How to use the Card 304 Software

1. Quick guide
   
2. Supported Platforms
3. Download
4. Installation
5. card 304 big picture
6. card 304 client
• Client explained
• How to play
  
7. Running a 304 server
   

Quick Guide

1. did you download the software? YES
2. did you extract it? YES
3. good, click on start_client file..OK
4. do you know how to play?  YES, excellent, have fun.  NO, read this manual
   

Supported Platforms

• Win XP
• Mandrake Linux 9.0 & up
• RedHat Linux 8.0 & up
  

Download

Installation

• start_client : this is what you will mainly use to launch the Card304 client program.  This is a GUI application and will let you connect to a running 304 server on Local Area Network (LAN) or Internet.
• start_server : Use this if you want to run your own 304-server locally.  Read the configuration options below if you want to do this.
• start_master : This a master server that keeps the list of all available 304-servers.  You will hardly have to run this.
• testgame : This script will launch a local 304-server and four clients.  Very useful for testing purposes.

304 Big Picture

1. Find a 304 server
2. Create a table on the server, or join an existing table.
3. wait for other players to join
4. play the game.

304 Client

Client Explained

• 304 Servers (top left)
  This lists the 304 servers available and the tables hosted on them.  The client comes pre configured with 2 such servers (card304.homelinux.org and localhost).
  
  
• Players (bottom left)
  Lists names of players in the selected server or table.  Helps to join a server/table where your friends are logged in.
  
  
• Table (center top)
  Think of this as a bird's eye view of table.  You are always the one in the bottom.  This helps the perspective of you are sitting in front of a real table.
  
  Also you see other players' positions.  The one right across you is your partner (just like in a real 304 table)
  
  The 'red highlight' indicates whose turn it is to play the card.  When it is your turn, your card icon will keep blinking.
  
  The center of the table has the trump card (face down untill exposed) and the name of Trump setter.
  
  
• My Hand (center bottom)
  The cards you have right now.  You will start the game with 8 cards (dealt 4 and 4).  You can play a card by double-clicking on a card.  You can only do this, only when your card icon is blinking (i.e. when it is your turn to play a card)
  
  The sort button here helps you keep your cards sorted in order.  When sorted, black and red cards are inter-leaved to improve readability.
  
  When you play a card, that card image is 'grayed out'.  According to 304 rules,  we completly remove any indication of what card that was.
  
  Some times some cards will have a 'border'.  A red-border indicates that is the trump card (in case you set the trump).  A cyan border indicates that is the same suite as the trump card.  This is to assert the point that trump cards are valuable in a game and have to be played carefully.
  
  
• Chat (top right)
  This window will display messages from other players and system messages.  You can also send messages to others.  Keep in mind every message you send is public and can be seen by all.  There is no private messaging as in online chat programs.
  
  
• Cards Won (right bottom)
  At every round a team wins the cards.  This will indicate that status.
  
  Target points will tell you how many points have to be secured to win the game.
  
  Cash  will tell you how much 'cash' (in 304 terms) your team has left
  
  According to 304 rules only the last hand can be seen.  The yellow-border indicates what was the winning card (and the player's name) for the last round.  The third card from left is not shown (you only see the back image).  It may be because the 3rd player didn't have the playing suite (diamond in this case) and played another suite.  Since the trump isn't out yet, this card can not be shown to any other player but the trump-setter.
  
  The 'tab-folders' at the bottom indicate which team won each round.  Keep in mind, only the last hand can be seen by anyone (even including the trump setter).
  
  
• Server Menu
  This menu has the following functions (mirrored in toolbar)
  
  • Add A Server : If you want to connect to a server that is not on the list, you can register that server.  Enter the server name as
               hostname.domainname:portnumber
    Do not include http/ftp words in front.
    
  • Refresh Servers : This will refresh all the servers & table status.
    
    
• Card Images menu
  Here you can select what image set to be used to display the cards.  The default image set used is called 'kpoker' (taken from the similarly named game).  This large image set how ever needs higher resolution monitor (more than 1000x1000).  If you prefer to run the game in lower resolution try 'kpoker-mini'.  There is also another set called 'oxymoron'.
  

How to play

main window	create table1	create table2	joining table	trump select

1. Refresh the server list and find a server you want to join (a look at who is logged into the server might help you to decide)
2. Now look at what tables are on that server.  If all tables are full, create a table (Rigth click on server and choose create).  you will be asked to supply a screen name (alias).  This name has to be unique for the server. 
   
3. Join a table (Right click on the table and select Join)
   
4. Wait for other players to join.  When we have all four players, the game will begin
   
5. First every one would be issued four cards.  Only the recipient of the first hand will be asked if he wants to accept the cards or reject it.  If he rejects, cards are reshuffled and issued again.
6. Once every players got four cards, every one is asked to choose a Trump card.  Again this goes in order and you can over bid other players, but not your own partners.
7. Once the trump is set, game play begins.  Players are asked to play their cards in turn, in clock wise order.
• If your card (right below the trump card) is blinking, that means it is your turn to play a card.  Just double click on a suitable card in 'My Hand' panel.
• If it is not your turn, a 'red' marker will tell you whose turn it is to play the card.
  

Running a 304-server

• [304Server]

1. Port
   The default port is 3040.  If you want to change it do do in
   Port=xxxx
   
   Note : If you are behind a firewall or NAT setup, make sure the above port is forwarded/allowed in your router/firewall.
   
   
2. Published Name
   If a name is given here, the server will try to contact a master server and publish its existance.  This will allow other players to 'find' your server and play on it.  If you'd like to keep your server private, leave this blank.

• [MasterServers]
  Here are list of MasterServers this server would contact (if published name is set) and announce it's existance.  There is no real need to edit this in a typical senario