Mini Cactpot solver app, optimized to minimize clicks!
Posted Jan 29, 2022, 9:11 AM UTC
27466
I made a mini cactpot solver app, optimized to minimize clicks!
This should make for a better experience for long-term daily use (short of using an overlay), though the buttons may be too small for some people or on some screens.
This app is available at https://apps.simshadows.com/ffxiv-mini-cactpot-solver/.
Oh, and for anyone interested in the algorithm I implemented, it's a simple brute force algorithm. Probably works the same as most other cactpot solvers, but I think it's fun to talk about how it works anyway, so here's how it works!
The idea starts by recognizing that when it comes time to pick a line, you will always pick the line that has the highest payout on average. To calculate this, the app generates every possible configuration of the unknown numbers, calculates the payouts for each line in each configuration, then calculates the average for each line. Let's call this highest value the configuration score of a single configuration of all 9 numbers. (Put another way: For any given scratch card with four numbers revealed, the configuration score is your average expected payout, assuming you pick the best line.)
Now, let's take a step back. What if you're picking the final square? For example, suppose we have the following scratch card:
x 5 x
x x 3
x x 7
We'll want to select the square with the highest average payout. Let's start by calling the average payout of a single square its selection score.
To calculate this, we generate scratch cards with every possible number at the top-left, though still keeping the rest unknown:
1 5 x | 2 5 x
x x 3 | x x 3
x x 7 | x x 7
4 5 x | 6 5 x
x x 3 | x x 3
x x 7 | x x 7
8 5 x | 9 5 x
x x 3 | x x 3
x x 7 | x x 7
And for every one of these scratch cards, we generate a configuration score. The selection score of that top-left square is the average configuration score of all these generated scratch cards!
Now, let's take one more step back. What if we are picking a square, but that square is not the final square?
Again, we select the square with the highest average payout, and it works exactly the same as earlier except for one difference: instead of calculating the average configuration score of each unknown square, we instead calculate the average selection score of each unknown square.
Following this strategy will lead to the highest possible payout on average.
(EDIT: Woops, I have no idea how the horizontal line didn't enter in. Also, the post isn't even an image post. That's what I get for trying out New Reddit :/)
25
Y'all going on about how the Y strategy is optimal and the app is unnecessary; this isn't always true.
Check the following layout for instance (left); let's say you were following the Y strat and ended up with the numbers on the right:
[536] [000]
[124] [120]
[879] [009]
If you were to brainlessly follow the Y strat, you would have to pick the upper right slot, ending up with the following (left), and since an 123 is a possibility, you'd go for it and end up with an 124:
[006]
[120]
[009]
On the contrary, if you tried out the app, the app tells you that it is more beneficial to check the number on the line containing 1 & 2, enabling you to give up on finding an 123 and go full 789.
[000]
[124]
[009]
Seriously, do your math before shitting on someone's hard work.
13
What you described is exactly how the Y strat works, you don't literally make an Y every single time, if you find a 1 2 X and you still have moves, you reveal the third number.
7
Nope, there are much more cases in which you don't want to make a Y shape than just when you can directly check for 123; I just picked the most intuitive example.
Try placing a 5 in any corner and a 3 in the middle for instance. The next optimal slot to check for would be one of the sides adjacent to both the 3 and 5.
-5
What's worse than waking up at a party and finding a penis drawn on your face? Finding out it was traced.
-2â€
And you find hair in your mouth.
-2
Cool! Gonna give it a try later thank you !
11
You can literally determine if you have a chance at 1 2 3 with three clicks. That's the only thing you need to look for. If you don't get a chance at 1 2 3 then you go for a 7 8 9 if a row might have it. Anything else the prizes are so insignificant that it's faster just to click random because there's no point in spending time analyzing probability for an extra 36 MGP.
8
Yall are really sold on this Y strat and the "only 123" matters, huh
8
123 and 789. Everything else is too little to care about tbh. So yes it's all that matters
11
21 and 23 are also good payouts, at least enough to let an optimal strategy win a significant amount of more MGP than blind Y in the long run.
1
I don't see why it's one extreme or another tho. Just because the y strategy works a vast majority of the time doesn't mean you have to blindly follow it either. It's pretty obvious when it's not the best strategy. That said I still only find it worth it to play for 123 and 789. I will take a blind 123 over a visible 678 every time.
Edit: part of why it matters less is because you don't actually lose any mgp ever. If it was like it used to be I could see trying harder for lower payouts to guarantee my entry fee back, but that hasn't been the case for awhile.
3
I don't see why only bothering with the biggest payouts is a point anyways; it's not like mgp matters. They only put out anything good for it so rarely that by the time they do you have millions of it just sitting around anyways. Especially if you toss all your Triad cards right back at them regularly, or even just do your fashion report every couple weeks. It's a side currency that doesn't have much to buy with.
-2
A lot of people are giving the same response about only caring for 1 2 3 and if not available then 9 8 7/6.
