# The &kappname; Handbook

Matt
Williams
matt@milliams.com
Eugene
Trounev
Reviewer

    eugene.trounev@gmail.com

2006
Matt Williams
&FDLNotice;
2007-11-14
&kappversion;

This documentation describes the game of &kappname; version &kappversion;

KDE
kdegames
game
Ksquares
board
Dots and Boxes
Boxes
Squares
four players
Paddocks
Square-it
Dots and Dashes
Dot Game

## Introduction

### Gametype:

Board

### Number of possible players:

Four

&kappname; is a fun and exciting game for &kde; desktop environment. &kappname; is modeled after the well known pen and paper based game of Dots and Boxes.

The idea behind &kappname; is to construct squares by interconnecting the dots on the grid. Up to four players can play this game together, taking turns. The trick is – regardless of who has constructed most of the square, it is the player who completes the square that gets the point for it.

To win the game round player has to collect the most points by covering the most area with the squares of player's own color.

## How to Play

### Objective:

Complete more squares than any of your opponents.

At the start of the game, the game board is empty. There is simply a grid of dots showing where lines can be drawn.

### Note:

Depending on the game difficulty chosen, the game field may already contain lines at the beginning of the game round.

Each player takes it in turns to draw a line between two adjacent dots on the board. By hovering the mouse over the game board, a yellow indicator line will show you where your line will be placed when you click. Once you have decided where you want to draw your line, click - and the line will be drawn. If by drawing a line, you completed a square then this square now belongs to you and earns you a point. Each time you complete a square, you must draw another line. If your line did not complete a square then the next player(s) take their turn. The game will continue until every square on the board is owned by one of the players.

To start a new game with custom settings (number of players, player names, board size) click on the New toolbar button or go to &Ctrl;N Game New. To start a new game with the same settings as the current game, click on Restart Game on the toolbar.

## Game Rules, Strategies and Tips

### Game Rules

There is very little to be said when it come to the rules, as the game concept in itself is rather a simple one. Nevertheless, here are the game regulations you, as a player will defiantly face while playing &kappname;:

- You may only connect the dots on the grid if they are not previously connected by you, your opponent, or the computer.

- To gain the points you have to connect the dots to form a square.

- The square can be no larger than the four adjacent dots on the grid allow for.

- Once a square is complete the player who draws the last line of that square is granted the right of possession over it. The square then is colored and the player is given a point.

- The player who completes the square is given an extra turn which the player cannot forfeit.

### Strategies and Tips

- Try not to play at random. Such game practice will most certainly result in loss.

- Construct long chains of lines over the gameboard. Once one such chain is complete start to build another one going parallel to the first.

- Try not to build contraptions where only one line remains undone. Your opponent will almost certainly take an advantage of it.

- If you are to let the opponent get a square or more, try to select the combination resulting in the least damage.

- Try to push your opponent into the situation where he/she(it) will have no choice but to let you get the square.

- If you are to get a chance to start completing a whole chain of squares, remember that by leaving two squares at the end of such chain incomplete you are pushing your opponent into completing them, thus giving you the opportunity to continue onto yet another chain. Such a situation is called the double-cross.

## Interface Overview

### The Game Menu

&Ctrl;N Game New

  Start a new game

F5 Game Restart Game

  Starts a new game with the same settings as the current game.

&Ctrl;H Game Show High Scores

  Displays the high score table

&Ctrl;Q Game Quit

  Quits &ksquares;

### The Settings Menu

Settings Show Toolbar

  Toggle the toolbar on and off.

Settings Show Statusbar

  Toggle the status bar on and off.

Settings Configure Shortcuts...

  Displays a standard &kde; shortcut configuration dialog to change the keyboard shortcuts for &kappname;.

Settings Configure Toolbars...

  Displays a standard &kde; toolbar configuration dialog where you can configure the toolbar icons.

Settings Configure &kappname;...

  Opens a dialog to configure &kappname;.See Game Configuration section for details.

### The Help Menu

&help.menu.documentation;

## Frequently asked questions

I want to change the way this game looks. Can I?

Currently the only thing you can change about the game look is the color of the lines. To do so use Settings Configure &kappname;... on the menubar. See Game Configuration section for details.

I have made a mistake. Can I undo?

No. &kappname; doesn't currently have an Undo feature.

Can I use the keyboard to play the game?

No. &kappname; cannot be played using keyboard.

I cannot figure out what to do here! Are there hints?

No. There is no Hint feature implemented yet.

I have to quit the game now, but I am not finished yet. Can I save my progress?

&kappname; does not have a saving feature.

## Game Configuration

### New Game Dialog

The New Game dialog consistes of the following groupboxes:

Players

  Here you can change the number of participating players, as well as determine who will be played by human and who by the artificial intelligence. Use the Number of players selection box to specify the number of participants. Then type a name for each participant and use the check box to specify the player type.

Game Board

  Here you can regulate the size of the game board. Use the Width and Height selection boxes to change the width and height of the game board.

Game Settings

  This part of the configuration dialog regulates the difficulty of the game. If you leave the Quick start check box unchecked - the game will begin with the empty grid. Otherwise the game will start with the game board partially filled.

### Configuration Dialog

The Configure - &kappname; dialog consists of the following tabs:

Display

  Here you can change the &kappname; color settings.

Computer Player

  Use this tab to regulate the game difficulty.

## Credits and License

&kappname;

Program copyright 2006 Matt Williams matt@milliams.com

Documentation Copyright © 2006 Matt Williams matt@milliams.com

&underFDL; &underGPL;

## Installation

&install.intro.documentation;

### Compilation and Installation

&install.compile.documentation;

&documentation.index;