I am a Bammi Master
August 16, 2010 8:16 AM Subscribe
Bammi is an easy little distraction game I've had saved to my bookmarks bar for a couple years now. It just occurred to me that others might like it, too.
Apologies for the comic sans.
Apologies for the comic sans.
Grrrr, that game is IMPOSSIBLE.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:37 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:37 AM on August 16, 2010
Won the first time in 22 moves, before I knew what I was doing. Now I lose a lot can't get back below 36.
posted by Partial Law at 8:50 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by Partial Law at 8:50 AM on August 16, 2010
Managed to get a 34. Very hard.
I wonder if this can be analyzed in the same way as Nim?
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:58 AM on August 16, 2010
I wonder if this can be analyzed in the same way as Nim?
posted by Lemurrhea at 8:58 AM on August 16, 2010
Okay now I've gotten to 21, but it was on a fluke board that only had 8 spaces, so I don't know how well that should count. It's a clever design and the tide can change really fast.
posted by Partial Law at 9:03 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by Partial Law at 9:03 AM on August 16, 2010
Not cool calling it easy. That hurts a guy's feelings when he loses 6 times in a row.
posted by mccarty.tim at 9:06 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mccarty.tim at 9:06 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is awesome. Some much is denying the opponent the ability to complete a circle.
posted by Mitheral at 9:08 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by Mitheral at 9:08 AM on August 16, 2010
Easy in concept is perhaps what I should have said. I've also been playing it for a really long time.
Try starting with the many-sliced circles instead of the ones and twos like the computer starts with.
posted by phunniemee at 9:13 AM on August 16, 2010
Try starting with the many-sliced circles instead of the ones and twos like the computer starts with.
posted by phunniemee at 9:13 AM on August 16, 2010
WOHOO I JUST WON ONE YAY
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:16 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:16 AM on August 16, 2010
I got a 27.
Also managed a 44. Wonder how high I can go and still win?
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:16 AM on August 16, 2010
Also managed a 44. Wonder how high I can go and still win?
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:16 AM on August 16, 2010
Try starting with the many-sliced circles instead of the ones and twos like the computer starts with.
You mean because I might like losing even more rapidly?
posted by DU at 9:17 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
You mean because I might like losing even more rapidly?
posted by DU at 9:17 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is perfect for a sick day. Or any day, really.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:25 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by adamdschneider at 9:25 AM on August 16, 2010
Finally won one in 48 moves, but I can't really say it was due to any sort of strategy...
posted by krakedhalo at 9:34 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by krakedhalo at 9:34 AM on August 16, 2010
How come when it finished a pie it gets to click on it right away and BAMM all your pies, but when you finish a pie you have to wait for its next turn? NOT FAIR
posted by languagehat at 9:47 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by languagehat at 9:47 AM on August 16, 2010
It cascades languagehat; you can do that too. (or at least I haven't caught it cheating)
posted by Mitheral at 9:59 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by Mitheral at 9:59 AM on August 16, 2010
I'm glad I'm not the only one getting my ass kicked by some pie-eating, comic-sans-sporting, smug-asshole-ai.
posted by fontophilic at 10:04 AM on August 16, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by fontophilic at 10:04 AM on August 16, 2010 [4 favorites]
I have found that the easiest way to win is right when I think I'm losing big.
Guess it's sort of like Reversi in that way.
posted by the dief at 10:05 AM on August 16, 2010
Guess it's sort of like Reversi in that way.
posted by the dief at 10:05 AM on August 16, 2010
What the hell is going on how did you figure this out what
posted by reductiondesign at 10:13 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by reductiondesign at 10:13 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
112 move win, on the big board. Past a certain point, it become so unpredictable that you stop playing for any sort of tactical advantage and instead try to hoard corner pieces that aren't likely to set off huge chain reactions when the asshole red pie starts filling in pieces in the middle.
I also feel like it should be possible to make a move that cycles stably--if you had the right configuration of 2-and-3 slot pieces, you could just run clockwise forever. Now I want to start reloading the page until I see a promising one...
posted by Mayor West at 10:16 AM on August 16, 2010
I also feel like it should be possible to make a move that cycles stably--if you had the right configuration of 2-and-3 slot pieces, you could just run clockwise forever. Now I want to start reloading the page until I see a promising one...
posted by Mayor West at 10:16 AM on August 16, 2010
Mega Bammi is too elite for me. I went 198 moves one round then lost. I didn't think losing blueberry pie would ever make me feel so defeated.