And it's true, with only 3 tickets per day, it's go big or don't care. So to that end, I think rather than giving the best average expected value, a solver app should have an option for highest potential prize line. Like I'd rather have a small chance at a 1800 or 1080 vs a good chance at 560 if that makes sense. Go big or go home, but when big isn't available give me the largest available even if it's only a 2/20 chance.
7
I think rather than giving the best average expected value, a solver app should have an option for highest potential prize line.
With how the payouts are structured, it tends to be the same line anyways
2
right but thats because of how top heavy it is. but im saying people would only bust out a solver when it isn't that obvious.
1
Those solvers are cool and all but I've reached the point where I do not care enough to even take the minute to open a website just to do it.
I just start with the Y pattern and if anything related to 123 or 789 is revealed I just adjust from there even if it's not optimal and I lose out on some better mathematical chances otherwise.
I do know there is a plugin on one of those 3rd party things that will automatically highlight the things for you if people want to go that route.
I'm mostly on PS5 so I don't even bother with all that.
7
Jesus these comments. How many fedoras do y'all have stacked on your heads?
6â€
XIV launcher has this built in.
4
It's not built in
2
1
It's a plugin you install with dalamud. So not built in.
2
...yep, plainly pedantic\contrary. Comes right with it.
-3
Cool - you're definitely not the first to do so, even with an expected reward calculation on top of everything, but yours seems to be more mobile-friendly on top, so that's an advantage - and the extra on-demand info helps a lot as well!
3
It's just about probabilities when there isn't a 1 2 3/7 8 9 line, you really don't need apps guys. Click the numbers, then in 2 seconds you know which line to unveil. Using an app takes longer.
2â€
Has the mini cactpot game changed since SHB? I haven't played it since then, but at the time you got to reveal three numbers then you picked the line, which would make "minimising clicks" kinda pointless. What am I missing here?
2
Sorry, poor wording on my part! By minimizing clicks, I'm referring to the UI of the web app. We've had so many solver apps for the past few years and they work beautifully, yet an annoyance I have with all of them is that they're all either drop-down menus or textboxes. Considering how this is an app that you might potentially use regularly, I wondered if it could be done better, hence this app!
2
This is amazing, thank you!
2
Y strat ftw
2
You don't need a calculator, no matter which position is revealed scratch the other numbers so it looks like so from any direction-
X O O
O X X
X O O
X being a revealed number. Even if you only reveal one of the 3 numbers needed for the 10K you will know what line to select to get the max prize. Never fails.
1â€
It can fail quite often actually because it doesn't naturally check if 1,2,3 is possible in the first place. If you get 1,2 in your first guess for example then the y-strat forces you to gamble on a 1/5 chance. Having your second guess complete the line removes that necessity and lets you make a more educated guess, which in the absolute best case can net you 3500 extra MGP over the Y-strat.
5
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1
you don't need an app
Just make a Y shape in any direction, done.
1â€
It takes no effort to at least make sure you checked for any possibility of 123. just some for thought and common sense
1
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1
If you pick the center, a cardinal and both diagonals opposite of the cardinal, you always know which line is the 1-2-3 if any. Not sure a calc was needed.
Yep! The classic Y-strategy is perfectly reasonable and will still net you excellent results in the long-term. Apps are indeed not needed, but they are an option.
I'm actually curious to know how much of a difference solver apps make. A perfect strategy should give you a payout of 1485 on average, but I wonder what the Y-strategy would give you 🤔
I’ve been doing the Y strategy, and focusing solely on 1-2-3. So I often get 72, or 360, or such as a return. On average I get 5 wins a week. Some weeks 8, other weeks 1-2. Over the long run I would say it is roughly producing 50k per week. Add to that the fashion thing for another 60k and it adds up.
You're actually very lucky to get more than three 1-2-3 payouts per week, assuming the layout is completely random.
Given a random layout of nine numbers, the chances of having a 1-2-3 line at all is only 2/21. If you buy three mini cactpots every day, that's 21 payouts a week, netting in only two 1-2-3 payouts per week on average.
I of course have no idea if the layout is actually completely random and not rigged towards the player.
There's no such thing as random numbers in computer random number strings. It's almost always predicated on clock time, mouse position, etc.
IMO the Y strat is best because the other combos don't matter.
Well the 9,8,7 result is still like 3k iirc? It's not that bad as a second option
What a solver does is help minimize not gett 123. The chances of cactpot are the same because you always know where it is if you did it right. The only benefit of the solver is when 123 isn't possible to help you figure out your best alternative.
What's the probability of the grid having 123 in a line?
2/21, assuming the grid isn't rigged.
There's far more than just 1-2-3 but that's an easy solve for that particular combo.
Please ELI5
I believe that u/ChrisMorray is saying that if you choose the Center, and then one of the 4 center directions (up, down, left, right), and then the 2 corners on the opposite end of the center direction you chose, you will always know 1-2-3.
To explain the 2 diagonals, let's say the card had the Left Center autofilled, and then you chose the Center. Because the Left Center was autofilled, you want the corners on the Right.
Same thing if the Topright Corner was chosen. Choose the Center, then either Top Left or Bottom Right corner, and then the center tile opposite of the side you chose.