Randomize Tiles and Numbers.

Comments: 45

• 21 Aug, '19
  Amber Merged

  When you select the "random" map, the resources change but the numbers don't. It would be better to have the numbers random as well, or have various preset number maps that will randomly be selected and the resources random

• 03 Jan, '20
  Matias Merged

  The number layout is taken from the original ABC rule/number distribution used in the real board game. It's the most balanced distribution. You could add more randomization but that would make the winning condition, based more on the luck of the map generation (making the 1st player stronger).

• 03 Jan, '20
  Connor Merged

  Agreed, this one has gotten more upvotes but i would like an option for random numbers just like how you can select random map.

• 08 Jan, '20
  Connor

  Please consider. Tournaments can stay the same. It can be a yes or no option like selecting random map. It adds more variance to the game for those who might want it. Just more fun!

• 27 Jan, '20
  Alex Bruski

  By changing the way the board files are represented, I think this could be achieved. Making it possible to choose a fixed or randomized version of each board design. Selecting to randomize tiles, ports, and hex numbers, as three separate options would be very interesting. Having a board editor to be able to just create your own board design, might be a simpler thing to implement.

• 10 Feb, '20
  Esqarrouth Merged

  Repetition?

• 12 Feb, '20
  Brad Merged

  I agree, add random number locations!

• 22 Mar, '20
  Esqarrouth Admin

  "Randomize Numbers" (suggested by Connor on 2020-01-02), including upvotes (8) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.

• 22 Mar, '20
  Esqarrouth Admin

  "Randomize numbers on Random Map" (suggested by Adrien on 2020-03-21), including upvotes (4) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.

• 22 Mar, '20
  Esqarrouth Admin

  Rule: Alternatively, you can use a fully random set-up. Place 1 token on each land hex. Start at one corner of the island, and place the number tokens in random order. In such case, the tokens with the red numbers must not be next to each other. You may have to swap tokens to ensure that no red numbers are on adjacent hexes.

• 29 Mar, '20
  Zyaton Merged

  Andrew Flynn's "better settlers" app has a GREAT algorithm that creates reliably balanced but still randomized boards. The source for the algorithm can be found on github: https://github.com/andrewflynn/bettersettlers/tree/master/app/src/main/java/com/nut/bettersettlers/logic
  
  I've found that these boards are even better than the game version. Generally, every player is within at least 3 turns of victory by the end of the game, so it keeps the game super exciting.

• 14 Apr, '20
  Alex Bruski Merged

  This board was built that way by the person who created it. They all do not need to be built that way. Many of the past Fun Mode Boards where made with randomly set numbers, ports, and tile types. We will make an effort to try to encourage future creations to have more randomness in their designs.

• 15 Apr, '20
  TK Merged

  Good to know. That makes sense, thank you! That was the first Fun Mode Board that I tried.

• 18 Apr, '20
  YeHua Merged

  The last 4 games I've played have had the exact same number locations but the resources were different. Is there a bug that is affecting the number distribution in the maps?

• 19 Apr, '20
  Rex5k Merged

  Maybe there is a way you can keep the "ABC" rule in place but just rotate the numbers around a bit. So 8s are not always top and bottom and 6s aren't always left and right.

• 22 Apr, '20
  nick

  It'd be great if there were a random mode, the tournament map is the same numbers on the same resources every time. The Base map is also very much the same. Any way to implement some randomness into the maps? I love what you have done!!

• 23 Apr, '20
  timi Merged

  thank you alex :)

• 30 Apr, '20
  Sasha Wilde Admin

  "More randomized maps" (suggested by YeHua on 2020-04-18), including upvotes (3) and comments (2), was merged into this suggestion.

• 04 May, '20
  Sasha Wilde Admin

  "Better random maps" (suggested by Amber on 2019-08-21), including upvotes (19) and comments (5), was merged into this suggestion.

• 04 May, '20
  Bryan Jacobs

  I was on the discord server and brought up a comment about the lack of randomness of the boards. This has reduced the long-term playability of colonist.io and is a limiting factor for hardcore enthusiasts. We paid for the expansion pack which we don't have access to, and as a result we're stuck using the same 4 or 5 permutations of the board. please fix and quickly!

• 15 May, '20
  Ace

  My suggestion would be great for the room host to be able to choose between:
  1. "Classic" setup: original ABC number distribution used in the real board game
  2. "Better Settlers": algorithm mentioned by Zyaton above.
  3. "Random" setup: completely random both hexes and numbers.

• 21 May, '20
  Hippo

  In real life, I place all tiles, numbers and ports randomly all the time. The variety of possible different maps and the replayability is increased drastically. I recently started playing SOC online, but I already realized the lack of randomness. Yes, the number distribution might be fair, but playing more or less the same game all the time is not really satisfying in the long run. The only restrictions: number of each tile type, number and port. Rest completely random please.

• 24 Jun, '20
  AustinTOWN

  This is how Catan is played at a high level with random numbers, tiles, and ports. Make it so two numbers cannot touch, but a true random map option. This pretty much HAS to be implemented - huge necessity for Catan.

• 13 Jul, '20
  AlexInAuburn

  Working with Thomassaurus in designing an Earth Fun Map (not the latest one that got posted), Thomas came up with a system for specifying random numbers that still are constrained into zones to prevent undesirable placements. We are working on producing some fun maps using the new system to test it out. Hopefully, we will then be allowed to implement its use on the base map as a random number option. It would be nice if we could implement it on the 5-6 and 7-8 player maps also as an option.

