Oftentimes I like to spectate a game instead of joining it, but I can't tell what's going on because everything is fogged. Only when the game ends can I see anything, which spoils it.

Obviously I understand why this is needed, but would it be feasible to add a "pause" feature that a spectator can use on turn 1, then they'd be able to watch the entire game (after it ends) without the game's end being the first unfogged view they get?

Or maybe a "Take me to Turn 1 when this game ends" checkbox.

Edited 7/4/2015 02:46:15

Hm.... I see what you're saying.

But ain't no way Fizzer's gonna do that.

Hardly a huge deal - you just hit the "History" button...

But, yeah, it can be disappointing to see the final position right away, when you were hoping to watch and see what happens. If it was possible to change the "default", I would do it.

Edited 7/4/2015 03:53:47

As a newer player, I was frustrated by the inability to kibitz a game in real time as well. I certainly understand that it could potentially create problems with cheaters, but I think there is a better alternative to adding a "pause" button.

I would suggest making a setting that each player can manually "enable" kibitzing in the "My Account" section. If a player enables this feature, their friends will be able to find what real-time games they are participating in and kibitz that individual player.

Another idea might be to allow it in template options when creating a game.

Edited 7/4/2015 04:37:39

At first I thought that sounded crazy, but on second thought, it's not completely impossible.

A player enables a feature which allows them to share their viewpoint of the game (with other territories fogged out), and it gives them a link or the option to invite a bunch of players. They can then see what that player sees.

This doesn't seem to create any possibilities for cheating (unless being advised on a game in progress is cheating - which it kind of is, but can't be prevented).

Hardly seems like a high priority to me (if you really care, share some screenshots), but wouldn't be a bad thing to add on.

Not only that, but I think not allowing a feature in a game out of fear of cheating happening is a bit naive. If someone really wants to cheat badly enough, they don't need a kibitz/spectating feature to do it. The vast majority of players will use it for the right reasons.

When I was new, I really had no idea how to play and was still playing the tutorials. I also didn't even play a real game until like 2 weeks of practicing, because I didn't want to get owned too badly. (lol)-- I joined WL for a friend, and I would have learned a lot faster from watching an experienced player in real time. I also think allowing this feature will increase the interest of other people for the game. Many people are far more likely to try something that they can see happening.

As for the settings, I think it really is just something as simple as each individual player making that choice for themselves. If they enable the feature, only players on their friends list will be allowed to see what they see. Which would eliminate any possibility of the feature being used for cheating, because the player's are enabling the feature and choosing who is allowed to kibitz based upon the friends list they maintain. -- I think it would make the game more fun for everyone.

Edited 7/4/2015 06:54:21

Good proposition. Personlly I'd add something else - I'd verry happy if I could spectate the game history from the perspective of one (choosen by me) player. The reson for that is that when you see th whole map and know "everything" it is sometimes difficult to understand some decisions that players took in that game. Thuerefore I think it would be god to be able to have the ability to analyse the game from the perspective of coosen player - meaning with fog of war aroun his territories.

+1 for Kain! I have always thought I am the only one trying get past the information bias here. On big maps it helps to cover the areas! But it is quite hard. Best method thus far is making all players gray and the one obsreved bright yellow or red to shine out.

Could help but u will still see the whole map which will strongly bias your line of thinking if u try to analyse the question "What would I do if was playing that game"...

Um... Settings>Game Settings>Default to history>Enabled should do the trick? Or it doesn't work like that when you already in that game? I'm too lazy to check.

As for Kain idea, I think there already is uservoice for that somewhere. I'm too lazy to search for that.
Edit: http://warlight.uservoice.com/forums/77051-warlight-features/suggestions/1920689-partial-history-see-what-only-one-player-could-s

Edited 7/4/2015 09:48:32

U are right Widzisz! I have just searched and there indeed is such a proposal on UserVoice. And it is quite popular in fact:

http://warlight.uservoice.com/forums/77051-warlight-features/suggestions/1920689-partial-history-see-what-only-one-player-could-s

So go there people and vote!

The Default to History setting will sort out 90% of what you're talking about, you start at turn 1 when loading history.

+1
it'll be very nice to spectate a game live instead of just being able to check the history after knowing the final result
often times i just block my whole screen except the menu to check the history so that i don't know who won,but i don't like to do it
3rd person observer should really help

Ryiro, in settings, set "Default to History" to Enabled. History always default to turn 1, so you don't spoil the result of the game.

Still this won't give u the option too check the game from the player perspective

Yes, I was answering Ryiro though.

It seems like enabling "default to history" doesn't work when I open a game in progress. I'm assuming it only goes to turn 1 if the game is over before I open it up?