Why do player colors keep changing?

[JoysJoy]

A friend and I are trying to understand why the player colors we have for games keeps changing? It is so irritating to have to keep remembering which color I am *this* time. I have set my color preferences and it is rematches with the same person and the colors change on us.

How to stop this problem?

[nik592]

I've noticed this, though I think it may only be on particular games? Some games obviously don't have your chosen colour and while it attempts a reasonable match, this doesn't always work (it often moves me from red to orange (which I hate) or pink). But I agree there are some games where it seems to disregard preferences altogether.

On Planet Unknown for example, I seem to get a different colour every time I play and I've been tricked by this a time or two thinking I am the red player, but there is a specific bug raised for that game (https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=108210) and I can't say I've noticed it on other games. So it may be a problem with particular games.

[Hervor]

Have you selected your prefered colors in your account settings?
For me, this normally works pretty well.

[nik592]

Have you selected your prefered colors in your account settings?
For me, this normally works pretty well.

JoysJoy mentions that they have set their colour preferences, and yes, I have too (hence my reference to my chosen colour, and the games that attempt to go for a "closest" option).

[Remkar]

A friend and I are trying to understand why the player colors we have for games keeps changing? It is so irritating to have to keep remembering which color I am *this* time. I have set my color preferences and it is rematches with the same person and the colors change on us.

How to stop this problem?

You'd have to give the specific examples, but without more information, here's my guess:

You either have the same color chosen in preferences, OR you both have colors chosen that are not in the game you're playing, but are considered close to the same color that is in the game.
THEN, when the game starts, if there are multiple premium players, I believe it is randomly chosen as to who gets their first chose color, so sometimes you are getting chosen first, but sometimes it's your friend, and this is causing the color swap.

To avoid it, you would each need to make sure you have preferred colors that are in the game you're playing and are not the same as each other's.

[JoysJoy]

[/quote]

You'd have to give the specific examples, but without more information, here's my guess:

You either have the same color chosen in preferences, OR you both have colors chosen that are not in the game you're playing, but are considered close to the same color that is in the game.
THEN, when the game starts, if there are multiple premium players, I believe it is randomly chosen as to who gets their first chose color, so sometimes you are getting chosen first, but sometimes it's your friend, and this is causing the color swap.

To avoid it, you would each need to make sure you have preferred colors that are in the game you're playing and are not the same as each other's.
[/quote]

This happens in many games. I will start posting them as they happen, but I can name Fairy Trails and Donuts right off. In some cases both are premium members with preferences set. In one case, on premium member with preferences set, one not premium who can't set preferences. This back and forth color thing with a rematch *!

*Moderator edit: please refrain from swearing on BGA, this is a family-friendly platform.

[Skankityspence]

Not all games use all the colors available in preferences. Some games have very specifically prescribed player colors.

If you "prefer" a color not used by a particular game, or if multiple users are prefer the same color, then it'll be random. This is the way I understand it, at least.

[ufm]

This happens in many games. I will start posting them as they happen, but I can name Fairy Trails and Donuts right off. In some cases both are premium members with preferences set.

https://boardgamearena.com/preferences?section=playing

Check the games supporting color preference from this page.
Neither Fairy Trails nor Donuts is in the list.

[Respublik]

This happens in many games. I will start posting them as they happen, but I can name Fairy Trails and Donuts right off. In some cases both are premium members with preferences set.

https://boardgamearena.com/preferences?section=playing

Check the games supporting color preference from this page.
Neither Fairy Trails nor Donuts is in the list.

Why would a game not support BGA colour options compatibility though? Is it not a prerequisite to get published here? I mean, BGA doesn't have all the main colours, like Indigo or Brown for example, but for the majority of games the current list should be matched with just 1 option, regardless.

[ufm]

Why would a game not support BGA colour options compatibility though? Is it not a prerequisite to get published here?

No, it is not. That's why that list exists.
Also, some games have rules regarding player colors (for example, Chess, Go, Terra Mystica, and etc.).

I mean, BGA doesn't have all the main colours, like Indigo or Brown for example, but for the majority of games the current list should be matched with just 1 option, regardless.

Majority of games have no reason to support tons of player colors either, especially when the game uses colored game components per player.

Not all games use all the colors available in preferences. Some games have very specifically prescribed player colors.

If you "prefer" a color not used by a particular game, or if multiple users are prefer the same color, then it'll be random. This is the way I understand it, at least.