jefjef]

Providing and using given information in a fog of war game is a double-edged sword.

You can provide good or bad information about troop counts, and how would the other players know? It's not like they're going to believe the guy who supposedly has 30 troops stacked up somewhere.

I have found fog breaking is used to benefit oneself in an attempt to survive/win... And i cannot say that anyone who has broken fog (rarely happens)in a game ive been in ever really lied about it. (though i'm sure some have experienced it) I play fog (like many do)cuz I like the mystery/secrecy aspect of it and i feel it's cheap tactics to break it. Even with those you have a truce with. (I treat truces as non-aggression pacts-not as a partnership) Try to respect fog and if ya break it be vague.... Just saying such & such is getting big is one thing. Nothing wrong with pointing out who is drawing big bonuses....But saying so & so has ## in xx is cheap tactics.............