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From: skywise@iquest.net (Charles Cafrelli)
Subject: Computer "Magic:The Gathering" Player?
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Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 03:51:31 GMT
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Some friends and I were discussing how experimental it is to construct
effective decks for Magic: The Gathering.  It occurred to us that it
might be interesting to come up with an computer AI player that would
construct decks, and then play them against itself or a human player.

I've never really tried AI on this scale before, though.  
     How does one break down a set of complex game rules into a
computer AI?  Are there any standard techniques (I know of the point
based system and a few of the others) for this, or is it still a
matter of experimentation?  I've done basic game AI for chase, and
evasion techniques, but I'm not sure how to go from that to:  "Boost
the mana with my mana battery, and then band my creatures and attack
with trample after casting the appropriate spells, unless my opponent
is..."

I read an article once where somebody used Lisp to program a Starfleet
battles simulator.  The programmer then used the simulator to try ship
design after ship design until the computer had designed the "perfect
ship".  Then entered a competition with that ship and won...easily.
It seems to me you could do the same thing here...

Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks

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|Charles Cafrelli
|skywise@iquest.net
|WC3-3DO, Pacific Strike, Privateer, WC2:SO2, WC2:SO1, Wing Commander 2
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