SOLO game option

[P-e-n-n-y]

Hi,

don't know if this topic was already pointed by someone else, but here I go...

I suggets a solo game option for everygame. Sometimes, I just want to play a game and I don't have anyone to join me. I guess many of us have already created a game here and no one join it and that bugs me a lot.

More, sometimes I just want to try a new game here, but experienced players are not willing to wait. Not willing to teach. Get angry when they realize we're there and we don't know how to play it!
I understand what you're promoting over here, and I must say you're doing a terrific job. I'm not saying that interactivity is bad, but sometimes we just want to take our time. Is there any way to create an AI engine so people can play against the computer?

This could be a great tool for people to learn how to play a game, and maybe buy the physical version of the game. My personal experience is that I usually don't try new games here because I don't know the rules and as good as your tutorials can be, the best way to learn it is to play the game... and people (as good as they are...) can be a real pain in the *ss!

So BGA, next step? Create AI engine for solo mode (not social games like Saboteur, where interaction is the real game). Games like Puerto Rico, Libertalia, T'Zolkin could be awesome here if we could play against AI players.

Think about it! Thanks

[Tejo]

I don't exactly know what will be the difficulties of opening such a modality, but I suppose REALLY a lot.

At the moment a player who will try to learn a new game has several ways to do it:
- Watching someone else playing;
- Re-Watch a game (by the perspective of every player who joined the table) played by anyone on the site;
- Open a new table with ELO ranking off;
- Open a new table and write into the description of the table that it's a "learnign" game, or tell it to the opponents before the game starts to know if they are disposable to play a first-time game;
- Ask into the global chat if someone's willing to play/teach a new game;
and probably other ones that I forget.

I agree with you when you say that sometimes you can meet some players with no will to play against opponents who aren't already well experienced in a game, and this may be frustrating... but I suppose you have the chance to avoid such situations.

[P-e-n-n-y]

I get what you're trying to say, and I tried some of your suggestions already... and most of the times they are worthless.

Even, if they charge people to play in solo mode I'd be willing to pay. Like a VIP membership.

I find myself "running" away from BGA, most of the times, and googling for solo games to download. I learnt how to play Dominion, that way! Solo mode, mya way, my mistakes, no judgements, my time. I bought the game afterwards.

Well, I'm not saying everygame should have this option. Try one or two. Let's see if people like it. If it's useful...

It's just a personal opinion and i really like to play against real opponents, but when I'm feeling comfortable with the gameplay and rules. And even if people have patience, maybe it's just me, but I don't like to bother people with it.

Thanks

[Jest Phulin]

- Open a new table with ELO ranking off;
- Open a new table and write into the description of the table that it's a "learnign" game

Combining these will generally work. If you are trying to do it in real-time, you might need to be on the site when it is highly active (mid-evening Europe, mid-evening USA, mid-evening Japan). Sorry for your experiences with people who get upset with players who don't know the game that well (they should have seen the warning if it is your first game). Most of the time when I have stated that I am learning a game, I have been able to find someone willing to either stumble through it with me (they're learning it too) or teach patiently (they like the game, and need a new opponent).

Also, for learning games, be sure to set the game speed to slow if in real-time. Having to think of the move, make it, and then explain it can easily lead to time penalties.


Now, as to the other option -- AI to play against. This is a huge developmental task. I am a programmer (not a developer on this site, though), and there is an incredible difference between coding for what is a valid move by game rules, and what is a beneficial move by game strategy. Take a look at how much development went into computer chess before the computer was even able to compete against humans at a reasonable level. If something were to be implemented on BGA, it would probably be a random move, which wouldn't help much in learning the game.

[Een]

Hi,

In addition to Jest's answers, from what you describe, playing turn by turn might be a good option for you when learning games, since this removes the pressure from having to play fast and so allows you to take your time perusing the rules before moving.

Then when you feel familiar enough with the game (even before the end of your turn by turn game), you can go for real time.

Cheers,
Een

[sprockitz]

I know actual AI is a monumental task, but what about a solo mode that allows you to play both sides so that you can learn how the game works. Whenever I buy a new board game, I always play it against myself (as a 2,3, or 4 player game) at least once to better understand it and to be able to explain it to my group of friends. The tutorials are a good step, but being able to actually do things yourself would be nice.

[Jest Phulin]

That would actually be quite helpful -- although the display would get quite cluttered on games with hidden hands for example.

[Liallan]

Quite personally, I would only want to do a training game on the turn-based option. That does create the difficulty of finding someone to play live when it's set on turn-based, but I just don't think the slow speed for real time is going to work when you're trying to learn rules, chatting about it, etc. (I like slow speed just for normal playing, let alone trying to chat too. But a lot of people around here seem to be on a constant caffeine/sugar-induced impatient spastic mode where fast isn't fast enough for them.)

Ya know, that's the first time I've really thought of a good reason for bringing back the unlimited real time option.

A way to play yourself is an interesting idea and one I would undoubtedly take advantage of. On another site I have a couple of fake IDs that I can use to play myself, but they don't really condone more than one account around here so they'd have to come up with some way to be able to do that. An AI would be a serious development - not sure what it would take to be able to play yourself.

If you continue to try on chat to find someone willing to play a learning game with you, you might find some people willing to help out later when you learn another new game - people like that do exist. I'd be willing to do it except I don't know very many things at this site yet.

[rihmjihm]

If possible (but I don't know if it is the case, because as for what I know the games are archived all together on the site, they aren't sorted by category) it would be a REALLY nice feature. But as Liallan already said, it will be a nonsense in some games
To do some exemples Battle Sheep has a theorical top score, 16 points, easy to reach and sometimes when you play a great game you don't reach the maximum 'cause playing better will limit your opponent's score , and so yours. In some games winning give you 1 point, and losing 0 so not much chance to do high scores
Or in some others game playing in 2 players can allow you to reach higher scores than playing in 5 players, and so on.

[Shawn McCool]

If I could play solo, then I could learn SO MANY GREAT GAMES and then feel comfortable playing them online multiplayer.. At the moment, I want to play Race for the Galaxy... However, I would just be lost if I joined a random game.

BoardGameArena is the best way for me to learn a new game so far. But, I don't want to be pressured to learn in a real game, slowing down other people and removing their joy.