Re: [Bug-gnubg] Manual

[Jim Segrave]

On Sat 15 Nov 2003 (18:56 +0100), Achim Mueller wrote:
> * Jim Segrave wrote on 15 Nov 2003:
> 
> > > First of all GNU Backgammon is ... work in progress. Don't blame us if
> > > - a feature isn't implemented yet
> > > - a feature doesn't work correctly
> > > - gnubg crashes
> > > - your system suffers after gnubg is installed
> > 
> > I have to say that I would include these warnings, but not as the first
> > thing someone encounters.
> 
> A matter of taste ... I like to start with "drawbacks".

I appreciate it, but I fear that it may have one of two effects:

the reader decides it's far too experimental and unstable to be of
interest or they start with an inherent distrust of the program so
that if they find anything non-intuitive or if gnubg's play or analysis
surprises them they shrug it off as "oh, it's still under development"
instead of either reading the documentation to find out how things
work or examining the analysis from gnubg with an open mind to see
that it is in fact right.

> > > 
> > > GNU Backgammon has a
> > > - Graphical User Interface (GUI) with 2D- or 3D-Animation
> > 
> > Most aspects of the appearance of the GUI versions can be selected
> > either from existing designs or you can easily change most aspects -
> > colours, textures, lighting, for 3d boards the perspective, etc.
> 
> Would you like to add this? Remember, this should only be a short
> overview.

GNU Backgammon has a
- Graphical User Interface (GUI) with 2D- or 3D-Animation
- this GUI comes with a selection of board designs to choose from
- there are powerful but simple tools to change or create your own
  design
- you can choose colours, lighting, textures and even the perspective
  of the 3D board

> > > With GNU Backgammon you may play
> > > - backgammon, nackgammon or hypergammon
> > > - games, matches or sessions
> > 
> > We should note that unlike some other backgammon software, gnubg
> > always adjusts its play according to the score, which is particularly
> > important in match play.
> 
> ACK
> 
> > > Gnubgs analysing functions allow you to
> > > - get hints during the game (tutor)
> > 
> > these are actually two different things - hints are things you
> > initiate, tutor advice happens automatically
> 
> ACK
> 
> > > - evaluate positions 
> > > - analyse or rollout positions, games, matches or sessions
> > 
> > I think we can safely claim that rollouts have probably the most 
> > extensive controls to set speed and accuracy of any backgammon software
> 
> ACK
> 
> > > You can
> > > - setup, edit and save positions, games, matches and sessions
> > > - replay games, matches and sessions
> > > - record annotations
> > > - store error rates for different players
> > 
> > I'd mention that the theory window allows extenive exploration of
> > double and take points, gammon values and other important aspects of
> > cube usage.

- there is a pwerful theory function which allows you to explore
  doubling windows, gammon prices and similar cube theory, valuable
  for money games and essential for match play
- gnubg has a "temperature map" which gives a graphical simple
  overview of the possible results of the next dice roll.

> Yep, I forgot this.
> 
> > > GNU Backgammon exports positions, games, matches and sessions into
> > > - *.pos 
> > > - *.mat
> > 
> > This should note that the above are Jellyfish formats
> 
> 
> > > GNU Backgammon uses different databases to rise its skill
> > > - gnubg.weights / gnubg.wd
> > > - gnubg_os.bd
> > > - gnubg_ts.bd
> > > - hypergammon (1,2,3)
> > > - Hugh Sconyers databases
> > 
> > Hmm - a couple of things
> > 
> > s/uses different databases to rise its skill/can use different
> > databases to make it even more powerful/
> > 
> > But gnubg.weights isn't (for any likely user) something you can change
> > to improve its playing ability.
> > 
> > We should probably say that gnubg comes with with one and two sided
> > rollout databases, but larger ones covering more positions are
> > available for use
> > 
> > One can choose from a large selection of match equity tables (and
> > adding others is easy)
> 
> The database part was just a quick shot to get all features. You're
> probably right with explaining a little bit more.

GNU Backgammon comes with several databases for handling bearoffs and
match equity.

- larger (covering more chequers and more points) bear off data bases
  are available
- software is included for generating these larger databases yourself
- databases for hypergammon (1, 2, and 3) are available
- gnubg can use Hugh Sconyers huge databases for races and bearoffs
- gnubg comes with a selection of several Match Equity Tables (METs),
  allowing you to change from one to the other with ease.
- it is not difficult to create and use a new MET


-- 
Jim Segrave           address@hidden