Avoiding Revenge Using Optimal Opponent Ranking Strategy in the Board Game Catan

Abstract

The study analyses the attitude of players in a board game called Catan. In Catan, we are basically handling the players as opponents, but this does not rule out the possibility of cooperation. In a game with three players, in order to increase the chances of winning, it is worth acting together against the lead player. Cooperation has several possible modalities. In the article, the focus is on blocking situations which can lead to revenge. The primary objectives of this study were to examine how different types of thinking can cause revenge situations and which are the successful strategies among players. Strategies (as a mathematical solution to a decision problem) are examined in the study via computer modeling. To help the model, some kind of behavior of human Catan players was studied which enables profiling gaming styles used in the model. The winning chances of the player who was not involved in revenge have improved considerably, by 43%. To avoid being involved in revenge situations, the best solution is to accept other players' opponent ranking methods.