Carp scoring

Basic points
Points in carp are scored by covering bare holes. A plain piece played scores 10 points if all 5 spaces are empty. Counting each piece played as a cost of 10 gives a base 100% efficiency for placing pieces in a hole with no overlap and not finishing holes.

Uncertainty and history of point discussion on the forums
In the past, on the forums, the score has been counted as 1 points per space covered. This, however, results in fractional points. The scoring numbers shown here are based on pure integer math.

Hole finished factor
Completing a hole gives a bonus based on the hole size and the quality of the finish.

The bonus factors:
 * A Masterpiece!: 2
 * Craftsmanship!: 1
 * A Fair Job: 0
 * Sloppy Work: -1
 * A Pig's Breakfast!: -2

This factor is multiplied by the number of pieces needed to cover the hole.

Example: A hole with 50 spaces takes 10 pieces to cover. An MP will score a total of 100 points for coverage, plus 20 points bonus, for 120 points.

Note that a really bad hole, when completed, will have a penalty.

Nice Set and Grain bonus
Grain bonus gives a one category bonus (+1) to the multiplier. Nice set is believed to also be a +1 bonus.

Chain factor
Multiple MP's in a row score more than a single MP. The exact score of this bonus is not known, but is believed to be another +1 bonus for MP's after the first.

Unknowns

 * The effect of a wasteful (loss of a piece)
 * The effect of a hole expanding
 * The exact nature of the consecutive MP bonus.

Sample effective scores
Scoring in carp requires taking into account the need to play in all 4 holes.

Initial hole sample.
To fill an initial hole of 40 spaces (8 pieces) will take 8 turns. It will be necessary to play in all 4 holes to prevent waste; this means 11 pieces will have to be played. Assuming perfect play, this is 110 points, plus an 16 MP bonus, for 126 points, or 114% percent efficiency. A craftsman score would be 12 turns, and 8 fewer points (118 points), for 98% efficiency.

High score on carpentry requires that the first hole be an MP. Simply placing pieces into the holes to start will maintain 100% efficiency, but anything other than an MP for the completion will not give enough of a bonus to generate a sparkly hammer.

Long term example
Long-term MP scoring will score 10 points per piece, and 3 points per piece for the MP bonus; this is 13 per piece played, 130% bonus.

For anything less than MP, the scoring will depend on the size of the holes.

Assuming a 45 space hole (9 pieces to fill), and 10 piece filling (craftsman), this will score 90 points for the hole, and 9 points for the hole completion bonus; this is less than 100% efficiency. In general, in such a case, a hole of N pieces will score 11 * N in N+1 turns; the smaller the hole, the bigger the penalty for a craftsman score.