f1}ca}                         Welcome to WordLink!

ce}As you play this game please know that without the users of Mindgames
BBS playing it for hours as we worked out the bugs and features in the game,
this game would never have been finished.  Thanks to all of you for your
suggestions, bug finds, and other things that needed adjustment as the
program was developed.


c9}WordLink is dedicated to gypsies everywhere....

ce}Seeker
sysop of Mindgames BBS
March 1997


Press a key to continue...g6}

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you experience problems in using the cursor keys
                to move around the menus and the Play Board, use the
                numeric keypad number keys, 2, 4, 6, 8 in place of 
                their corresponding cursor (arrow) keys!

It is hoped that you will enjoy this online Cnet BBS word game which is
very similar to the popular word game, Scrabble (tm).  There are a few
differences, but, getting started in this game is a simple matter of
studying the screens and using the help available for each screen plus
reading the information in this short file.cb}

IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO READ THE HELP SCREENS IN THE GAMEPLAY SCREEN FOR
           IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON OVERRIDING THE ONLINE DICTIONARY
           IF THAT FEATURE IS ENABLED, AND IN ENDING GAMES.ca}  
   
The game starts you in the Main Screen which shows you several items of
information about the games you are in and other info. You can Start a new
game, Join games, examine games that need players to help you in deciding
what games to join, and Play games you are in.  The player whose turn it is
is shown highlighted in RED.  A finished game is highlighted in BLUE.

Press a key to continue....g6}

If you do not make a move in a game in which it is your turn, you will
be automatically passed after 3 days.  Thereafter, each player will have
only one day to make a move until someone moves.  If you make no move in
any game for 5 days, you are deleted from all games.  You can be in 7 games
maximum and you may start 5 games maximum.  Starting a game confers the
right of choosing the number of players in that game and choosing whether or
not it is to be an INVITATIONAL game.  Turn order and letters will be
automatically assigned when the last player joins the game.

A Round lasts a month, resetting on the 1st of each month.  The winner of
the Round is entered in the Hall of Words.  All games continue; only your
Round Score is reset.  A Player's score is calculated as the average number
of points per move that player makes.  A minimum of 3 moves per day, average,
must be made to qualify for the Rankings listing. 

Since players are free to use a dictionary in an online game, the normal
challenge rule is suspended.  In its place, if sysop enabled, is an option
for the player to override the online dictionary if they are SURE their
word is valid according to the Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary, 3rd
Edition (OSPD). The OSPD is the only valid reference to override the online
dictionary.  The registered version of the game contains the entire OSPD3
and the override function should be disabled by the sysop.
 
Press a key to continue....g6}

ANSI cursor movement has been used throughout, and menu selections can be made
by using the cursor keys* to move the cursor between the Menu items and then
pressing RETURN when the cursor is on the item of your choice.  You can
also use the 'Hot' key for any menu item to select it.  The 'Hot' key is the
Highlighted first letter of the Menu item you want to use.

COOL FEATURE (READ THIS!!)

In the Gameplay Screen, you can rearrange your letters to help you in finding
a move.  Use the <- and -> cursor keys to move from letter to letter and 
then use the , and . keys (the comma/< and period/> keys) to actually
rearrange the letters.  Use the UP and DN arrow keys to move between the
Menu and Letters areas.  Experiment with this cool feature!

*Note USE THE NUMERIC KEYS (2,4,6,8) IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CURSOR KEYS

Press a key to continue....g6}

The reference used in all decisions of words to be added or deleted from the
online dictionary is the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 3rd Edition,
approved for School and Recreational use.  This book is referred to as OSPD3.
 
This book lends itself well to this game and is readily available
in paperback at most bookstores for around six dollars.

And once more, be SURE to read the Help available in both the Main Menu Screen
and the Game Screen.  These screens contain very important information!

Hints and tips: Use the main message wall and the individual games message
walls to have more fun in the game!

The Cnet Who screen is available by pressing W in the main screen, even
though there is no indication of this in the screen.. try it!


Press a key to continue....g6}