[pbmserv] New game: DNA

[Cameron Browne <cameron.browne@btinternet.com>]

Hi,

A new game DNA has been added to the server. Players whittle away at 
their opponents' genetic code in order to delete them from existence.

PBeM help page: http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/dna.html
Web graphics: http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/List.php?Dna

Usage:
  dna challenge <you> camb

I'd be interested in some multiplayer games.

Cameron (camb)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help for the Game of DNA

   Welcome to the network DNA server. The challenge command is described here.
   Other commands are the same as for all pbmserv games.

     dna challenge [-length=number] [-chunk=number] [-manual]
         userid1 userid2 .. userid8

   starts a new game for two to eight players players.

   The -length parameter specifies the DNA sequence length (default 36).
   The  -chunk parameters specify the size of the chunk removed each turn
   (default 3).
   The -manual option allows players to manually set their own sequences.

  Introduction

   DNA is a game of accelerated evolution: whittle down your 
opponents' genetic code before they whittle down yours!

  Rules

   Each player starts with a DNA sequence of 36 randomly generated nucleotides
   labelled  A,  C,  G  and  T  for adenine, guanine, cytosie and thymine
   respectively.

   Players take turns nominating a chunk of three consecutive nucleotides
   contained in their sequence. All instances of that chunk are removed from
   their  sequence  and  all  opponents'  sequences.  Chunks  are removed
   left-to-right with the remainder of the sequence collapsing down 
to fill the
   gap; this operation is repeated until no more chunks are removed, hence
   multiple removals are possible.

   During the first round of play, the first player may remove at most one
   chunk from any opponent, the second player may remove at least two chunks
   from any opponent, and so on.

   Players whose sequence length falls below the chunk size are removed from
   the game; the last surviving player wins. If the sequence length of all
   players falls below the chunk size then the game is won by the player with
   the longest sequence, else the game is a tie for equal sequence length.

  Example

   For example, the following figure shows a game between ned, ted and jed.

   ned (36): TCGCATGTACAAAGTTTTCAATCTTCGCCTTGAGAG
   ted (36): TCAGCGCGTTCCCGGAGTCGTCGTATTAAAGGGGAT
   jed (36): GCCAATTATGGACTTGTTGTCAGATAGTTTCCGGCG

   As first move, ned might nominate the chunk AAG which occurs once in their
   sequence as well ted's, giving the following results once these chunks are
   removed (ned could not have nominated TTG on the first move as that chunk
   occurs twice in jed's sequence):

   ned (33): TCGCATGTACATTTTCAATCTTCGCCTTGAGAG
   ted (33): TCAGCGCGTTCCCGGAGTCGTCGTATTAGGGAT
   jed (36): GCCAATTATGGACTTGTTGTCAGATAGTTTCCGGCG

   As second move, ted might nominate TTC whose removal gives the following
   results:

   ned (27): TCGCATGTACATTAATCGCCTTGAGAG
   ted (30): TCAGCGCGCCGGAGTCGTCGTATTAGGGAT
   jed (33): GCCAATTATGGACTTGTTGTCAGATAGTCGGCG.

  Notes

   Cchunk  removal may be nested and not necessarily straightforward. For
   example, the chunk AGC only occurs once in the sequence TAAGAAGCGCCT but
   consider what happens as it is removed:

     TAAGA[AGC]GCCT  -->  TAAG[AGC]CT  -->  TA[AGC]T  -->  TAT

   Chunks may be selected strategically to break dangerous formations in your
   own sequence or to manipulate opponents' sequences to encourage them to
   attack other opponents. For example, ned might nominate a sequence whose
   removal causes ted's sequence to form a chunk that's disastrous for jed.

   In multiplayer games, there is therefore a balance between hurting your
   opponents (especially the next player in turn, who you have the greatest
   control over) and helping them hurt others. Spread the hurt around!

   Only one strand of each player's double helix is shown as that strand's
   sequence implies the sequence on the other strand (unless you have eleven
   toes).

Test Options

   The -min_chunk parameter specifies the minimum chunk size (must be at least
   2).
   The  -max_chunk parameter specifies the maximum chunk size. Chunks may
   therefore range in size within each game (e.g. 2..4).
   The -non_incremental option removes the incremental first round limit on
   chunk removal.
   The -need_not_own option specifies that players need not own a chunk to
   nominate it.
   The -no_reduce_self option specifies that players do not remove chunks from
   their own sequence.
   The -reduce_next option specifies that players remove chunks from the next
   opponent but not other opponents.

Syntax

   Remove chunk GGT:
     dna move board# userid password GGT

   Manually set sequence to GCCAATTATGGACTTGTTGTCAGATAGTTTCCGGCG:
     dna move board# userid password GCCAATTATGGACTTGTTGTCAGATAGTTTCCGGCG

   Alternatively, simply spit on your keyboard to trigger the 
auto-gene sequencer and
   start the game with your own unique DNA sequence!*

   *Not implemented yet.

  History

   DNA rules by Cameron Browne, copyright (c) Cyberite Ltd 2008.

   Graphical web interface: http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv/Dna.php?Dna

   Implementation and Help file by Cameron Browne, October 2008.