Re: [Rails-devel] Rails test notes - 1837 - 2021-01-13

[Martin B. <dr....@t-...>]

On 14.01.2021 00:11, John David Galt wrote:
> hese are my notes from test runs of 1837 as it is in the
> current release, version 2.2.1, on 2021-01-13. jdg
>
> I recognize that this is a game in development and that I am
> mostly responsible for it, so this is mostly in the nature of
> notes for whoever works on it next, maybe myself.  Any help is
> appreciated but I realize it will not be a high priority.
>
> *  General impression is that the game is playable somewhat
> farther than I got the last time I worked on the code.
> Someone else has worked on it a moderate amount, but has by
> no means finished it.
>
> *  Minor bug: The Game Status screen shows most of the
> companies but omits two of the three state companies, the Sd
> and Ug.  All three should be shown.
>
> *  The use of multiple "start rounds" is a choice I made when
> I worked on it, but I now believe it was a mistake.
> Technically the only the first screen of that type is the
> "start packet," defined in the rules as "it all has to sell
> out before an operating round can take place."
>
> The way I should have handled the sale of the K1-K3 and U1-U3
> is to make those the first companies that are available, using
> the existing mechanism of "layers" that limits the order of
> starting new companies in 1829, 1835, and 1853.
>
> *  Feature request: When using the three-column start packet,
> show it graphically alongside the start round screen.  As it is,
> there is no way to tell which shares are above which others (and
> thus will make them accessible when purchased).
>
> *  Bug (as I see it): The window label does not say "start round
> (number)" even if more than one "start round" takes place.
> (Which can happen in other games, for instance 1830 and 1835, if
> an operating round occurs before all start packet contents have
> been purchased.)
>
> *  Bug: In my test game today, all of the K1-K3 sold out before
> any operating round took place, but of the U1-U3, only the U1
> president's share sold.  We played one operating round.  When it
> ended the "start round" window displayed again, to sell the rest
> of U1-U3; but only one player had enough money to buy any of the
> shares.  That player bought one, and the other two players passed
> -- and then Rails ended the round before the player with money
> could buy another share!
>    Save file:  1837_20210113_2138_OperatingRound 0.1.rails
>
> *  Worse bug: The "forced undo" mechanism would NOT take me back
> into that "start round" to let the player buy more shares.  When
> I tried it, the "Leave history" and "Play from here" buttons
> spontaneously disappeared from the Game Report window.
>
> *  Feature request: Show a confirmation dialog to the owner of a
> coal company if he tries to end the company's turn in OR1 without
> buying a train.  While not required, this is a nasty mistake you
> usually can't recover from.
>
> *  Cosmetic bug: Coal mine hexes ought to look very different.
> (1) Move the company name out of the center of the hex where the
> track makes it unreadable.  Move it to the opposite side of the
> center of the hex from the track.  (2) Make the "mine station
> marker" square, not round, so it doesn't appear to be a city.
> (3) Show the coal mine revenue as if it were a red offboard hex,
> including the higher revenue that begins in phase 5.  All these
> things should be done before the companies are even purchased in
> the start auction because the person considering buying them
> needs the info.
>
> *  For the same reason, the (i) button beside each company on the
> start round screen should identify the major company into which
> each coal company must eventually merge.  This is important,
> especially for EKT which must merge into MS but usually does not
> build its track near MS.
>
> *  Bug: Coal mine income is being paid out as part of the
> company's train run.  It is supposed to be direct revenue, like
> the mail contracts in 1817.  This is also true when a major
> company obtains a G train and runs it to a mine.
>
> *  Bug: In this test game, K1 is collecting 100 for its run with
> one 2-train!  Its run ought to end at the dit in F18.  Passenger
> trains must count the dits, and may not run to mines.
>    Save file:  1837_20210113_2153_OperatingRound 0.1.rails
>
> *  Bug: Building on a private company's hex now works in two ways
> that disobey the 1837 rules (in my opinion).  (1) Unlike some
> other games where privates have "teleport" powers, using a
> private company to build track in 1837 does not exempt you from
> the normal requirement to be connected to that track.  (2) During
> phase 2 it is NOT legal for a non-owner of a private company to
> build track on that private company's hex AT ALL, even by paying
> the terrain cost.  You have to wait until phase 3.
>
> *  Subtle bug: Paul Work's translation of the rules (which I can't
> find right now) said that unlike most other games, a company is
> allowed to backtrack when tracing a route from an existing station
> of the company in order to place another station (but only once
> per station being placed).
>
> *  Cosmetic bug: K1's home station is mislabeled as KK.  That
> station is K1 until it merges into the KK.
>
> -end-
>
>
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Hi JDG,

please find your comments here :)


https://github.com/Rails-18xx/Rails/issues/329