Feasting

Feasting is a fruity logic puzzle game similar to Parfait, for exactly two players (one of which may be a bot).

= Setting Table Parameters =

There are several parameters that can be set in the lobby. The first is the speed, which has settings ranging from Relaxed all the way to Plaid. The first time you play, it is best to use Relaxed or Thoughtful. The speed determines the number of seconds both players must wait before their first moves, the time a player must wait after making a move (if his opponent doesn't move), and the time before the server will generate a random hint. The "Plaid" speed setting is zero wait time (interesting against a human, but murder against most of the bots).

The next parameter is Private clues, which ranges from zero to eight. This specifies the number of clues of type "A1 = banana" that each player gets. Each player gets the same number of these clues, but different ones. The two sets of private clues and the public clues combined determine a unique solution.

Penalty for each mistake is the number of points lost when a player booches. This discourages guessing, particularly when it is set at more than three.

Setting Booches are permanent means that if any player makes an incorrect placement, that tile is replaced by a broken image and nobody can place a fruit there.

Setting Deny chat to watchers removes the chat window from watchers, so that they can neither talk nor see chat between players. This is useful if you want to play without distractions, or want to have a private conversation with your opponent.

Setting White background for clues? increases the contrast of the graphics for the public clues. Some people prefer this setting, but others think it is ugly.

If Use 5 second rule? is set, then when a player makes a move, that player can continue to place fruits either in the same row or in the same column for five seconds. This is extremely useful when there is a palindrome clue for the board, since any time you determine one placement you will also have at least one other and frequently the entire row or column.

Setting Hide written public clues? removes the upper left textarea that holds the Pirate English version of the public clues. After you are familiar with the graphics that indicate the various row and column clues, the written version is not needed and hiding it leaves more room for the chat window.

Seats determines the number of human players at a table, and is either one or two. If you set the number of seats to just one, then play will start as soon as you click the Create table button, with a random bot opponent. If you set the number of seats to two, then the table stays in the lobby until somebody else joins.

Once you are satisfied that you have the parameters set correctly, click the Create table button.

= Board Layout =

In the center of the gameboard is a 6x6 grid. Your goal is to fill the grid using the three fruits displayed near the bottom of the gameboard. Exactly two of each of these types of fruits will appear in each row and in each column. Each game chooses three fruits at random from the ten possible fruits. The graphics next to some of the rows and columns correspond to clues about those rows and columns.

On the left near the top you will see the scores of both players, and a status message. If the status is Waiting in red, then the number next to it indicates the number of seconds that player must wait before making a move. A status of Go! in black indicates that the player may move at any time. A status of Five seconds! shows in amber during the five second window right after a player makes a move.

Below the score area, there is white box that holds your Private Clues. You can make notes in this box, and delete lines you don't need any more. If you delete a clue and then later think you need it back again, simply click the Reset clues button on the bottom left.

On the right near the top, there is a white box that holds the Pirate English version of the Public Clues. If you find the graphic clues confusing, reading these clues will be helpful. Below this box is a chat window.

= Playing the Game =

Near the bottom of the middle section of the gameboard, an arrow points to the fruit that is selected. You can click a different fruit at the bottom to change the selection. After the fruit is selected, simply click the location for placement (which must not have a fruit on it yet). If the status indicator for your name is red, then you are not allowed to place fruits.

If you are stuck, you can wait for your opponent to make another move or you can just guess. If neither player moves for too long, it is likely that a passing parrot will drop a fruit somewhere on the board.

Feasting involves a lot more strategy than Parfait. Which fruit should I place that will give my opponent the least amount of information? If I know there is no banana in A3, should I risk guessing one of the two remaining fruits, or wait - giving my opponent more time to think?

= Using Initials =

Initials are an easy way to take notes about what fruits are possible (or not) in each location. Click the Set initials button to get initials of each of the three fruits to appear on each available tile. Each initial is color-coded to the fruit, so you can tell which P is for passion fruit and which for papaya, etc. If you do not like the initials, click the Clear initials button to get rid of them.

You can still select the active fruit by clicking on one of the three fruits at the bottom of the board, then clicking an available location. We now have extra options, using the initials:
 * right-click, control-click: turn the closest initial to a red X to indicate "not in this location", or the closest X back to a normal initial
 * middle-click, alt-click: change the selected fruit to the closest initial, and then place it in that location

= Watching the Game =

To watch a game that has already started, just click on that table. Once inside, click Reset clues so that you can see the Public clues. After the next fruit is placed on the board you will see the three fruits at the bottom, but you will not be able to place any of them on the board. You can use the chat window to talk to the players if you can see a chat window.

= Links =


 * Feasting info page
 * Game Design forum discussion of Feasting
 * Parfait

--Lordkalvan 16:30, 20 July 2006 (PDT)