I averaged around 35 moves on regular Bammi. Best was 11 and "worst" was 53.
posted by zephyr_words at 10:20 AM on August 16, 2010
I averaged around 35 moves on regular Bammi. Best was 11 and "worst" was 53.
posted by zephyr_words at 10:20 AM on August 16, 2010
Woo, I eventually figured out what I'm supposed to do, sort of! I'm a bit scared to graduate past little Bammi for now.
posted by domnit at 10:21 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by domnit at 10:21 AM on August 16, 2010
Okay now I've gotten to 21, but it was on a fluke board that only had 8 spaces
Likewise, my best score of 17 came with a 7-space board.
Try starting with the many-sliced circles instead of the ones and twos like the computer starts with.
You mean because I might like losing even more rapidly?
That was my response as well after trying that "advice." However, the many-sliced circles are the ones that touch the most squares. If you can get the counts right, it's a valid "strategy."
The only strategy I've been able to find has been to get ahead with full circles ready to deploy when the computer has no choice but to activate his/her own circles.
Yeah, it's really just mastering those final pie pieces on each square. Just keeping an eye out for advantageous situations (i.e. the big winning move) will give you a big leg up.
My best so far is a 111-move win on Big Bammi. Great game, if "simple." Thanks!
posted by mrgrimm at 10:22 AM on August 16, 2010
Likewise, my best score of 17 came with a 7-space board.
Try starting with the many-sliced circles instead of the ones and twos like the computer starts with.
You mean because I might like losing even more rapidly?
That was my response as well after trying that "advice." However, the many-sliced circles are the ones that touch the most squares. If you can get the counts right, it's a valid "strategy."
The only strategy I've been able to find has been to get ahead with full circles ready to deploy when the computer has no choice but to activate his/her own circles.
Yeah, it's really just mastering those final pie pieces on each square. Just keeping an eye out for advantageous situations (i.e. the big winning move) will give you a big leg up.
My best so far is a 111-move win on Big Bammi. Great game, if "simple." Thanks!
posted by mrgrimm at 10:22 AM on August 16, 2010
Ah, I now see Mega Bammi is where it's at.
I won my first game at 239 moves, but now I'm afraid I am blind.
I also feel like it should be possible to make a move that cycles stably--if you had the right configuration of 2-and-3 slot pieces, you could just run clockwise forever.
I swear I had one move on MB that took about 5 minutes to complete. I thought I had hit that cycle.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:45 AM on August 16, 2010
I won my first game at 239 moves, but now I'm afraid I am blind.
I also feel like it should be possible to make a move that cycles stably--if you had the right configuration of 2-and-3 slot pieces, you could just run clockwise forever.
I swear I had one move on MB that took about 5 minutes to complete. I thought I had hit that cycle.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:45 AM on August 16, 2010
The AI isn't always the brightest. I'm pretty sure it had a winning move in one game I played and didn't take it.
if you had the right configuration of 2-and-3 slot pieces, you could just run clockwise forever.
The number of pie pieces in a region always seems to equal the number of other regions bordering that one. I think this prevents a situation where you can get locked into a cycle, though it'd be interesting trying to prove that mathematically.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:53 AM on August 16, 2010
if you had the right configuration of 2-and-3 slot pieces, you could just run clockwise forever.
The number of pie pieces in a region always seems to equal the number of other regions bordering that one. I think this prevents a situation where you can get locked into a cycle, though it'd be interesting trying to prove that mathematically.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:53 AM on August 16, 2010
Lemurrhea, I was thinking that it might yield to an analysis via combinatorial game theory (nim, etc.) but then I realized that I don't know the rules.
posted by madcaptenor at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by madcaptenor at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2010
The number of pie pieces in a region always seems to equal the number of other regions bordering that one. I think this prevents a situation where you can get locked into a cycle, though it'd be interesting trying to prove that mathematically.
Please? It would take a better person than me, but can someone prove or disprove the possibility of a endlessly repeating cycle?
posted by mrgrimm at 1:07 PM on August 16, 2010
Please? It would take a better person than me, but can someone prove or disprove the possibility of a endlessly repeating cycle?
posted by mrgrimm at 1:07 PM on August 16, 2010
Damn you! I was being productive today, and now this.
posted by cerebus19 at 1:18 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by cerebus19 at 1:18 PM on August 16, 2010
Won in 31 moves but I'm really not sure how on earth that happened. There was a sudden cascade in my favour and voila.
posted by juliebug at 1:21 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by juliebug at 1:21 PM on August 16, 2010
Since there seems to be some confusion, here's a page from the missing manual.
RULES:
1) The board is partitioned into rectilinear spaces. Each space contains a circle, divided into as many parts as there are neighboring spaces.
2) Players alternate turns. On your turn, you may click any space of your color, or any uncolored space.
