The Kaliko software

Here are the instructions for operating the Kaliko™ online game. This section assumes you are familiar with the rules of the game.

The program is loaded in your web browser as a Java applet. It is configured to start the game with "You" playing against "Chthonic," with you going first. You may resize the window; the applet will resize to match.

Quick Summary

Drag tiles from hand to board, around the board, and back to hand, as desired.
Rotate the selected tile (outlined in yellow) with the Rotate buttons.
When the tiles are placed as you like, click Execute.
To remove all the tiles from the board and start over, click Cancel.
To exchange tiles, choose the tiles by dragging them to the Tile Bag icon; click Execute to perform the exchange, or Cancel to un-choose them all and start over.
To pass, click Execute with no tiles on the board or chosen for discard.
Context menu on a tile lets you rotate, return to your hand, or choose for discard.
The results of Chthonic's move are displayed in the Scoreboard; click OK to acknowledge it and proceed with your move.

The game window

The window is divided into the board which has one tile in it to start, and your hand, which has seven tiles to start. In addition, there is a scoreboard window with an arrow pointing to the player whose turn is next. The name of the current high-scoring player is highlighted.

Above your hand is your player name ("You").

To the left is the Tile Bag icon; this displays the number of tiles that have not yet been played or dealt. Above the Tile Bag is the Status indicator. When Chthonic is working on his play, this indicator will read Waiting; when it is your turn, it will read Ready.

To the right are the Execute and Cancel buttons and the tile-rotation buttons.

Constructing your play

In your turn, you make your play as follows:

Select a tile in your hand by clicking on it with the mouse. The selected tile is drawn with a yellow outline. (Only one tile is selected at any time.)

Use the mouse to drag tiles to where you want to play them on the board. When a tile is on the board while you are constructing your play, it is shown in an alternate background color so that you know it is active. (An empty hexagon is shown in its place in your hand.) As with tiles in the hand, an active tile can be selected by clicking it. Tiles "in the pattern" (played in a previous move) can not be selected.

You can drag an active tile to another spot on the board or back to your hand. You can also drag tiles around within your hand, if you so desire.

The tile will automatically snap into a position on the board, so you don't need to be very precise. The tile will automatically rotate so that its colors match those of the adjacent tiles, if possible. If you want it in a different orientation, use the Rotate Tile buttons; each will rotate the tile one step (60°) either clockwise or counterclockwise. The selected tile will be rotated, whether in your hand or on the board.

You may also bring up a context menu for a tile in your hand or an active tile on the board (in Windows, this menu is invoked by clicking with the right mouse button). The menu provides an alternate interface for rotating the tile; also, if the tile is in your hand, you can use the menu to discard the tile; and if the tile is on the board, you can use the menu to return the tile to your hand.

Executing your play

When the tiles are in position, click the Execute button. The program presents a messagebox showing either the score for the play, or, if the tile placement is illegal, an explanation of the error. You may choose not to make the play after all, and change the tile positioning; however, once accepted, the play cannot be taken back.

If you have a number of tiles on the board and decide the play is not working out, clicking the Cancel button will return them all to your hand.

Tile exchange (discarding)

If you decide that an exchange of tiles is in order, you can choose the tiles to discard by dragging them from your hand to the Tile Bag; or, bring up the context menu for each tile and select Discard. The tile(s) chosen for exchange initially remain in your hand, marked (shown in a different color). To "deselect" a tile for discard, you Undiscard from the context menu; or you may deselect them all using the Cancel button.

Perform the exchange using the Execute button. The program displays a messagebox requesting confirmation for the exchange or reports that more tiles are being exchanged than remain in the Tile Bag.

You cannot select a tile for exchange if any tiles from your hand are on the board, nor can you place a tile on the board if any have been marked for exchange.

Passing

If you decide to neither play nor exchange, you may pass. To pass, simply click the Execute button; as with Play and Exchange, the program will request confirmation of the Pass before turning the game over to Chthonic.

Chthonic's turn

While the Chthonic (your automated opponent) is calculating his next move, the status display reads Waiting. When the move has completed, the Scoreboard will display the results of Chthonic's deliberations, including his score; his move is shown on the board with the new tiles in the active color. When you have examined Chthonic's move to your satisfaction, click the OK button.

Be aware: The calculations Chthonic makes while determining the best move occasionally take a very long time. Be patient!

If Chthonic exchanges tiles, the Show button will also be available; click this button to see the tiles that have been returned to the bag. Click on the scoreboard to clear this display.

Game options

The scoreboard also contains the Kaliko menus, Game and View. Each provides a few options:

Game | New terminates the current game and starts a new one
Game | Restart terminates the current game and starts it again
View | Tile Size lets you change the size of the displayed tiles, larger for easier visibility or smaller to fit more of the board into the window.
View | Score Window lets you move the window to any of the four corners of the board. The scoreboard may also be dragged to a position, but if the window is resized, the scoreboard will return to the specified corner.

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Rules of the Game