New Frontiers is now in Alpha

[pweent]

I’d like to apply to playtest as well. One question - do all playtesters need to be in the review group, or once in the review geoup can I open up a game and add players not in the review group? If all players need to be in the review group, I’d like to also request access for users ether000 and Nvila. Thanks!

[Randano]

Hi,
I have a hard copy of the game. Having played it many times, I very much enjoy it and know it well. Please could I have access to help with the testing?

Thanks,

[paramesis]

pweent+2 and Randano have been added, thank you for testing!

[Phoxtrot]

Is there any planning for internationalization or will that be done in beta ?

Also, have you done anything yet to allow some phases to be simultaneous, is there any plan for it ?
There are several places and ways where this could be done.

Essentially, in the settle and in the trade/consume phases, simultaneous should not be possible if this phase might cause the end of the game and might not cause it.

( Note: If there is a risk that only 1 token remains at the end of the consume phase and "Send Diplomatic Envoys" can still be taken then serialized play should probably also be enforced.)


Same for production phase except that for this one, I'm not sure it can ever cause the end of the game.

For simultaneous play, there are a few issues to handle/decide:
* Good algorithm to decide when simultaneous play should be allowed
* To have or not a way for players to request for serialized play (there is something akin to that in Puerto Rico implementation)
* Players timers when the play is simultaneous : you could make everyone's timer go down or you could mimic how it would work in serialized play and make the timer go down only when players that should play before you have already played
* Show what others are doing in simultaneous play : you could show everything or show what players that should in theory play before you have done or you could show nothing until you have completed your turn or show nothing until everyone has completed his/her turn )

If you have a functional description of algorithms to decide when simultaneous play should be allowed, I could have a look at it and suggest possible improvements (I'm a functional analyst).

[Een]

Is there any planning for internationalization or will that be done in beta ?

I'll answer this as it's a process question. The games are not translated in general during the Alpha stage, as the texts and messages are still subject to change. One of the conditions to be a reviewer is to speak English.
Translation starts with the Beta stage.

[Phoxtrot]

I'll answer this as it's a process question. The games are not translated in general during the Alpha stage, as the texts and messages are still subject to change. One of the conditions to be a reviewer is to speak English.
Translation starts with the Beta stage.

Thanks.
I was asking to see if I could already start helping with that.

[paramesis]

Also, have you done anything yet to allow some phases to be simultaneous, is there any plan for it ?
There are several places and ways where this could be done.
...

Have you played through a game yet?

Simultaneous play has been implemented wherever possible as described in the rules since the project first went to Alpha. For Production, it is possible that turn order would be required, but only with the Goals module, which is currently under development. If the Stockpile Resources goal is active, then there might not be enough goods for everyone to produce, and that contention must be resolved in turn order, which is why it's explicitly included in the list of actions that can "often" be done simultaneously.

[Phoxtrot]

Have you played through a game yet?

Simultaneous play has been implemented wherever possible as described in the rules since the project first went to Alpha. For Production, it is possible that turn order would be required, but only with the Goals module, which is currently under development. If the Stockpile Resources goal is active, then there might not be enough goods for everyone to produce, and that contention must be resolved in turn order, which is why it's explicitly included in the list of actions that can "often" be done simultaneously.

I'm finishing my first play through.
And yes I've seen some of it and it looks good.
This is the kind of things that might be easier to test white box mode so with some knowledge of what you are trying to achieve.
It's also a bit difficult to get a situation where things like "improved logistics" actually matter in determining whether or not the phase can be simultaneous.

For instance, in the game I'm just finishing, the very last phase is a settle phase that is taken in turn order "because it is the last round".
As there are enough colonists for everyone and we already know it is the last phase of the last round, I don't see why it couldn't be played simultaneously. But I understand that it is very delicate, if it wasn't the very last action and a "Develop" phase was still possible; then it would have to be in turn order because players would have to guess whether they keep credits or not for a potential "Develop" phase.
It a bit a question of just how much trouble you are willing to go for to fine tune the thing for a few rather rare situations.
( https://boardgamearena.com/2/newfrontie ... =182207951 #173)

[paramesis]

The last sentence of the section "Limits, Etiquette, and Timing" on Page 10 of the rules states "When a game end condition might be met (that could result in different decisions by the later players), then do these actions in player order." (emphasis mine). I would interpret the final round already having been triggered to be included in that statement. Generally, because simultaneous play is not explicitly required ("Settle, Produce, and Trade-Consume actions can often be done simultaneously..."), the interpretation of such cases errs on the side of requiring turn order. Unless this becomes a recurring and/or popular suggestion or the designer requests otherwise, I'm not convinced that there are any problems with how this rule is currently implemented, nor any need to divert any more time away from other development priorities on this project.

[Phoxtrot]

Not a problem no.
The statements as to when things can be done simultaneously in the rules aren't to be taken as rules proper but more as a suggestion. What is important is that you don't create a situation where someone would be at a disadvantage (or advantage) because of simultaneous play.

It is true that it is better here to err on the side of caution.

I'm not in any shape or form saying that he should do this, it is a detail and it is delicate. But it's not overly complex either once it is well defined.