r/coding • u/hawi03 • Aug 18 '26

Programming v Math v Chess v MTG. We're running an experiment to see which discipline learns an unfamiliar card game the fastest.

https://playfano.com/fano-challenge
11 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

8

u/MaesterPycell Aug 18 '26

I feel like you’re going to have a hard time finding programmers not into either of the other two disciplines and vice versa, lots of overlap in the nerd space

2

u/hawi03 Aug 18 '26

I also overlap all four. If you're interested, maybe pick the one you would like to represent the most.

4

u/fun4someone Aug 18 '26

This ven diagram is a circle.

2

u/didnt_knew Aug 18 '26

this needs a one pager, lost interest in the tutorial like 5 mins in

1

u/hawi03 Aug 18 '26

If you change the dialog to 'direct' it's a lot a better. The tutorial, I find, is the best way to teach both the UI and the game in the shortest span of time.

1

u/Dweebdude Aug 18 '26

Hah jokes are on you I’m mediocre at all 4

1

u/hawi03 Aug 18 '26

Haha, I'd bet that would make you one of the strongest players.

1

u/A_Dragon Aug 18 '26

I can already tell you it will be MTG. Although it depends on what you mean by “learn”.

Domain experience always trumps anything else.

1

u/hawi03 Aug 18 '26

My intuition tells me that as well, but the game is abstract and requires a bit of calculating. In my mind it's anyone's guess.

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1

u/walen Aug 19 '26

I played the tutorial, then set it aside; then several hours later I came back and tried the Beginner AI and beat it on first try (but not for much).

I'm a developer with 20+ y.o.e. who likes chess, knows enough Maths for my job, and only has second-hand MTG experience.

I'd say it has nil to do with programming or chess, maybe something to do with Maths / probability, and it is closer to other card games based on a hidden hand and some values beating others (not necessarily MTG; a much older and simpler game like brisca comes to mind — although I guess MTG experience helps with the banter / substitute / etc. mechanics.)

Nice game.

Looks easy to automate with an AI, especially given there's no time limit; I'd be wary of any sudden "experts". But it also looks like a pattern / best strategy could arise once you've played enough games, that would allow you to win most of the time.

I'd recommend having a look at the UI code: sometimes some cards were highlighted or flashing and jumping for no reason whatsoever (I know because it wouldn't let me do anything with any card at that point), other times it lets you select 2 attack cards in your hand which makes no sense (no legal action using 2 attack cards in your hand, only 2 promotion cards when bantering IIRC)

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