- 2a) If you click on an uncolored space, the space is colored with your color and one circle piece is filled.
- 2b) If you click on a space of your color, one piece is added to the circle.
-- 2bi) If the circle is already full, then the circle resets to one filled piece, and all neighboring spaces immediately become your color and have one piece added to their circles, following this rule again if necessary.
3) The first player to turn every space on the board their color wins.
posted by persona at 1:38 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
RULES:
1) The board is partitioned into rectilinear spaces. Each space contains a circle, divided into as many parts as there are neighboring spaces.
2) Players alternate turns. On your turn, you may click any space of your color, or any uncolored space.
- 2a) If you click on an uncolored space, the space is colored with your color and one circle piece is filled.
- 2b) If you click on a space of your color, one piece is added to the circle.
-- 2bi) If the circle is already full, then the circle resets to one filled piece, and all neighboring spaces immediately become your color and have one piece added to their circles, following this rule again if necessary.
3) The first player to turn every space on the board their color wins.
posted by persona at 1:38 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've won a couple of games of this and damned if I can see how. I also had positions where I thought I was kicking ass and my oponent was down to one square and then it ate my lunch. The game can shift so rapidly that it seems very hard to come up with a good strategy.
My current thought is that if all or most of your squares consist of full pies then you are actually in real trouble - because they will help the enemy advance if they are taken over. Partial pies, if taken over, stop the advance. Of course, you need full circles to advance yourself. My guess is that there is a tipping point at which full circles help the enemy more than you, some point at which you are no longer advancing rapidly, but making incremental moves forward.
The endless cycle thing can't happen. For it to happen your blue areas would have to explode only onto other blue areas, no red (or rather, the steady state can only infect blue pieces. If you are still taking over enemy squares then you aren't in the steady-state cycle mode). That can only happen if you own the whole board (or if the board exists in multiple disjoint pieces).
(Okay, now I've just won three games in a row and I still don't know how I'm doing it).
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:52 PM on August 16, 2010
My current thought is that if all or most of your squares consist of full pies then you are actually in real trouble - because they will help the enemy advance if they are taken over. Partial pies, if taken over, stop the advance. Of course, you need full circles to advance yourself. My guess is that there is a tipping point at which full circles help the enemy more than you, some point at which you are no longer advancing rapidly, but making incremental moves forward.
The endless cycle thing can't happen. For it to happen your blue areas would have to explode only onto other blue areas, no red (or rather, the steady state can only infect blue pieces. If you are still taking over enemy squares then you aren't in the steady-state cycle mode). That can only happen if you own the whole board (or if the board exists in multiple disjoint pieces).
(Okay, now I've just won three games in a row and I still don't know how I'm doing it).
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:52 PM on August 16, 2010
I've won a couple of games of this and damned if I can see how.
The most basic strategy is to create as many full pies that aren't adjacent to red full pies. The more pieces in the pie, the more powerful it is.
My current thought is that if all or most of your squares consist of full pies then you are actually in real trouble - because they will help the enemy advance if they are taken over. Partial pies, if taken over, stop the advance. Of course, you need full circles to advance yourself.
Yeah, this is the trick. Position your full circles one square away from your opponents' for the counterattack, and keep the partial circles where they can block your opponents advance. You particularly want circles with 1 piece missing, so that you can respond with a overwhelming BAMMI of death.
Of course, if he gets a chain reaction, then your pie with 1 piece left is suddenly full and then BAMMI! So you have to watch out for double (and triple) full pie attacks as well.
The AI isn't always the brightest. I'm pretty sure it had a winning move in one game I played and didn't take it.
I think the combinations involved and strategy become much more difficult or perhaps intuitive at the higher levels. It takes a significant amount of discipline to pay attention to all of the pieces, but I haven't lost a game on Mega Bammi yet (when I've tried my hardest - it is definitely possible to lose on MB).
posted by mrgrimm at 2:35 PM on August 16, 2010
The most basic strategy is to create as many full pies that aren't adjacent to red full pies. The more pieces in the pie, the more powerful it is.
My current thought is that if all or most of your squares consist of full pies then you are actually in real trouble - because they will help the enemy advance if they are taken over. Partial pies, if taken over, stop the advance. Of course, you need full circles to advance yourself.
Yeah, this is the trick. Position your full circles one square away from your opponents' for the counterattack, and keep the partial circles where they can block your opponents advance. You particularly want circles with 1 piece missing, so that you can respond with a overwhelming BAMMI of death.
Of course, if he gets a chain reaction, then your pie with 1 piece left is suddenly full and then BAMMI! So you have to watch out for double (and triple) full pie attacks as well.
The AI isn't always the brightest. I'm pretty sure it had a winning move in one game I played and didn't take it.
