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General remarks
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WebgamePortal is divided into several different categories. As a rule, the menu is made up in two lines; the lower line always shows submenus of the category chosen.
Under "home" you'll find the recent news, and from here you can also post invitations to friends.
"Games" is the most important menu item: here you can access games and find the highscores of these.
"Chat", as the designation gives away, is a chat; in order to use it you need Java.
Under "Account" you'll find everything which has to do with your own account, such as your profile, additional game settings (e.g. e-mail notifications, account deletion), and information on the donation system.
"Help" will be sufficiently clear to anyone who has managed to make it to this turorial. ;-)
Lastly, "Logout" of course is the place where you log out. For security reasons, you should always log out if you're through with your matches.
The menu item "Messages" is something special. It is shown on every page in the submenu, as long as you are logged in, and enables you to access the private message system.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
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Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions in order to prevent you from dying ignorant. :-)
Question: I did not receive a validation e-mail after having registered. Why not?
Answer: Unfortunately several e-mail providers mark all automatically generated e-mails as spam. Please check your spam folder. If you don't find your validation e-mail there, try to register again using a different e-mail address.
Question: I have lost my password. What am I to do?
Answer: Access the menu item "Register" where you can request a new password. In order to do so, you'll have to enter your username and the mail address stated in your account.
Question: What do the letters "w" and "e" at the end of the turn time mean?
Answer: Matches marked "w" are played on weekdays (mo-fr) only, matches marked "e" on weekends only.
Question: I have created a match but want to delete it. How can I do so?
Answer: Just wait and see! It's true matches which have not been started will be deleted after three days.
Question: I'd like to leave a running game. Is this possible?
Answer: No, it's not. Caught together, hanged together. ;-)
Question: Why are some names crossed out?
Answer: Players with names which are crossed out have already lost the match.
Question: I'd like to donate but am unable to use PayPal. What am I to do?
Answer: Contact me by using the contact form (Help => Contact) and ask for my bank account. In case of seven-figure sums, however, I offer to collect your donation in a black suitcase.
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Account
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Under "Profile" you can state details about yourself which other players will be able to read.
If you're entitled to extended options (because you're a donator), you may also integrate an "Avatar" (a small picture) into your profile.
Your personal highscore is situated underneath.
All this is displayed largely in the way other players will see it when clicking on your username (with the exception of the input fields, of course, which nobody else will be able to see).
"Settings" enables you to administrate several options regarding your account.
"Notifications" is where you can select which events you want to be notified of by e-mail or a private message.
If you enter an "Absence", this will be included in your profile. In addition to this, your name will be put into square brackets in the match lists and in the matches themselves in order to inform everyone of your temporary absence. This setting is meant to be used if you're on holidays, but not if you do some shopping or the like. Please note that this identification of your absence is just a request to others not so skip you if you're out of time it's not an obligation for them!
Last but not least, you can check under "Donate" what kind of bonuses are available for donators and why donations are necessary.
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Games Chaopoly
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"Chaopoly" is a crossing of "chaos" and Monopoly.
The rules are largely identical to those of the original Monopoly, so I'll just address the peculiarities here.
Own matches
Here you'll find all Chaopoly matches you are taking part in. You may participate in up to 100 matches at the same time (or up to 350, if you're a donator see under "Account").
Matches in red color have not yet started, either because the sufficient number of players has not been found or because the creator of the match (the first name in the list) has not started it yet. If you are not the creator yourself, you may still leave the game by clicking the link "leave". If you are the creator, you have to wait for the sufficient number of players being found if it is, in the "Status" column the remark "open" is automatically replaced by the link "start". If you change your mind and don't want to play the game any more, just leave it open after three days it will automatically expire and be deleted.
Matches in green are currently running. The player whose turn it is is marked by bold letters in the player list. If it's not your turn, but the permissible time for the round has elapsed, you may skip the player whose turn it is. In order to do this, click "play" in the "Status" column. This leads you to the board, where you'll find a link for skipping the player. Please note: if a name is put in [square brackets] this means that this player is temporarily absent (on holidays or the like) and asks you not to skip him or her. Although this is just a request and not an obligation, you should show as much consideration as possible. After all, you could be in this situation yourself sooner or later
;-)
Finally, there are matches without color (in black). These are over for you, but may still be running if you did not win and are not the last player to drop out. These matches are not being counted as far as your limited number of running matches is concerned.
