Z-ENG: Web-Based Catan Map Generator for Balanced Gameplay
2026-2027 ősz
Szoftver
Téma leírása
Catan is a popular strategy board game in which players collect resources, build settlements, and compete to expand across a shared island. However, the arrangement of resources and number tokens can sometimes create unfair maps, where certain regions offer much stronger starting positions or better production opportunities than others. This project aims to develop a Catan Map Generation and Evaluation System that automatically creates valid board layouts, applies configurable balancing rules, visualizes the generated maps, and analyzes factors such as resource distribution, number-token placement, and overall gameplay fairness.
Part 1: Project Lab
Design and implement a Catan Map Generation that produces valid board layouts according to the standard structure of the game.
The main requirements include:
- Generating valid maps with correct resources.
- Supporting configurable rules, such as preventing adjacent 6 and 8 tokens, repeated neighboring numbers, or excessive resource clustering
- Distinguishing between mandatory and optional balancing constraints
- Reproducible map generation
- Developing a web or desktop interface for generating, viewing, saving, and loading maps.
- Storing maps and user settings locally
MVP outcome: A working application that generates valid Catan maps, applies selected constraints, displays them clearly, and provides basic balance statistics.
Part 2: Thesis (Enhancements & Evaluation)
Extend the system with a more advanced and explainable map-balance evaluation.
The main enhancements include:
- Developing a balance score from 0 to 100 based on resource production, number distribution, settlement equality, resource diversity, harbor access, and player-order advantage
- Explaining the score through component results, detected weaknesses, and strong or weak board regions
- Adding visual tools such as production charts, and recommended starting positions
- Performing large-scale experiments and statistical analysis
- Improving software reliability through testing, invalid-map detection, reproducible experiments, and clear documentation
Note:
Students are free to choose any programming languages, frameworks, or visualization tools they prefer to implement the project according to their skills and interests. For example, JavaScript, Python, React.js, ....
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