OK, comments on the session report http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1287329 seemed to have dried up, so now I'll let you know what it was about, and why I broke my session report duck.



My opponent wasn't human.



But not programmed by me. I'm just the middle man, the programmer (who's been monitoring the feedback) is remaining anonymous. This is the same program as is mentioned in the FAQ.



Note that it's got a graphical front end and all that good stuff. It'll do all the first ten decks (It can't play Hyla with a low resolution screen, like my laptop) though the programmer noted that play is better with the first three. I must admit it hasn't beaten me yet (I've played a few times against two or three versions).



Now you know why - and you can provide more if you like.

Unfortunately (for us, not for him) he's rather busy with a much more important production right now and for some time to come, so improving it and releasing it (which might have issues over the artwork used and so on) isn't a current plan.



OK, the program took notes. I converted them (by hand, though I suspect a script could be written to do it again) to the published format.

I know you won the game, but stooping to petty insults to boot? Tsk.



I'm interested to see if anyone responds or feels differently about the level of play now that we know it was a bot (myself included).

Bummer otherwise. The idea of having a solo opponent to test out constructed decks against is definitely appealing.

Makes sense when you consider that at least two people touched on the lack of risk-taking in some of the play. It was played very 'logically', as it were.

Jack, just noticed your U-M badge and discovered you're in Ann Arbor. Too cool! I'm in Plymouth, about half an hour east of you. You ever make it to any of the Ann Arbor gaming groups?

Not really. I got in touch with U of M's boardgame club a while back, but they only meet about once a month (and I'm not sure they still exist.) A few groups were meeting at Phoenix Games when it was open in 2005, but we usually meet at my place since I seem to have the game library and the willingness/$ to expand it. I've been trying to get a group of six together for some TI3 one of these days, though. My boardgame group is a mix of wargamers and non-wargamers, so we often have to meet in the middle somewhere (like The Hellgame.) I've got a larger gang of GW wargamers who don't take too well to boardgames. So, if you're interested in some TI3, let me know.

I'm actually not a big fan of the really long meaty games, so I'll pass on TI3. Tried playing it once at Gencon and it was just too much. I enjoy a lot of the shorter multiplayer types (Ra, Colossal Arena, Modern Art, etc) but my favorites are the short but oh-so-sweet 2-players like Blue Moon.

In other words, if you're ever lookin' to find someone who never tires of Blue Moon to throw down with, I'm your man.