Documentation for Crosscheck

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Gameplay and Rules

These instructions assume a starting bar to home base game (Option H). 
Any differences in gameplay for the time limit or points limit games are 
discussed under "Strategy."

Before beginning play, select a dictionary to be the authority in any 
disputes that may arise regarding synonyms and alternate spellings.

The CROSSCHECK game board is a diamond with a square in the center. The 
square has four colored Starting Bars. At each corner of the diamond is 
a home base, color-coded to match a Starting Bar. The object of the game 
is to build an unbroken chain of words connecting your Starting Bar and 
home base.
 **NOTE:** The only winning chain is one that connects the first word 
you place in the Starting Bar with your home base.

Press SPACE BAR to stop the die. The amount shown on the die (3-10) 
determines the number of letters your answer must have. Type the answer 
to the clue and press RETURN (correct any errors **before** pressing 
RETURN).

A die amount of 1 allows you to place a block. You may place a block 
anywhere on the board (see "Strategy" for more details).

Roll 2 and get a free letter. Select whichever letter is most useful to 
you and place it anywhere on the board (it must form a word wherever it 
is placed).

Synonyms

If your answer doesn't match the one shown on-screen, your prompted IS 
THIS A SYNONYM? You may give an answer that is correct, even though it 
isn't an answer contained in the game. If your answer is correct, or is 
a proper alternate spelling of the correct answer (refer to your 
dictionary), Type Y and press RETURN. If the answer is not a correct 
one, you lose your turn. Type N and press RETURN.

Placing Word

If you have a correct answer, you may place it on the board (see "Game 
Controls and Indicators". Your first answer must be placed on your own 
Starting Bar. Thereafter, place your answer anywhere on the board, 
provided it forms a valid word wherever it touches or crosses any other 
word.

Two-letter words, abbreviations, hyphenated words, proper nouns, and 
foreign words ARE allowed, if they appear in your dictionary.

If your word crosses one of the diamonds on the game board, you receive 
an extra turn.

You may place a word forward, backward, right-side-up, or upside-down.

Challenge

After a word is placed, there is a prompt to PRESS RETURN TO CONTINUE. 
If the other players feel that the word placed on the board is 
incorrect, misspelled, or that it doesn't form a valid word with one of 
thD words it crosses, there is a challenge and no one presses RETURN.

The players must consult a dictionary to determine the validity of the 
challenged player's answer. If the challenged player is wrong, press 
CTRL-C. The onscreen prompt is ARE YOU SURE?  Type Y and press RETURN. 
The incorrect answer is removed from the board, no points are scored, 
and the challenged player loses his turn. The game continues with the 
next player.

Scoring and Winning

When you answer a clue correctly, you receive five points for being 
correct and one point for each letter in the answer.

Place a block and get one point, place a letter (die roll of 2) and get 
two points.

Be the first player to complete a chain from your starting bar to home 
base and get a bonus of 100 points.

With option T (time limit), you win with the highest score at the end of 
the time limit.

The winner of an option P (points limit) game is the first to reach the 
pre-set score.

Once the computer has declared a winner in any game, it returns you to 
the game board. You may continue playing (if you wish to determine 
second and third place winners) or begin a new game.

Strategy

When playing a points limit or time limit game, the object is to 
accumulate more points than your opponent. Try to give
yourself the longest word possible. Another good method for gaining 
points is to try for shorter, easier-to-answer words. This way, you may 
be able to get ahead by answering correctly more often than your 
opponent.

When placing words, you can always connect your answer to any other word 
on the board. You aren't restricted to building off your own words. As a 
matter of fact, you don't have to connect your words to any other words 
at all!
Place a word anywhere on the board that has enough empty squares to hold 
it.
In a time limit or points limit game, it isn't necessary to **ever** 
connect words, as long as there is enough space on the board. But 
remember, the first player to complete a chain gets a 100 point bonus.

The more words there are on the board, the more difficult it is for 
anyone to place answers. It's important to plan ahead as you place 
words, blocks, and letters. You want to make things difficult for your 
opponent, but open the way for yourself. Just remember, your opponent is 
doing the same thing!

If you can't find a good spot to place your word, you may pass. Passing 
can be a good move when the board becomes very crowded and you want to 
be sure you can build off any words you place. When you pass, your word 
does not appear on the game board and you do not receive any points for 
it, so it may not be a good strategy in a points limit or time limit 
game.

If you aren't sure where your words or your opponent's are located on 
the
board, switch to the Overview (see controls) The overview shows the 
entire board, with solid lines indicating the positions of all the 
words.

In a starting bar to home base game, blocking can be a crucial move. If 
your opponent is successful in building a long chain of words, a 
strategically placed block can cause him to be unable to conveniently 
connect more words to that chain. Placing a free letter (sometimes even 
an answer!) in an opponent's chain can have the same effect.

You have several options in forming a chain. You can join words together 
from the starting bar down, from home base up, or place then anywhere 
you like, and join them whenever you see the opportunity. The method you 
use depends on your own skill and perspective and the skill of your 
opponents.

Deference Card
Convenience controls

SPACE BAR- Stop die rolling

Placing an answer-Keyboard: Use arrow keys (Shift not necessary, but 
holding it down is faster). After answering correctly, SPACE BAR rotates 
word.

Pressing RETURN places word.

Joystick controls: Up, down, left and right, button to rotate word, 
RETURN to place.

Overview: Press ESC, move highlighter square using joystick or arrow 
keys. To move square directly to home bases, use control key with arrow 
key.
CTRL-RETURN moves you to the center of the screen. ESC or joystick 
button
takes you back to game screen.

START- To restart

P to pass

Saving game- Press OPTION, remove game disk and insert save game disk. 
Follow the prompts.

Well, that's it-- Whoops, almost forgot, at the beginning when it 
prompts you with INSERT CLUE LIBRARY DISK IF DESIRED, just press RETURN. 
The clue libraries will be out at a later date. If you have any 
questions call the Emerald City at (702) 454-0041.