If you want to distinguish your matches more easily, while a match is running try to click into the extremely left column (even left of "Status"). The page will reload, and you'll see an additional form "Mark match" above the match list. This enables you to mark each one of your games with an icon and a text and thus make it more easily distinguishable.
Under "Turn time", some matches are marked "w" oder "e". The letter "w" added to the time indicates matches that are played on weekdays only and take a break on weekends, while "e" indicate matches that run on weekends only.
The "Go" column tells you if a player who jumps right onto Go and not beyond is to receive single or double revenue.
All other columns should be sufficiently self-explanatory (note also that there's a legend underneath the table).
In addition, there's a form "Pause own matches" above it. This gives you an opportunity to take a break for once in any match which allows you to create such a pause. But beware: a pause that has been arranged for cannot be cancelled again, you have to wait until it's over!
If you're a player in one or more games and it's your turn in at least one of these, right at the top you'll find the additional column "It is your turn". The relevant select box includes all matches where it's your turn now, and a click on "Show match" will lead you there.
Join
This list very much resembles the list for your own matches, but it lists only matches, which are open and which you can still join.
By using "Quick join" you can immediately join a match with a certain ID in case someone has informed you of a match and its ID, you save yourself the trouble to start searching for it.
The "Match list filter" can help you to find adequate matches. You can choose the playing times you prefer your matches to run. All matches not meeting your requirements will be concealed. Your preference will be saved as a cookie and kept for the next time you look for a match.
In the list of matches "Status" signifies something slightly different from what it signifies in your own matches. "open" here means that you can join the match by single click. "password" on the other hand signifies matches which you cannot join unless entering a password chosen by the match's creator.
View
Here you may watch matches (finished or still running) where you don't compete, if spectators are allowed.
The display largely resembles the list of your own matches.
Create
This is where you can create new matches. You may decide on all settings listed in the match lists. If you enter a password, only players who have received the password from you are able to join the match.
Highscore
This is the highscore of the match. A distinction is being made between the scores of the current quarter of the year (which are set back to 0 at the beginning of the quarter) and the all-time scores. "Average" shows the average score per match.
"ELO" is a score grade rating as used in games like chess and Go. Every player starts with a rating of 1200. According to your performance in your matches you can win or lose points. How much you win or lose depends on the score grade of your opponents. If you play against exceptionally strong players, you'll lose less in the case of a defeat and win more in the case of a triumph; if you play against weak ones, it's vice versa.
The board
You access the board by clicking "play" while participating in a match or by clicking "view" while just watching.
In the center of the board you'll find a small menu and underneath a page containing some general information. For example, you'll see whose turn it is, how much time this player still has and which were the three most recent actions of the match. In the upper right-hand corner of the small window the buttons for you to move (or to skip a player which has taken too much time) are shown when appropriate. If you see a green field with a sum of money, this means that you may buy the property you are on.
Under "Actions" (in the menu above the window) you'll be able to have a look at the previous 50 actions of the match, in case you want to check something.
"Sold properties" lists all properties which have already been sold to players.
"Notes" is where you can jot down your personal notes.
If you click "Refresh" the board will reload.
Each of the properties available for purchase is marked by a small blue "i". If you click here, a page stating the property's details will unfold in the center of the board. If it's your turn and you're the property's owner, this is the place where you may raise or redeem mortgages, build or sell house (if you're the owner of the complete color-group) or sell the property as a whole to the bank for a small sum. If a property is mortgaged, the property's hook is changed into a cross in order to show that no rent has to be paid here.
If it's your turn, it is worthwhile to click on the hook of someone else's property or alternatively the hook of another player. If you do so, a page enabling you to trade with the player will unfold in the center of the board.
Trade offers should never be out of proportion, otherwise there's no chance that they will be accepted.
Other player's trade offers are always listed on the right between money list and property list.
End of the match
The match is over if all players except one have lost. At the end there will be scores for everyone, depending on the number of players and the finishing order. If there are four players scores range from 0 to 3, three players receive scores from 0 to 2, and if there are just two players, the winner scores 1 and the loser 0.
As a rule, players who are skipped thrice and therefore excluded don't get any scores.
In order to prevent a match from running on without end, there's a limit: if all active players own at least 200,000$, the match ends in a draw. You should, however, not set such a situation as your target, for in this case the score is divided like among losers. If, for example, a match of four players ends in a draw between the last two, both receive a score of just 2.
