DotA has fog of war.. and it reveals both items and mana. Items aren't even under debate of being shown, only mana is. DotA is the closest game relation to this. Not to say you're wrong, just the fog of war logic is a bit flawed in saying so.

Are you talking about DoTA, or are you talking about the core itself? DoTA wasn't developed by blizzard, and even then Demigod is NOT Warcraft III (core).

It would take out the responsibility of watching the frequency of spell use, as well as take out the surprise of what might happen in the immediate future. It's not like mana potions are exactly a game-turning item anyway.

Wasn't here for that, so I can't tell you.

It becomes utterly boring if mana is shown.

Anyone remember Beta 1b?

They show hp and mana bar but not the #.

I agree completely!  In fact, I would prefer that they remove the hitpoint/life bar on enemies as well.  This will force players to pay attention - something they fail to do as long as they have any idea of their opponent's health or mana.  In fact, let's take it the next logical step and make the fog of war permanently cover the whole map!  When players have cues as to the location of their DGs or that of their opponents they really don't pay attention.. With permanent Fog of War you need real skill to meaningfully affect gameplay in any way, seperating the men from the boys once and for all...Of course if you really want to play at a high skill level then immediately on entering a game the screen should go blank....

/sarcasm off

Health and Mana should be the cards on the table.  The Jury is still out as to whether you should be able to pay to see the some of your allies or enemy's cards (equipment, etc), but inventory and skills are the cards in your hand that no one can see but you. 

Taking mana out of the UI adds an element of chance and bluffing to the game - it's ok to like that, but it's ridiculous to claim that you have any idea what is going on with an opponent's mana based on paying attention, past level 3 or so.  Many many abilities can be triggered when the opponent is out of your LoS - Regulus' Mines being the most prevalent example.

Ability to see mana actually introduces more complexity to the game, not less, because you now have to keep track of factors that before you could only guess at.  I'm not going to jump into a battle with a Sedna who has half health but full mana but I will attack one with full health but no mana - something my opponent might be counting on as they stock up on mana pots, etc...The variables increase and consequently take more skill to interpret, imo.

This is a hard one - it takes and adds to gameplay.

It means when im Rook with 0 mana I cant bluff and - lets say - stay at a flag as the enemy will know im useless. That takes away imo.

It was said that there would be no combot pots in beta 3. Does that mean that other pots will be avalaible? Dunno.

If there is however it does add the dimension of pretending to have no mana then using a mana pot and suprising them - which adds to the game.

This also however means pots become more of a neccesity/more effective - which imo the game does not really need atm.


Hmmmm

Well, yes.  If he stops to use a potion I'm going to see that animation start.  At that point I would be hovering over him closely watching his mana bar, if it fills I'd back away or warp out.   But if I can't see his bar at all, the best I can do is guess when he might be empty and take the risk of closing in.

To me, being able to conceal what I have from my enemy or use deception is appealing, it takes a page right out of The Art of War.  Allowing misdirection and concealment in a battle makes the experience deeper in my view.  If everything my opponent has is an open book, these elements disapear.  No mana bar means I can bluff strength when I am weak, or do just the opposite.

:edit:  To Kestrel:  Slow down buddy.  I'm sure not making such a rediculous argument about "keeping track" when I can't see it.  I am making an argument about the appeal of bluffing and deception in a strategy game.  There HAS to be some information available to mark the progress of your battle and determine if you are being effective or not.  Seeing health is essential for this, and there is no reason you wouldn't be able to see it, since a health bar is just a system to display how damaged something is.  Since it would be impossible to graphically display a demigod in various stages of damage (way to much work) a bar is used instead. 

We are disagreeing about something that is a matter of taste.  You do not want bluffing in your game, that is fine, but I do. To say that it is a logical extention of my viewpoint that we should hide EVERYTHING is a non sequitur.

Interesting.  In the event they remove those combat potions it could be a moot point.  Why would every sane enemy just assume that?  I've seen plenty of situations where I could make a reasonable guess after watching an enemy spam high cost spells. 

Overall, I wouldn't be that against mana being shown if thats what most people want, I've explained my preferences.  As long as it doesn't start including gear and items, that's going too far imo.

showing friendly dg's mana would be good, not enemies though

Well, I've mulled it over for awhile. You guys make good arguments, so I'm changing my "vote" so to speak. I can see the value in displaying an opponents mana as adding a true deeper element.  I realize I was thinking a bit upside down on bluffing,  this would actually do exactly what I was asking for.  Still a big No for displaying anything else though.