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#82193: "New Layout: Draw cards into Hand area (private) instead of Word area (public)"

implemented: This suggestion has been implemented

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Hardback #346905505

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Suggestion: in my opinion, the following would greatly improve the game implementation

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Suggestion: in my opinion, the following would greatly improve the game implementation

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Feb 24th 2023 21:56 • quietmint • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

One minor detail to note. In the physical game, your inked cards are always public (aka, in your "Word" area). These cards could never be put into your hand because the ink is a wooden piece that sits on top of the card (so picking up the card into your hand would make the ink fall off). On BGA, however, I currently allow you to move inked cards into your "Hand" area for convenience of arranging your word in a either place. I wonder if this is fine or if I should follow the rules of the physical game where inked cards must always remain in your "Word" area?

The reason I currently draw cards into your "Word" area is to encourage interaction between players. It's much more engaging if you can see everyone working on their turn (the "Hand" area isn't visible to other players). I understand some players may want a more competitive experience. Yet, if the inked letters are always supposed to be public, what is there to gain by drawn the first 5 cards into your "Hand" but still showing the inked cards? Does that distinction really make the game more competitive somehow?

Feb 24th 2023 22:38 • DragonWhelp • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

I think that is a good compromise to have the inked cards locked into the "Word" area, but would prefer the drawn cards to go into our "Hand" area. That said, the inked cards were always public knowledge, since they are listed in the game log as players draw ink. I think you're right about the advantage of being able to move those inked cards back and forth between areas, while we are contemplating how to form our words.

I like the spirit of the interaction you are aiming for. I think in a real-time game, that would be a fun aspect -- but it could also be a very distracting experience -- I'm imagining on my turn, trying to focus on forming my own word in a timely manner, while meanwhile on my screen I can see my opponents moving their letters around in their word area. It has a possibility of really slowing down games in that case ... as we are distracted/entertained watching each other! LOL

In turn-based games, when we are online at different times, I think it gives an advantage to see what our opponents have drawn. Interaction is not as much of a factor.

Perhaps inked cards, if drawn during another player's turn, can be locked in the player's "Word" area, until it is that player's turn? Then, when it is the player's turn, they can be allowed to freely move the inked card between their areas to figure out their word? Seeing only the inked cards is less of an advantage, as it will be unclear if those inked cards can be used in a meaningful way when combined with what's privately in the player's hand.

In the end, quietmint, whatever is reasonable and enjoyable to you, I will continue to be happy with. My thoughts are just me offering friendly feedback. My appreciation and thanks are ongoing for all of your care and efforts!

Feb 25th 2023 02:24 • intelandroid • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

This newest interface is slightly better than the previous one, but I still prefer the original. It's more useful (at least to me) to see what my opponent's letters are, so I can practice forming words even if it's not my turn. So I prefer having the offer row at the very bottom (where it was before) rather than in the middle of the screen. I also find it more useful to see, at a glance, the number of cards in my draw pile by looking at the leaderboard instead of having to contend with all these new tabs, many of which I am unable to use anyway because of my chosen settings for the game. I'm sure some people prefer this new version, but could you please add an option to go to the old one? Thank you for your time.

Feb 25th 2023 16:55 • quietmint • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

@intelandroid, I won't support multiple interfaces because it's too much work, but I can put the counts for cards in each pile back into the player panel "leaderboard".

Feb 26th 2023 00:23 • OutOfHabit • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

The feedback below are issues I experienced on mobile:

1. It is distracting to see others’ moving their letters while my turn in a real time game. I wish i could hide their hand when I want to (maybe collapse their area down to only seeing the count and not their cards and then expand it again when i want to see)

2. It is harder to see what word has been played by opponents than with the OG setup.

3. The card counts in each section are styled as if they are clickable tabs, so it is confusing that they do not work that way.

4. I wish the number of cards in hand was shown in the “player status area” (near each player’s score and ink qty)

Feb 26th 2023 00:26 • OutOfHabit • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

5. As another player is taking actions, my Submit Word button is removed from the screen (and then is returned again). Since I often have to tap the button a few times to function, it being removed makes it even harder to use than it previously was.

Feb 26th 2023 02:24 • quietmint • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

Regarding #3, they look like clickable tabs because it's the same style for all players. For you the tabs are all (potentially) clickable. For other players you can't view tabs besides "Word". (On PC this is a bit clearer because you get the "not allowed" or "pointer finger" mouse cursor, as appropriate.)

Regarding #4, yes I'll add the counts back in the player panel.

Regarding #5, nothing changed here but I'll make a note of this issue.

Feb 26th 2023 05:22 • quietmint • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

Version 230226-0516: Card counts have been re-added to the player panels (or "leaderboard").

Mar 3rd 2023 16:50 • quietmint • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

Version 230303-1649: Regarding #2: The current word will be displayed in the white action bar at the top of the screen.

Mar 13th 2023 00:55 • DragonWhelp • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

I've just discovered an unfortunate work-around for players to see another player's entire hand, if that player was hoping for some privacy between turns by manually moving their cards from their "Word" area to their "Hand" area. If you "replay" from any player's previous turn, the replay ends with everyone's cards exposed in their "Word" area, thus defeating the purpose of moving one's cards to their hand area.

I think this supports the idea of having the five freshly drawn cards go directly into our "Hand", and only inked cards initially going into the "Word" area as public knowledge.

Mar 17th 2023 14:52 • napthenknit • Developers would like more information about this suggestion:

I agree it, I would prefer if drawn cards go into the hand (private) rather than the word (public).

Mar 18th 2023 09:55 • quietmint • Developers agree that it is a good idea and intend to work on it:

I think what might work best here is offering a game option for the table creator to choose between everyone seeing all players interactively vs everyone seeing only the active player (basically like the old layout). I'll test this to see if it addresses the privacy concerns.

Apr 11th 2023 05:36 • Brocconel • Developers agree that it is a good idea and intend to work on it:

I support the preference to have drawn cards go privately into players' hands, and not into the word playing area for all to see. "Inked" cards staying in the word area makes sense. Thanks for all of your great work!

Aug 13th 2024 04:03 • quietmint • This suggestion has been implemented:

Fixed in version 240813-0307. There's now an option called Open Hands. It defaults to off for competitive games, and on for co-op games. When on, you can see everyone's cards (word, draw, hand, discard) all the time. When off, you can only see the active player's word while it is their turn.

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#82193: "New Layout: Draw cards into Hand area (private) instead of Word area (public)"

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