[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Sheap:
I definitely want score graphs on. They don't give you enough information to do anything except know, in general, where you stand. I think every player should have this information, otherwise they may suddenly find they are in bad shape and not have an opportunity to correct it.

You seem to be in the minority, then: The by-and-large accepted standard is that score graphs should be off, for a number of reasons, such as that it disadvantages nations that have better scouting and spying abilities, and for precisely that "suddenly find they are in bad shape" thing: Most people, upon discovering that they are in bad shape, start wimping out of the game: They go AI, or worse, go AWOL. This tends to greatly disturb game balance, because if a stronger player suddenly has his opponent replaced with an AI, he grows even stronger, faster: This sets off a chain reaction of everyone ELSE going AI, and pretty soon the entire game collapses.

You can say "just use your spies." Having to blanket the entire world with spies #1 increases micromanagement by a huge amount

Knowledge is power, and forewarned is forearmed: Most players who are any good tend to regularly blanket their opponent in spies and scouts anyway.

#2 gives an advantage to the empires that actually have useful spies (or lots of money)

Having good spies is *SUPPOSED* to be a national advantage!

#3 doesn't really increase the fun factor of the game.

Says you. I happen to enjoy trying to be deliberately secretive and misinforming my opponents about my technological and military progress.

Finally there is still information, such as research, which can't be seen at all, and income, which you CAN see with spies, but is a tremendous hassle to do.

Research can be extrapolated based on what spells your opponent uses for summonings and in battle, which in turn requires that you spy on him and watch his battles with your scouts and spies, unless you want to find this information out the hard way by attacking him personally.