I think the combinations involved and strategy become much more difficult or perhaps intuitive at the higher levels. It takes a significant amount of discipline to pay attention to all of the pieces, but I haven't lost a game on Mega Bammi yet (when I've tried my hardest - it is definitely possible to lose on MB).
posted by mrgrimm at 2:35 PM on August 16, 2010
I was down to just one half pie but then ran the board. With the final click.
I have won (and lost) the game on the final click of a full blue pie, but not a half. That should be impossible.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:50 PM on August 16, 2010
I have won (and lost) the game on the final click of a full blue pie, but not a half. That should be impossible.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:50 PM on August 16, 2010
If you're not in a hurry to win in record time, just being patient lets you win against the computer 9 out of 10 times. Once I realised that sometimes I should fill in a pie piece not because it was advantageous, but because we were at a stage of the game where it's a waiting game to see who will be the first to make a disadvantageous move, I've hardly lost a game.
Just refraining from stupid moves like putting a full pie next to one of it's full pies, and preparing full pies to counter attack after it captures your pies, is a really solid stategy, but you don't set any records.
posted by surenoproblem at 8:31 PM on August 16, 2010
Just refraining from stupid moves like putting a full pie next to one of it's full pies, and preparing full pies to counter attack after it captures your pies, is a really solid stategy, but you don't set any records.
posted by surenoproblem at 8:31 PM on August 16, 2010
BTW, is there any setting for a two player game? I could see my girlfriend really wanting to beat me at this, does anyone know how to turn off the AI?
posted by surenoproblem at 8:33 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by surenoproblem at 8:33 PM on August 16, 2010
Taking 6 slice and 5 slice pieces, which the computer barely values, means that when the waiting game comes, you always have more waiting moves up your sleeve than the computer, and hence it's always the first one to make a dumb move.
posted by surenoproblem at 9:02 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by surenoproblem at 9:02 PM on August 16, 2010
What kinda crazy robot cuts its pie into two semicircular slices?
posted by HeroZero at 9:22 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by HeroZero at 9:22 PM on August 16, 2010
The AI is bad — it doesn't care to maintain dominance over areas where it has pieces. Place your slices such that you can make a full pie faster than the AI could in any adjacent square. Never place a slice adjacent to any square where the AI could make a full pie faster than you could in that square. The AI will not be smart enough to beat you.
(this means that, just like the AI, you'll be focusing on one-slice squares, then two-slice squares not adjacent to one-slice squares, then three-slice squares not adjacent to two-slice squares, and so on. This strategy is naive and won't always work against good play. The AI is bad, though.)
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:34 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
(this means that, just like the AI, you'll be focusing on one-slice squares, then two-slice squares not adjacent to one-slice squares, then three-slice squares not adjacent to two-slice squares, and so on. This strategy is naive and won't always work against good play. The AI is bad, though.)
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:34 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
An effective tactic that the AI doesn't seem to recognize is the following: suppose the computer has a full pie in region A, which borders a second region B that you own. Full pies on one's border make one antsy, so how to get rid of it? To take over region A, do the following:
- Locate two more regions C and D that you own, that both border each other and region B, and that do not border any full pies of your opponent. (Obviously the strategy isn't applicable if such regions don't exist.)
- Fill regions C and D. If one of them is in your "interior" and the other is on the border, fill the interior one first.
- Fill region B so that it has one piece missing.
- Click on region C. It overfills, and adds a piece to B and D; D overfills, and adds a piece to B and C; B overfills, and flips (and overfills) region A. It's important to do step 2 before step 3; that way, if the AI decides to overfill A while you're still filling B, you can use C or D to flip B back to your control. You probably don't get region A in this event, but at least A isn't a full pie anymore.
I'm not positive, but I think the AI uses that tactic (and even 1 level higher, i.e. with 3 squares).
...
Ah, "recognize," right. Yeah, its defense is not as good as its offense. That's probably why making the board bigger (Mega Bammi) almost assures a win for me. With a smaller board, a devastating coup de grace is more possible.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:00 PM on August 17, 2010
...
Ah, "recognize," right. Yeah, its defense is not as good as its offense. That's probably why making the board bigger (Mega Bammi) almost assures a win for me. With a smaller board, a devastating coup de grace is more possible.
posted by mrgrimm at 2:00 PM on August 17, 2010
After you learn the basic strategy of how to beat the computer, the AI can be beaten every time. Man, I wish we could play against other human online, or in the flesh.
posted by surenoproblem at 12:14 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by surenoproblem at 12:14 AM on August 18, 2010
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posted by Naberius at 8:37 AM on August 16, 2010