Re: [piecepack] New Game ChickenTracks

["Mike Schoessow" <mikeschoessow@...>]

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark A. Biggar 
  To: piecepack@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 2:18 AM
  Subject: Re: [piecepack] New Game ChickenTracks


  Mike Schoessow wrote:
  >> I do have one additional 
  >> concern, and that is that expert players may be able to predict from the 
  >> first or second move who is going to win (in other words, I suspect the 
  >> game may be solvable due to too few degrees of freedom in the game 
  >> play). There is no luck in the game, and there are a limited number of 
  >> moves per turn and not many moves per player per game. This could be a 
  >> problem. Perhaps you could introduce some random factor (even a small 
  >> one that only happens once or twice) or give more choice to the players 
  >> in some way.  Anyway, an enjoyable new game; Thanks Tim!

  >I have the same concern.  Why is not the optimum play to never increase
  >the speed of the car at all and all six riders bail (use it or loose it)
  >onto the last six spots, with the second player winning and nothing else
  >lets the first player score more points?

  But if the first player knows this, wouldn't he be inclined to change the cart's speed at some point(s), just to force a different outcome if possible? 

  Here's an idea for a way to introduce a random factor. Each player, after taking his turn, rolls two dice (the two that weren't used in the original rules). For each face that comes up ace, the cart speed die is incremented up 1, and for each face that comes up null, the cart is moved 1 space forward. Or, perhaps the second condition, moving the cart, is not required, and speed changes alone are better.

  -Mike