Decreasing time per move

[Arian999]

I'm new to BGA; I've only played 4 games of TtA thus far. I do own the Steam version and have beaten both medium AIs in a 3 player game on that version, so not a complete noob, but by no means an expert either.

My question / observation is around time per turn. When selecting a normal time per turn game, the initial timer gives 3 minutes per turn. However, as the game progress, this time decreases, to the point where the timer starts at 1:48 on the last few turns. Why does this happen? I did not exceed my initial 3 minute timer at any point, yet time per turn decreases?

I searched BGA's frequently asked questions, and all I could find was an answer in general saying that as for real-time games, as the game progress, the timer's value increases. Yet, for TtA it seems to be the opposite.

The only plausible reason I could deduct is that it has something to do with total combined playtime per user, and that the system incorrectly "guess" the number of turns there will be for a complete game, and that as the game goes on there are more turns than was originally estimated, resulting in a decrease time per turn.

Does anyone know factually why I'm observing this behaviour?

[Jellby]

The last games you played had
+1:29 per turn (maximum 4:00)

That's not 3 minutes per turn, only half of that. And the timer probably started at 4 min. That's not the time you have per turn, that's your time per turn PLUS some extra time. Each turn you get 1:29 added to your remaining time, with a maximum of 4 min, so even if you take a slower turn using almost the whole 4min, a few faster turns later on can put your timer back at 4 min. On the contrary, if you regularly take more than 1:29 per turn, your remaining time will inexorably decrease.

At the bottom of https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=551336491 you can also view the time evolution for that game.

[Arian999]

Thank you very much @Jellby for explaining it, and for referencing that link! Makes a lot more sense to me now