Time

[euklid314]

Thanks for the information for the time bank, i didn't knew about that !
One question though : "When a player use some of his time bank, does the game reduce his timer for his next turns to equilibrate that ??"

If you play at the fastest time setting in Catan 44 seconds are added to your time bank. But your time bank can never be more than 3 minutes.

Therefore, the answer to your question is no!

If you have still full time bank and you make a move within 44 seconds you still have a full time bank. You did not lose any time nor did you gain any time. If you need, say, 74 seconds to make your move you have -74 seconds and +44 seconds after you made your move, thus your time bank is only 2minutes 30 seconds.

If you start with 2minutes 30 seconds you can now gain time - which you could not with a full time bank! If you make your next move within 24 seconds you will have -24 seconds and +44 seconds, thus you gain 20 seconds and your time bank will be 2minutes 50 seconds for the next move. If you, however, again need 74 seconds for a move you have -74+44 seconds and your time bank will reduce to 2 minutes.

Thus, having less time bank is never penalized - you always get 44 seconds per finished move. If you are getting lower on your time bank you just need to make some faster move to fill it up again.

Thus, you simply have to finish each move in 44 seconds and you will never ever use your time bank. But you can use 4times (!) the allowed time of 44 seconds to think longer for certain moves. But if you do so you have to take care to fill up your time bank again - or play each move within 44 seconds.

Of course BGA could have different time settings. But the current time settings are easy to understand (a more prominent FAQ could help) and widely applicable to almost all of the games. An automatic loss of game would also help if a player exceeds his time - then it is never the fault of the fellow players to decide to kick.

If you play on the very slowest time setting and you still cannot manage to finish your moves, you might want to change something. But as it is, everything is fine. Just view it this way: If you exceed your time by one second, you have lost your game (which is the case in many rule sets). Here on BGA your opponents may do you a favor and not accept your loss but they might play on. But it is a favor that you do not deserve. Just stay within the time - which should be easy with a time bank of +300% of a move.

[edit: I was a little too slow, wdspider already gave you an answer]

[Kuuchi]

Thanks for the information for the time bank, i didn't knew about that !
One question though : "When a player use some of his time bank, does the game reduce his timer for his next turns to equilibrate that ??"

If you play at the fastest time setting in Catan 44 seconds are added to your time bank. But your time bank can never be more than 3 minutes.

Therefore, the answer to your question is no!

If you have still full time bank and you make a move within 44 seconds you still have a full time bank. You did not lose any time nor did you gain any time. If you need, say, 74 seconds to make your move you have -74 seconds and +44 seconds after you made your move, thus your time bank is only 2minutes 30 seconds.

If you start with 2minutes 30 seconds you can now gain time - which you could not with a full time bank! If you make your next move within 24 seconds you will have -24 seconds and +44 seconds, thus you gain 20 seconds and your time bank will be 2minutes 50 seconds for the next move. If you, however, again need 74 seconds for a move you have -74+44 seconds and your time bank will reduce to 2 minutes.

Thus, having less time bank is never penalized - you always get 44 seconds per finished move. If you are getting lower on your time bank you just need to make some faster move to fill it up again.

Thus, you simply have to finish each move in 44 seconds and you will never ever use your time bank. But you can use 4times (!) the allowed time of 44 seconds to think longer for certain moves. But if you do so you have to take care to fill up your time bank again - or play each move within 44 seconds.

Of course BGA could have different time settings. But the current time settings are easy to understand (a more prominent FAQ could help) and widely applicable to almost all of the games. An automatic loss of game would also help if a player exceeds his time - then it is never the fault of the fellow players to decide to kick.

If you play on the very slowest time setting and you still cannot manage to finish your moves, you might want to change something. But as it is, everything is fine. Just view it this way: If you exceed your time by one second, you have lost your game (which is the case in many rule sets). Here on BGA your opponents may do you a favor and not accept your loss but they might play on. But it is a favor that you do not deserve. Just stay within the time - which should be easy with a time bank of +300% of a move.

[edit: I was a little too slow, wdspider already gave you an answer]

I've read your complete answer.

Thanks for all the details that was very helpful !

I agree that a more explained post into the rules would be beneficial on this part.

The automatic loss would be more fair, with no pity for sure, but would avoid the mentionned problems indeed.

So, in conclusion, i have the time + a bank account of 300% of a move max. If i don't cross that, i should be safe.
Ofc, the best thing, if possible, is to use your actual time at best.

Thanks Euklid !

[Kuuchi]

OK thanks for the answer too Spider !

I keep in mind that bonus time doesn't apply at all during tournaments.