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The options in the tools menu and how to start a new game


graphic

Starting a new game
The referee makes sure that the human challenger's grid is complete and valid. Otherwise, the human player is prompted to complete the grid, according to the expected flotilla structure. The dialogue window shows the present and expected numbers for each boat in the human player's flotilla.
When granted the green light by the referee, you can proceed by clicking again the ' play ' button on the command bar.

The shipyard : building the flotilla

To add a boat :
Click on the selected squares. A square next to another will be merged in the same boat. Two boats can't touch one another (otherwise they would be merged into a single larger boat). Flotillas receive a structure linked to the chessboard size
Name of the boat
Number of squares
(5x5 grid)
(5x5 grid)
(5x5 grid)
Torpedo boat
1
2
4
4
Escort ship
2
1
3
3
Destroyer
3
1
2
2
Iron clad
4
0
1
1

Deleting squares from a boat
If you click twice on a square, the second click will cause the square to be deleted from the boat it belongs to. If it were a lonely square, the boat would be deleted from the flotilla.

Problems while adding or deleting a square.
Be aware that at each stage the referee checks the flotilla's validity. This can result in stubborn refusal of a precise change you wanted to do. For instance, with the default flotilla (4 one square boats 3 with two squares and so on) if you begin by placing the four torpedo boats (one square each), you will not be allowed to add a boat whatsoever. Since the first step when creating a new boat adds a one square boat, you're up to five torpedo boats and that's not legal. So the referee will block the modification. In order to proceed you must either delete one of the torpedo boats, or add a square to one to upgrade it from torpedo boat to escort vessel (two squares). Symmetrically, deleting a square from a valid boat may cause the flotilla to be invalid. The usual punishment of the referee will follow : change not allowed. Deleting a square from a boat should not break it apart. For instance you can't delete the medium square of a three squares linear boat. A good way to avoid trouble is to start building your flotilla from big boats down to the little ones.

Green light granted by the referee
When the flotilla appears to have been completed, the ' forbidden ' squares are tagged (with red crosses) and the game may begin (as soon as you press the 'play' button again).

Aborting a game.
The ' abort ' command is enabled as soon as a game has started. If used, this command aborts the game. The game is lost for the player (you) that has used this option.