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[markusin]

With all this talk of browser extensions, simulators, and log parsers flying around, it seems like a lot of people here are computer savvy. I myself am currently studying software engineering and am working on a research prototyping project this summer.

Is there something about Dominion that naturally attracts programmers or are they just more likely to be active forum goers?

[michaeljb]

Donald X. was also a programmer. So I'm gonna go with it was just destined to attract programmers because it came from one.

[Awaclus]

I think programming is pretty popular these days. It's losing the social stigma of being nerdy and uncool, people are realizing how much programmers are going to be needed in the near future, and there are so many easy ways to get into programming.

Either that or every other activity I'm into also attracts all the programmers in the world.

[sudgy]

Well, programming is a useful skill anyway.  Oh, I need to do this.  I can make a program for it!

[Ratsia]

Is there something about Dominion that naturally attracts programmers or are they just more likely to be active forum goers?

It's a combination of several biases in action. Computer programmers and other people with similar occupation/training/interest are probably more likely to play board games in general, and they are certainly more likely to use online forums. Also, Dominion probably attracts that bunch a bit more than some other games, but I would not except that difference to be that big. However, competitive dominion and in particular discussing card combinations etc. again should imply a bias in favor of programming-minded people. Finally, you can often also spot a programmer based on how they write (about technical content at least), so there's a bit of an observational bias as well; you see a bunch of programmers but don't directly realize how many non-programmers there are.

I'm personally not really a programmer, but my PhD is in computer science, so not that far either.


Note that the above is all about correlations, not causation.

[Davio]

I'm a programmer.

[Lekkit]

I'm not. D:

[Grujah]

I myself am currently studying software engineering

It's just geeky stuff, to which we are attracted.

[treebeardtheent]

I think programmers, engineers and other fields that focus on problem solving tend to be tabletop gammers. I think the key is the enjoyment of overcoming obstacles and finding a new solution that no one else has found.

I, for example, am a Civil design specialist (one step below an engineer) that knows AutoLISP and VisualLISP because it makes my job easier. I work a a Civil Firm that employees about 80 people and there are quite a few that play Dominion.

[markusin]

I'm sure that there are a lot of non-computer science oriented people who play Dominion and board games like it in general. I mean, just look at how many people play on Goko. But I wonder if the competitive scene seems to bring out the population of Dominion players who have a programming interest.

[A Drowned Kernel]

I'm not a programmer but I am a science student and I feel that Dominion has enough in common with programming that being good at Dominion requires a lot of the same skill sets. I remember DVX himself saying at one point that Dominion cards should be thought of like pieces of code: each card follows a set of steps in a particular order, doing one thing at a time, and you can (in theory) figure out any card interaction just by literally following the directions on each card.

[AdamH]

I'm not a programmer but I am a science student and I feel that Dominion has enough in common with programming that being good at Dominion requires a lot of the same skill sets. I remember DVX himself saying at one point that Dominion cards should be thought of like pieces of code: each card follows a set of steps in a particular order, doing one thing at a time, and you can (in theory) figure out any card interaction just by literally following the directions on each card.

This, but I dislike Robo Rally because it's too much like work. Dominion adds a competitive aspect and also a creative aspect to putting together snippets of code. The first is just not present in my job and the second is one of my favorite parts of my job.

[Vermillion]

With all this talk of browser extensions, simulators, and log parsers flying around, it seems like a lot of people here are computer savvy. I myself am currently studying software engineering and am working on a research prototyping project this summer.

Is there something about Dominion that naturally attracts programmers or are they just more likely to be active forum goers?

Meh. I'm a gigolo.

[Titandrake]

There's creativity in figuring out strong strategies, and optimization in making those strategies run as smoothly as possible.

My guess is that the first appeals to many people (including programmers), and the latter appeals more to programmers than to other people. Or I could be saying nonsense. Who knows?