Re: [Rails-devel] Playtest report of 1835 under Rails 2.0.beta3

[Stefan F. <ste...@we...>]

Thanks for your detailed report. Those are really helpful.

See my comments below. Expect a beta 4 soon.

Stefan


On 08/02/2015 12:26 AM, John David Galt wrote:
> Playtest report of 1835 under Rails 2.0.beta3 on 2015-08-01. jdg
>
> 1. I notice the set of game options for 1835 has changed, and the
> defaults for at least some of them have changed.  In particular the game
> variant is set to Clemens when I first see it.  The default for all
> settings should be the regular rules, unless you are going to make it
> remember the settings when a particular game was last played on this
> computer.  I wouldn't mind that.

I agree to have defaults comply to the rules, reverted to auction 
variant to Standard.

>
> 2. There is a checkbox for "Ignore reserved shares of company PR" which
> I find unclear.  I suggest it say "PR price may rise for all-sold even
> if unclaimed trade-in shares remain."

Only issue that there is not much space for text in the current layout.
I will use "PR price may raise even if unclaimed shares".

A new Game Selection window is high on my list, however only after the 
2.1 release. Then longer help text for game options will be possible.
I also intend to categorize game options (e.g. Rails options, Rules 
options, Game variants etc.)

>
> 3. Upon hitting "New Game", one thing sticks out like a sore thumb: the
> map pane is blank!!!

Due to NoMapMode activated.

>
> 4. Several of my nits about the Game Status window seem to be fixed.  It
> now shows the ownership of minor and private companies; and the SX
> ownership is correctly shown as "20%PU" when only the LD has been
> purchased.  The fixed par prices are shown for all companies.
>
> Things I would still change: (a) Par prices should not show grid
> coordinates for any game.  (b) Both lists of train types still get
> shrunk to the height of the graphic elements on their left ("Privates"
> and "Worth"+"OR +/-") even when this hides information.  I would like to
> see those lines adjust to whichever element(s) are taller.
>

(a) I agree that ParPrices do not require GridCoordinates. I will change 
that.

(b) I suspect that behavior is highly platform dependent (which OS / 
JRE) you are running. On my computers it seems to be ok.

I plan to redraw the GameStatus window for Rails 2.1+. Two main goals 
are: Better support for games with many minors (like 1837, 1844 etc.)
and an improved NoMapMode that allows playing with one frame for both 
operating and stock rounds. Most likely it will be close to Lemmis 
moderator UI. But I am very open to suggestions.


> 5. When a player purchases a private or minor company, the fact is no
> longer clear in the "Start Round" window.  The player's cash decreases,
> but the price paid is no longer displayed in the column for that player.
>   I have to look at the Game Status window to see who owns what.

The bug fix for the 18EU auction back-fired. Fixed.


>
> 6. As before, players in the stock round are not skipped when they can't
> do anything but pass.

The current pass executed by Rails based on only pass action available. 
Currently the Request for Auto-Pass is considered the second.
Will put this on the list for 2.1+ stock round improvements.


>
> 7. When the stock round ends the Map pane shows the list of companies
> with no map -- and goes straight to the "buy trains" step.  I guess this
> confirms that I didn't cause the problem by running the game in "no map"
> mode, because I'm not being allowed to lay any track!  I think I'm done.

It is NoMapMode.