Level Generator

[nvatuan]

Here I propose a level generator for the game. The goal is too:

• Generate levels so we can know for sure the difficulty of a level.
• Provide the maker with generator parameters so we can control how large, how difficult a level should be.

1. Maker can generate levels with difficulty parameter

• This controls how many solution there will be in the level. More solution is more easy. Few solutions is harder. 1 solution is the hardest.

2. Maker can generate levels with starter cards.

• For example, we may want a level to have Red 3 Un card, Diamond of 6 Pokr card.
• Then we must generate levels that have those cards.

3. Level size

• Let's limit level dimension to only 1D or 2D.
• We provide a size for the level, for example level_size[] = {4} it means it has 1D, and 4 card slots.
• Maybe its better do level_size[] = {"<4"} which mean a row of not over 4 slots maybe eazier for the generator implementation.

P/S

• In some cases, difficulty and level size and cards can influence each other, result in an eazy level despite we set hard difficulty.

[nvatuan]

Background:

• Each level has different rules for how cards can be matched. For example:
  • Rule "color" will allow cards with the same colors to be placed next to each other. (Uno Red 3 can be placed next to Heart of 5)
  • Rule "number,color" will allows cards with same colors OR numbers to be placed next to each other (Uno Red 3, Poker Black 3, Poker Red 3)
  • And some others rules.
• Each card has some attributes, such as "color","number","symbol","origin",... This will be used for level_rules and for checking if a placement is valid
• Each level has certain layout: with preplaced cards that cannot be removed or change positions.

Example

• Level rules: "number,color".
• Level cards:

  A = { "color": 'red', "number": 3 }
  B = { "color": 'red', "number": 1 }
  C = { "color": 'blue', "number": 3 }
  D = { "color": 'blue', "number": 7 }

• Level layout: [B][?][?][D] which mean B and D card is locked and we cannot move it.
• Solution is: [B][A][C][D]. We can only place it like that.

[nvatuan]

• For now, let's make a script that generate a sort of text file describing the level. Then the dev will check manually and add it into the next build version if they like it.
• For example:

Input can be:

• Level cards: [{ "color": 'red', "number": 3 }, { "color": 'blue', "number": 3 }, { "color": 'red', "number": 1 }, { "color": 'blue', "number": 7 }]
• Level rule: "color,number"

Next We can either specify:

• Level size = [4]

Or specify layout:

• Level layout = ['R1', None, None, 'B7']

Output can be:

free_cards = [
  { "color": 'red', "number": 3 },  { "color": 'blue', "number": 3 }
]
level_layout = [
  [
    { "color": 'red', "number": 1 }, # locked card
    None,
    None,
    { "color": 'blue', "number": 7 }, # locked card
  ]
]

• Card object can have more attributes.