How Can I Play a Computer Only?

[MalakRic]

Hello!
I'm new to this program. I would like to know how to play a game without other human players. I only want to play the computer until I have learned a game well enough to be able to play with humans. Right now the only options I see are the "real time" with humans, and the "turn-based", also with humans. How do I just play a few games with computer opponents without using the tutorial or having human opponents?

[T72on1]

There are very few games on BGA which you can play against an automa (computer controlled enemy). It takes a lot of work to program those, while the primary aim of the website are multiplayer games. So I'm afraid you can't play Catan the way you want.

If you have a premium account however, it is possible to play in hotseat mode. This way you play against someone sitting at the same computer as you. Might be you, playing two handed, or another person. That is also a way to get to learn the game. Not ideal, but it is a way.

[cigma]

There are very few games on BGA which you can play against an automa (computer controlled enemy).

You can filter the list of games for games playable in solo mode: https://boardgamearena.com/gamelist?players=1

You might also be interested in these groups:
Game Tutors https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=1111129
Talkative and friendly games https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=1088438
Play a game we have never played https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=10129965
Discover and play all games https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=7553079

[Jellby]

There are very few games on BGA which you can play against an automa (computer controlled enemy). It takes a lot of work to program those

As far as I know, those games with an "automa" mode are just implementations of the corresponding solo mode described in the game's manual. The "opponent" is controlled by the computer, but it follows very definite rules and should not be particularly difficult to program, at least not more than the rest of the game. There is no actual AI or similar in those automas, no decision taken by the computer (after all, they are intended to play solo with the physical game, with no computer involved), just follow the predefined steps. See https://www.punchboard.co.uk/blog-solo- ... wo-automa/

[cigma]

As far as I know, those games with an "automa" mode are just implementations of the corresponding solo mode described in the game's manual.

And yet BGA doesn't always implement them. For example, Isle of Trains has a solo mode as a challenge or alternatively with 10 different solo missions in the rulebook, but not on BGA. If you are interested in it, please vote for this suggestion: https://boardgamearena.com/bug?id=92898

[AdamRichards]

As the author of that article, just a quick reply to say thanks for referencing it

There are very few games on BGA which you can play against an automa (computer controlled enemy). It takes a lot of work to program those

As far as I know, those games with an "automa" mode are just implementations of the corresponding solo mode described in the game's manual. The "opponent" is controlled by the computer, but it follows very definite rules and should not be particularly difficult to program, at least not more than the rest of the game. There is no actual AI or similar in those automas, no decision taken by the computer (after all, they are intended to play solo with the physical game, with no computer involved), just follow the predefined steps. See https://www.punchboard.co.uk/blog-solo- ... wo-automa/