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Games 4 Connect
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The goal of 4 Connect is to place 4 balls in a row.
Own matches
Here you'll find all matches you are taking part in. You may participate in up to 50 matches at the same time (or up to 200, if you're a donator see under "Account").
Matches in red color have not yet started, either because a second player has not been found. By clicking the link "open" you can delete the match. After three days it will automatically expire and be deleted if it didn't start before.
Matches in green are currently running. The player whose turn it is is marked by bold letters in the player list. If it's not your turn, but the permissible time for the round has elapsed, you may rule out the other player. In order to do this, click "play" in the "Status" column. This leads you to the board, where you'll find a link for ruling out the player. Please note: if a name is put in [square brackets] this means that this player is temporarily absent (on holidays or the like) and asks you not to rule him or her out. Although this is just a request and not an obligation, you should show as much consideration as possible. After all, you could be in this situation yourself sooner or later
;-)
Finally, there are matches without color (in black). These are over. These matches are not being counted as far as your limited number of running matches is concerned.
If you want to distinguish your matches more easily, while a match is running try to click into the extremely left column (even left of "Status"). The page will reload, and you'll see an additional form "Mark match" above the match list. This enables you to mark each one of your games with an icon and a text and thus make it more easily distinguishable.
All other columns should be sufficiently self-explanatory (note also that there's a legend underneath the table).
If you're a player in one or more games and it's your turn in at least one of these, right at the top you'll find the additional column "It is your turn". The relevant select box includes all matches where it's your turn now, and a click on "Show match" will lead you there.
Join
This list very much resembles the list for your own matches, but it lists only matches, which are open and which you can still join.
By using "Quick join" you can immediately join a match with a certain ID in case someone has informed you of a match and its ID, you save yourself the trouble to start searching for it.
The "Match list filter" can help you to find adequate matches. All matches not meeting your requirements will be concealed. Your preference will be saved as a cookie and kept for the next time you look for a match.
In the list of matches "Status" signifies something slightly different from what it signifies in your own matches. "open" here means that you can join the match by single click. "password" on the other hand signifies matches which you cannot join unless entering a password chosen by the match's creator.
View
Here you may watch matches (finished or still running) where you don't compete, if spectators are allowed.
The display largely resembles the list of your own matches.
Create
This is where you can create new matches. You may decide on all settings listed in the match lists. If you enter a password, only players who have received the password from you are able to join the match.
Highscore
This is the highscore of the match. A distinction is being made between the scores of the current quarter of the year (which are set back to 0 at the beginning of the quarter) and the all-time scores. "Average" shows the average score per match.
"ELO" is a score grade rating as used in games like chess and Go. Every player starts with a rating of 1200. According to your performance in your matches you can win or lose points. How much you win or lose depends on the score grade of your opponents. If you play against exceptionally strong players, you'll lose less in the case of a defeat and win more in the case of a triumph; if you play against weak ones, it's vice versa.
The board
You access the board by clicking "play" while participating in a match or by clicking "view" while just watching.
If it is not your turn, you'll see whose turn it is, how much time this player still has. When appropriate, you'll find a link to rule out a player which has taken too much time. If you click "Refresh" the board will reload.
If it is your turn, you'll see some arrows at the top of the board instead. By clicking one of them, you throw a ball into the selected column.
End of the match
The match is over if a player placed 4 balls in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally or if all possible fields are filled with balls.
The winner gets two points. If the match ends in a draw (if nobody has won and no more balls can be placed) both players get one point.
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Messages
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The message center enables you to send a message to any player in WebgabePortal.
In order to facilitate this, you can set up an address book or an ignore list which lists unwelcome people from whom you don't want to receive any messages.
The inbox has a capacity of 30 (or 100 for donators) messages at the same time; if this limit is reached, no more messages will be accepted.
All messages filed in the outbox, however, will be deleted after three days.
Two special codes are available in the messages:
Quotes: Text between [quote] and [/quote] will be framed and indented as a quote. Example: [quote]This is a quote[/quote]
Links: Links can be written in the form [url=ADDRESS]TEXT[/url], where ADDRESS has to be replaced by the link address and TEXT by the link description. Example: [url=http://www.webgame-portal.net]WebgamePortal[/url]
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