thanks for the feedback, sockbag :)
i've been experimenting with "un-sequenced" Runs and i'm loving it as it feels a little more Crib and is making for some high-flying fun!
- on that, i still want to limit Runs to consider only 3 Gems at a time. so, for example, 78987 would be 2 Runs as would 12324. and, 54321 would be 3 Runs, while 41234 would be 2 Runs (4123 wouldn't be a run as it's 4 Gems).
meanwhile, i'm not sold on vertical scoring as it makes it a lot easier to score (low scores) and doesn't allow much room for strategy, in my opinion. it's been a lot of being "forced" to take low-point scores for me and i'm in no fear of filling up the 5x5 board compared to a semi-bad run in non-vertical scoring.
regardless, i'll be including multiple game modes (with separate leaderboards) so folks can play how they want to.
- non-sequenced Runs will be in all Modes as i don't see it as a game/fun-breaking offering while there will remain a Classic non-vert scoring mode, a so-called StarCross mode with vertical scoring, and an Infinite mode of never-ending gems with the Classic (non-vert) scoring where you'll play until the board fills up/you can no-longer Drop (another suggestion from early on and i think that could be fun (tho potentially exhausting? alas, i might be up for a marathon like that sometime :) ).
thanks again!