Implement pseudo-random distribution of dice?

[Audrey_C]

Hi BGA team,

Thank you for developing Catan on your platform, I enjoy it a lot!

What do you think of implementing a pseudo-random distribution of dice instead of a true random distribution? This would reduce the impact of luck without removing it (as luck/randomness is inherently part of the game).
Some games already do that (see the example here with the game Dota 2: https://dota2.fandom.com/wiki/Random_Distribution).

Cheers,
Audrey

[LightKnight]

I already brought the question in another discussion, and it's pretty clear from BGA and people here that this would not be implemented, the reasons being that it would make it a different game, where the players don't really throw a dice (even virtually) anymore, an argument I totally get, and that it would not really deal with these annoying people that keep whining in the forum, which I also understand, though I feel like there is a little too much of agressivity and disdain - which to be fair I can understand because there are a hell lot of complainers and they're clearly irrationnal or even somewhat complotist.
Anyway, I also think it could be an option to try and implement that, at least in a few games, as an option (and not the default option), but I don't think this will ever happen.

[tylerjwarren]

I'm all for it. This is a copy for the game I just lost (guess who wasn't built on 10), which felt really fishy. I stop short of accusing one of the other players of fixing the dice, but I can't say they didn't either. The point being it would be very much easier to detect actual cheating/dice rigging in games with the Pseudo-random distribution (or am I not understanding what it is?).

Dice roll: percentage of 2 (~3%) 5
Dice roll: percentage of 3 (~6%) 8
Dice roll: percentage of 4 (~8%) 11
Dice roll: percentage of 5 (~11%) 5
Dice roll: percentage of 6 (~14%) 9
Dice roll: percentage of 7 (~17%) 14
Dice roll: percentage of 8 (~14%) 15
Dice roll: percentage of 9 (~11%) 6
Dice roll: percentage of 10 (~8%) 20
Dice roll: percentage of 11 (~6%) 5
Dice roll: percentage of 12 (~3%) 5

[Silene]

I'm all for it. This is a copy for the game I just lost (guess who wasn't built on 10), which felt really fishy. I stop short of accusing one of the other players of fixing the dice, but I can't say they didn't either. The point being it would be very much easier to detect actual cheating/dice rigging in games with the Pseudo-random distribution (or am I not understanding what it is?).

Dice roll: percentage of 2 (~3%) 5
Dice roll: percentage of 3 (~6%) 8
Dice roll: percentage of 4 (~8%) 11
Dice roll: percentage of 5 (~11%) 5
Dice roll: percentage of 6 (~14%) 9
Dice roll: percentage of 7 (~17%) 14
Dice roll: percentage of 8 (~14%) 15
Dice roll: percentage of 9 (~11%) 6
Dice roll: percentage of 10 (~8%) 20
Dice roll: percentage of 11 (~6%) 5
Dice roll: percentage of 12 (~3%) 5

Something about this statistic that isn't noted by many people is that the numbers shown are percentages - not actual number of rolls. The number of rolls is usually less than 100 in a game of catan.

Random results are very erratic on a too small sample size which a catan game usually is. You get closer to the expected percentages if you collect more rolls. Outliers are normal to appear on small sample sizes. This time you were unlucky to not profit from it. But other times you will, don't worry.

[Mathew5000]

What do you think of implementing a pseudo-random distribution of dice instead of a true random distribution? This would reduce the impact of luck without removing it (as luck/randomness is inherently part of the game).

Discussed here: viewtopic.php?p=167471