Settlers of Catan: AI Simulator

Installation and Setup:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/dkazenoff/ai-catan.git
   

2. Install python 3.6 or greater:

   sudo apt-get install python3.6
   

3. Run main.py by switching into sub directory:

   cd ai-catan/code
   python3 main.py
   

Running Linear Regression Program using Sklearn (not necessary for running main.py):

1. Install pip:

   sudo apt install python3-pip
   

2. Install pandas, NumPy, Sklearn and TensorFlow:

   sudo pip install pandas
   sudo python3 -m pip install --user numpy scipy matplotlib ipython jupyter pandas sympy nose
   sudo pip install -U scikit-learn
   sudo pip install --upgrade tensorflow
   

3. Modify test.py by switching into sub directory:

   cd ai-catan/code/lregression
   open test.py
   on Line 9, modify "data" variable by inputting the appropriate csv file
   

4. Run test.py:

   python3 test.py
   

I ) Program Description

This program explores several uses of AI for playing Settlers of Catan. Does initial settlement location really determine who will win in the end? How much is this a skill-based game, and how much can be attributed to randomness or pure luck? Let's find out.

By utilizing a trained multiple linear regression model to choose settlement locations, and a rule-based option selector for playing out the game, 3 computers can compete in a full match against each other.

Uses for this program:

1. Run thousands of simulations quickly to collect training data for your own research (with output to outputdata.csv)
2. Plug in personalized board coordinates to see which locations our computer(s) would find most optimal
3. View a single match progression on a visualized board position print-out to output.txt

II ) Supported Game Mechanics

1. Resource Collecting
2. Building roads, settlements, and cities
3. Trading in to the bank (only 4 for 1 trades) if it benefits the player
4. Robber gets placed if 7 is rolled; players containing > 7 cards must discard half their deck

III ) What isn't supported (yet)

1. Trading with other players
2. Ports
3. Development cards
4. Rewards for longest road / largest army

IV ) External Libraries and Resources Utilized

1. pandas
2. NumPy
3. Sklearn
4. My Settlers of Catan Games on Kaggle provided by Lumin - for initial training set. Subsequent training taken from our own simulations
5. Settlers of Catan Analysis by Peter Keep - used initially for finding primary resource values