Re: [Bug-gnubg] Feature suggestion

[Timothy Y. Chow]

Michael Petch wrote:
> On 2014-08-17 7:01 PM, address@hidden wrote:
> > I just downloaded the update version of GNU Backgammon. I thought of a 
> > feature that could be added. When there is no valid move (no matter 
> > what is rolled), then skip the roll entirely. It does not make sense to 
> > waste time rolling the dice, when there is no move that can be made, 
> > regardless of what is rolled. Thanks.
>
> As far as I know, GNUBG already does this, however it won't seem to
> happen in all cases.

What does it mean to "skip the roll entirely" from the point of view of 
the random number generator?  I think that it would be better *not* to 
actually skip the dice generation entirely.  For example, you might want 
to replay the game with the same dice but making a different move. 
Whether or not you have a valid move can depend on what moves were made 
earlier.  If you actually skip the dice generation then (for example) some 
freak sequence of doublets might get assigned to the opposite player when 
the game is replayed.

As far as the user interface is concerned, the roll could appear to be 
skipped entirely, but the record of the game would still show that dice 
were rolled.

Actually, now that I think about it, I think GNU *does* generate dice and 
flash them on the screen momentarily.  So it seems to be doing what I 
think it should be doing.  Perhaps jl015 wants to save even more time and 
skip the momentary flashing of the dice on the screen?

Tim