How to clear fog of war?

[Veg]

So I assaign a spy to begin building a spy network, occasional click the 'gather intel' operation but after 100 years I still cant clear the fog of war. I just need to be able to see enough to make some claims. I know there is a system there, but the game wont let me put claims on it until the fog is cleared.

[Elitewrecker PT]

Don't use gather intel unless you're already at your infiltration level and intel cap. You need to get enough intel level to get their territory info, which might require using gather intel when you're at the cap.
Alternatively, increase your sensor range near their borders.

[CaptainSpacetime]

I assume this empire isn't bordering you and is super far away?

I thought once you've got communications you can just see everything though. Sounds like maybe it's a fanatic purifier or something similar where there is no diplomatic communication.

In such a case just attack because you don't need claims on them.

[orthostatic]

Originally posted by Elitewrecker PT:

Alternatively, increase your sensor range near their borders.

I've had a couple of maps now where a listening post in an adjacent sector still couldn't see in. I had to declare war and send a science ship in before I could even move military ships in. Seems like a bug.

OP: If you're late enough in the game, you can build or reconstruct the Sentry Array megastructure. Notwithstanding the odd behavior I noted above with sensor range and visibility, the Sentry Array clears it up. You can also try playing nice and having a commercial pact with them, as that will also open up visibility if they accept.

[Ficelle]

I guess the systems you cant see are in a nebula

These systems are invisible to sensor, only a science ship can uncover them, or the late sensor megastructure