Discard process and syntax

[Gman94024]

Not a bug though I've seen it mentioned in a number of reports - the concept of how to identify and commit to keeping and discarding cards.

There are currently a number of different approaches depending on exactly where in the game the choice must be made - select cards then select keep vs. discard, select cards then discard, different coloration based on what is being done.

I always take a few extra seconds to review the specific process at the moment, then double-check to make sure I'm not throwing away the card(s) that I actually want to keep.

Outside of my personal preference, I strongly recommend that a single consistent approach be made throughout the game to minimize as much confusion as possible.

For my personal preference, I would go with selecting the cards to get rid of since this is most often a smaller set than those being kept and feels more in line with other games I've played on BGA. It is discarding from a larger hand, not selecting a card to use and passing (e.g., drafting) or selecting one from a smaller set (since it already shows them being added to your current hand, even for the "draw X, discard Y" actions).

Additionally, I like the concept of a configurable option for a pop up window to notify you that "you are about to discard the following cards" (as with the initial hand selection) as a bonus check for those who wish it.

[GTSchemer]

Personally, I strongly recommend green for keep and red for discard. I would prefer it differs varying on context.

At the start of the game, only keep would be much less confusing. Race for the Galaxy has confusion because, if I'm not mistaken, you are forced to choose discards instead of important cards to keep. Some players may say "depending on the cards I think about it both ways" but I argue that if you tested, player experience would work far better if players can only choose cards to keep at game start.


The reason I prefer context for later in the game is that the printed game rules specifically call out certain things (for example, when 10 conservation is hit, all players discard exactly 1 scoring card, no matter how many scoring cards they have). This would be pointlessly confusing, in my opinion, if this were changed counter to the rules to force players to choose N-1 cards to KEEP instead.

On the other hand, Perception is an ability that specifically says look at cards, and choose some a small number to keep. Choosing a bunch of discards would be a headache and confusing with that, instead of doing what the rules say.


In short, I argue this would result in the least confusion compared to the printed rules:

* Only choose cards to keep at the start of the game.
* Use a very visible green border when choosing cards to keep (players complain the current red style is hard to see on some browsers).
* Use a (more) visible red border when choosing card(s) to discard.


Color blindness variant: Maybe a player preference to use blue and red instead of green and red.

[Stroom]

Or create a box somewhere on the screen where all the discarded cards would go when you click on them? Then you can visually drag them there or they move there when you click on them.

[rafter007]

I need to discard in a game and i don t know how it works and the game cant continue

[JRufer]

Now that the "fix" that allows you to rearrange your cards has occurred, how do you discard cards when prompted at the break?

[TsuKata]

The lack of consistency in this drives me batty. Just pick a direction -- either all keep or all discard. I constantly have to double-check to make sure I'm doing the right one.

[Tisaac]

The lack of consistency in this drives me batty. Just pick a direction -- either all keep or all discard. I constantly have to double-check to make sure I'm doing the right one.

As stated above, no. It makes sense to select cards to discard sometimes, and cards to keep other times. The big icon on the card + the red/green color is clear enough so worst case scenario is you notice you are clicking it wrong after one card.