Beating the Pandemic: An Optimization Approach to Board Game Strategy
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Authors
Jarman, Anna
Date of Issue
2023-04-28
Type
Presentation
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Abstract
Pandemic: Hot Zone is a board game in which players work together to research and find cures for 3 diseases before the diseases overtake the game board. It is an intricate board game that is part strategy and part luck. In this project we attempt to discover an effective strategic framework for playing the game which will give players the best probability of winning. A systematic approach to Pandemic strategy is taken by implementing a computer simulation of the game and training models to play it. An objective function is defined in order to quantify by how much models 'win' or 'lose.' Different models are implemented using an optimal control approach to find an efficient strategical guide for decision-making while playing the game. Parameters are altered within models using an optimization approach to discover optimal strategic balance between various tough choices players must make.