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Real-Time Settlers of Catan

robert.ocallahan.org

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Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#61

Post by doctorwho42 »

autoexec wrote: post #40
n_plus_1_acc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate the 7 because it just adds too much randomness to a strategy game.

I don't mind leaving some room for the Fates to influence a game, considering you're not entirely dependent on luck. Skillful players will still do better in the long run and just as in life anybody can have good/bad luck. You could change the roll to something other than a 7 to keep some element of chance with lower odds of it being an factor.

Man I have had a significant number of games where I have had a robber block my resources to the point where my turn is just a roll and then pass... For like 4-5 full cycles. And at that point I am playing for silly self imposed goals or to allow the game to keep going for the other players... Not for my own enjoyment.

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#64

Post by ryandrake »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #60
jncfhnb wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not a catan player but I can’t imagine it’s not a hugely valuable piece of information

I don't see why it would be. You can easily determine what resources a player is likely to have, and what they need, by looking at the fully public board.

Here's a simple example where the certain knowledge of an opponent's hand comes in handy:

Player 1: "Hey, Player 2, I'll trade my wheat for your brick."

Player 2: "I don't have a brick."

Player 1 knows that Player 2 got two bricks and a wood 3 turns ago, and he bought a road. So the one card that's left over is a brick.

Player 1: "OK, I play a knight development card, I move the robber to your plot, and I take your card. Lo and behold, it's a brick!"

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#65

Post by bigstrat2003 »

cellis wrote: post #45
moffkalast wrote: post #4

RTS Catan is just Age of Empires 2 with fewer steps :P

Important number to put after the game title. OG's know. Not 3, not 4. 2.

Nah man AoE 3 is where it's at. The only real problem with it was the home city system, and then only for multiplayer (I thought it was alright in single player).

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#66

Post by thaumasiotes »

ryandrake wrote: post #64
thaumasiotes wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see why it would be. You can easily determine what resources a player is likely to have, and what they need, by looking at the fully public board.

Here's a simple example where the certain knowledge of an opponent's hand comes in handy: Player 1: "Hey, Player 2, I'll trade my wheat for your brick." Player 2: "I don't have a brick." Player 1 knows that Player 2 got two bricks and a wood 3 turns ago, and he bought a road. So the one card that's left over is a brick. Player 1: "OK, I play a knight development card, I move the robber to your plot, and I take your c…

You'll get the same effect by just looking at the board and noting who has the brick production.

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#67

Post by muzani »

paulddraper wrote: post #56
ryandrake wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting twist. Our group would never have agreed to play open-handed resources. We were all bastards. IMO one of the best parts of the game was that opponent's hands were secret unless you went through the effort of keeping track of their hands. That information imbalance opened up many underhanded and shrewd trading strategies. We also would allow dishonorable trading, like offering a trade you couldn't fulfill,…

> unless you went through the effort of keeping track of their hands I just don't find card counting to be a very fun or useful game mechanic. Can I take a pencil and paper to my games? Does this really enhance the strategy?

One reason I stopped playing games like Hearthstone was because everyone brought a bot to the game to track cards, and I found the experience was a lot worse after using one.

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#68

Post by jncfhnb »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #60
jncfhnb wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not a catan player but I can’t imagine it’s not a hugely valuable piece of information

I don't see why it would be. You can easily determine what resources a player is likely to have, and what they need, by looking at the fully public board.

And by tracking the cards you’ll have a better model. You seem to be agreeing that this information is useful

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#69

Post by thaumasiotes »

jncfhnb wrote: post #68
thaumasiotes wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see why it would be. You can easily determine what resources a player is likely to have, and what they need, by looking at the fully public board.

And by tracking the cards you’ll have a better model. You seem to be agreeing that this information is useful

I'm not, really; the normal mode is that you offer to buy something and you get it or not. But if you want the information, it's publicly available in high but not perfect fidelity, making tracking hands even less valuable than otherwise.

Re: Real-Time Settlers of Catan

#70

Post by TulliusCicero »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #66
ryandrake wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's a simple example where the certain knowledge of an opponent's hand comes in handy: Player 1: "Hey, Player 2, I'll trade my wheat for your brick." Player 2: "I don't have a brick." Player 1 knows that Player 2 got two bricks and a wood 3 turns ago, and he bought a road. So the one card that's left over is a brick. Player 1: "OK, I play a knight development card, I move the robber to your plot, and I take your c…

You'll get the same effect by just looking at the board and noting who has the brick production.

No, you won't. It's entirely possible to have brick production but no brick right now. Have you ever even played Catan? This is basic stuff.
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