• 28 Jul, '20
  Akif

  Better Settlers' Solution Analysis:
  It basically randomly distributes the dice numbers, but checks the total resource points of every intersection of three tiles. And if the total resource point is bigger than some number or lower than some number, it distributes again.
  
  For example, intersection of tiles with 8, 8, and 9 has total resource point of 5 + 5 + 4 = 14. If the upper limit is 11, that three tiles will be distributed again

• 28 Jul, '20
  Akif

  Thomassaurus' Solution Analysis:
  In this system, we manually place zones instead of dice numbers when designing the map. Dice numbers or number groups like (6,8) (2,12) are randomly assigned to these zones when map is initializing, but each dice number group will be assigned to only one zone.
  
  https://snipboard.io/UwJZfq.jpg
  In example, we see distribution of 8 zones, from 1 to 8.
  
  For example , if dice number 9 is assigned to zone number 5, in game we see 9's only in tiles with zone 5

• 28 Jul, '20
  Akif

  From the two solution I think Thomasaraus' one is better. In Better Settlers' solution players would be very prone to complain about dice rolls and unfairness, because players will probably have more duplicate resource dice numbers.

• 03 Aug, '20
  AlexInAuburn

  I have created the map files for using the zone system for the Earth Fun Map, Base map, and am working on an Australian Fun Map. None of them have been integrated into the game yet. The Earth Fun Map that is currently a part of the game is not using the random number positioning system of zones. I have asked that the AllRandomBase map be added as a fun map to test the zones system of random number placement and see if it works well. Then if it does, make it the default base map.

• 20 Aug, '20
  JUAN Admin

  "Move numbers" (suggested by Tony on 2020-07-19), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.

• 29 Aug, '20
  JUAN Admin

  "Board Variety for Fun Map" (suggested by TK on 2020-04-14), including upvotes (3) and comments (2), was merged into this suggestion.

• 29 Aug, '20
  JUAN Admin

  "Better Settlers randomized boards" (suggested by Zyaton on 2020-03-29), including upvotes (4) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.

• 29 Aug, '20
  JUAN Admin

  "repetition of maps!!" (suggested by saltjo on 2020-02-04), including upvotes (2) and comments (1), was merged into this suggestion.

• 12 Sep, '20
  Hugh Jasole

  Please allow the option to randomize number placements. This would make each game more unique and would increase play time. Since this would just be an option, those worried about unbalanced games can always stick with the old option and tournaments can stay the same.

• 13 Nov, '20
  Aracknid416

  I use an android up for generating real board games and tiles/number/port locations. It is really good and balanced. They have rules how it works that you can enable/disable. If your generation worked like this, it would be great. The app I use is called "Catan Assist".

• 18 Nov, '20
  Steviebuddha Merged

  While I understand this is the internet and not a real board, I feel by changing up the numbers like you would on a real board it gives it a more realistic feeling of the randomness of the game.
  
  If you notice when playing a game on Colonist, there are very few variations in where the numbers are on the board. The same numbers are put in the same way nearly every time, and if you notice, there are just some places where you'll never see the desert. Sure the resources and ports may change, but the fact that the randomness is limited by this feature has thrown me off.
  
  I hope that it is possible to have more variations of number configurations in the future.

• 18 Nov, '20
  JUAN Admin Merged

  Hey Stevie. We are working on a board with random tiles and numbers, but this isn't part of the official rules. In online Catan platforms, such as Colonist, numbers are distributed in the board following the spiral pattern that the board game uses. So numbers will always be the same. Rotating the map is also being worked on, so you don't see the same numbers in the exact same position every time. Thanks for the feedback!

• 19 Nov, '20
  JUAN Admin

  "Variance in where the numbers are on the board" (suggested by Steviebuddha on 2020-11-18), including upvotes (2) and comments (1), was merged into this suggestion.

• 20 Nov, '20
  Vrej

  Adding randomness to where the spiral starts would be appreciated.

• 24 Nov, '20
  Jamie Merged

  In my experience it seems like 6-5-9 spots are possible/somewhat common but 8-5-9 spots are impossible. Unless I'm missing something this doesn't make any sense. Love the game though!

• 30 Nov, '20
  JUAN Admin

  "Make 8-5-9 spots possible" (suggested by Jamie on 2020-11-24), including upvotes (2) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.

• 22 Dec, '20
  SillyWords

  I strongly support this suggestion with the obvious caveats.
  
  - No 6s and 8s are never next to each other.
  - The 2 and the 12 should not be next to each other (this would tend to concentrate the board on one side and disadvantage the 1st and 2nd picks).
  
  Apart from that, the more random the better.

• 31 Dec, '20
  Hugh Jasole

  I think it would actually be quite fun if 6s and 8s could be next to each other. I have played games like this on the physical Catan board and they were no less balanced than with other number arrangements. But since other people probably feel differently about this, there should be two randomized number options:
  
  1. Fully randomized (6s, 8s, and duplicate numbers can touch)
  2. Balanced randomized (6 + 8 tiles and 2 + 12 tiles can’t be together)
  
  These options would make the game much more interesting for established players!

• 02 Jan, '21
  Connor

  Returning to this thread again from 18 months ago. Please add randomize numbers on the board. Please.

• 20 Jan, '21
  Esqarrouth Admin

  Released in v99!

• 08 Nov, '21
  Ohrami

  The numbers still are not randomized. No same numbers are ever adjacent. The official Catan rules for this variant only require that no red numbers are adjacent. This should be fixed.