*tMancala* *h065~~~~~~New~~~~Users~~~~~~ *h067~~~Mancala~~~Tutorial~~~ *h072~~~~~~Preferences~~~~~~~ *h077~~~~Other~~~Programs~~~~ *p7 Please select the topic you require ...*m*e *tNew Users* Mancala has been carefully designed to be as easy to use as Špossible. All functions are mouse controlled, and these help Šscreens provide a comprehensive guide to the game. *p2*c00,42*i47,20,27If you are using the program for the first Štime, read through the instructions on the following pages before Šplaying your first game. *c00,99*p7Select Help to return to these pages at any time Šwhilst playing.*e *tScreen Icons* *p7 At the bottom of the screen, a row of icons gives access to Ša range of functions: *p2Analyse*p0 Provides a quick analysis of the current Šgame. *p2Help*p0 Brings up these help pages *p2Prefs*p0 Alter (and save) many game settings *p2Undo*p0 Undoes the current move *p2Again*p0 Abort this game and start a new one *p2Exit*p0 Allows you to exit the program*e *tMancala Tutorial* Mancala is reputedly the world's oldest game, and has certainly Šbeen played in Africa and India for many thousands of years. ŠMancala was also popular amongst the ancient Egyptians, and boards Šhave been found at the temples of Karnak and Thebes. *p7 Followers of the prophet Muhammad spread the game throughout ŠArabia, resulting in many different variations, such as Š*p2Pallanguli*p7 in India, and *p2Wari*p7 in Africa.*e *tThe Mancala Board* The game exists in many versions, but most are played on a Šboard that consists of two rows of six pits. Two players face each Šother across the board, each controlling a row of pits. *i45,25,30*c00,42*p7 The game starts with each pit containing four stones. Players Šmove the stones in a clockwise direction, from any pit on their Šside of the board. *p0*c00,99 Two additional pits, to either side of the board, store stones Šthat are captured by each player. *e *tMovement* A move is made by removing all the pebbles from the chosen pit, Šand dropping them, one at a time, into consecutive pits, moving in Ša clockwise direction. Simply click the left mouse button over the Špit you wish to move from, and the computer will automatically Šmake your move. *i11,27,31*i43,29,32 *p7A throw of twelve or more stones will go right round the board Šand continue, but will always skip over the pit that the stones Šwere taken from, so that this will always remain empty.*e *tCapturing Stones* If the last stone played is dropped into one of your opponent's Špits which then contains either two or three stones, you capture Šthose stones. If the proceeding pit also contains either two or Šthree stones, you also capture these, and so on. In this way a Šwhole row of stones can be captured at once. *i02,32,33*e *tMancala Tutorial* However, you MUST leave your opponent at least one stone so Šthat he can move. The game ends when one or both players cannot Šmove. Any player who has stones left has them added to his total, Šand the winner is the player who has captured most stones. *p7 In certain cases a game may end in a stalemate, for example Šwhen each player only has a single stone left, and can do no more Šthan move that stone endlessly. In these cases the computer will Šstop the game with a stalemate, and each wins the stones on his Šside of the board.*e *tPreferences* *p7 The preferences screen allows you to choose between a range Šof game options, and to save a game configuration that will Šautomatically install itself next time you play the game.*p0 Select the PREFS icon at the bottom of the screen to bring up Špreferences, at the start or end of the game, or before your first Šmove. *p2 When you have finished, select SAVE to save your Šconfiguration, or OK to use this configuration without saving Šit.*e *tPreferences - Start Positions* You can choose one of six different start positions ... *p2Standard*p7 - the default start position. *p2Ascending*p7 - stones are split unevenly between the pits, in ascending order. *p2Descending*p7 - stones are split in descending order. *e *p2 Tricky*p7 - Each player starts with only 10 stones in a single pit. The first player to move is at a great disadvantage, and must play well to achieve even a draw. *p2Overload*p7 - Both players start with all 24 stones in a single pit, so that the first to play must move twice round the board. Extra care is needed to plan each move. *p2Underload*p7 - The stones are spread between three Špits.*e *tPreferences - Players* Each player can be set up to be either mouse or computer Šcontrolled, with the computer's skill level ranging from 1 Š(weakest) to 4 (strongest). This allows you to play against a Šfriend, or to sit back and watch the computer playing against Šitself. *p7 The players' names can also be altered, from "Player One" Šand "Player Two" to your own name, or anything you prefer. *e *tPreferences - Miscellaneous* *p2Save Game*p7 - saves the current game using the file name "SavedGame" *p2Load Game*p7 - loads back a saved game *p2Reset Scores*p7 - resets both players' scores to zero. *p2Continuity*p7 - choose between continuing your old game, Šor starting a new one. *e *tTower Software* *p7 Tower Software*p2 produces a range of high-quality board and Šcard games for all Amiga computers. *p0*c00,40 For an up to date catalogue, send us a Stamped Addressed ŠEnvelope (S.A.E.) Enclose *#2.50 for a sampler disk, containing Šdemonstration versions of some of our games. *p7Overseas orders welcome.*m *i44,20,29*e *tTower Software* We hope you have enjoyed this game.*m*p7 We do everything we can to ensure all our programs are bug free Šand 100% compatible with all the models in the Amiga range. *p0*c00,48 If, however, you do discover any bugs or compatibility problems Šwith this program, we will be only too happy to hear from you, and Što rectify the problem if at all possible. *i52,32,28*p2 Richard, Tower Software*e *E