Science score in this game seems to be 1 higher than what I expected

[Ellye]

I'm most likely just having a slow-brain moment here and miscalculating or forgetting something, but figured I'd ask anyway.


Game table: https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=327254108

Shouldn't my Science Score be 42 instead of 43 in the above game?

5² + 1² + 3² + 7 =
25 + 1 + 9 + 7 = 42

Where's the extra 1 coming from?

[michaelHastriter]

Would you rather

5² + 1² + 3² + 7 =
25 + 1 + 9 + 7 = 42

or


4² + 2² + 3² + 7*2 =
16+ 4 + 9 + 14 = 43

well done on a science win! Getting sets of 3 different is better than multiples of the same science symbol.

[robinzig]

Getting sets of 3 different is better than multiples of the same science symbol.

Generally yes, but not in the case (so rare I don't think I've ever seen it) where you'd be getting a 6th of the same symbol. The OP's case is the 5th of course, where the set is still better (by just 1 point).

[Romain672]

Getting sets of 3 different is better than multiples of the same science symbol.

Generally yes, but not in the case (so rare I don't think I've ever seen it) where you'd be getting a 6th of the same symbol. The OP's case is the 5th of course, where the set is still better (by just 1 point).

It depend of the difference between the highest and lowest:
Let's call a the highest number of one type, and b the lowest (the third third type would be equal or below a, and strictly above b).

Adding one element to b will make you gain 2b+1 from the same symbol, and 7 from the serie.
Adding one element to a will make you gain 2a+1 from the symbol.

So we want to know when 2a+1>2b+1+7, so when 2a>2b+7, so when a>b+3.5, so when a-b>3,5.

So if you got four time the same element more than your lowest element, you would want to add another element to it. Else, if you can gain the bonus of +7, you would want the bonus.
The two scenarios would be 4/0/1~4 and 5/1/2 (exactly, since with 3~4, you would want two extra series instead as 4/3/3~4) where all of them are better if you increase your highest type and don't take the bonus.

And finally, if you have two bonus and need to use both to get a serie, the only case where it's good is 1/0/0.

[robinzig]

Sorry, you're right (at least in principle - I haven't checked the detail yet) - I was assuming you had exactly 1 set so far.

[Romain672]

Sorry, you're right (at least in principle - I haven't checked the detail yet) - I was assuming you had exactly 1 set so far.

But even though, 4/1/3 or 4/1/4 with two bonuses want you to goes for 4/3/3~4.

[6element]

You have 4/3/1 + a wildcard. 4/3/1 is 33 (16+9+7+1). Wildcard can give you either 9 points (making combination 5/4/1) or 10 (making it 4/3/2). BGA automatically selects the best option for you, in RL you can do the math or memorize it.

[Ellye]

Oh, thanks!

I think what confused me is that the log in the right says that the wildcard was used as a Writing symbol - which I thought was the tablet.

[robinzig]

Sorry, you're right (at least in principle - I haven't checked the detail yet) - I was assuming you had exactly 1 set so far.

But even though, 4/1/3 or 4/1/4 with two bonuses want you to goes for 4/3/3~4.

I'm not sure where you think I argued against this obvious fact.

You have to deal with the 2 wilds one at a time. The first corresponds to the situation I was talking about, where it is better to get the second set. And when you already have 2 sets it is even more right to make the third one (making 7 + 5 = 12 additional points) that to go for a mere 5 of a kind (for just 9).