Starting a multiplayer game - Specifying options for the multiplayer game

Starting a multiplayer game – Specifying options for the multiplayer game

When you act as a host of a multiplayer game, you can specify the following options for the game.

Name of the session. This is displayed to the joining players when they enumerate the on-going Four Winds sessions. The maximum length of the name is 50 characters long. You can use the session name to identify yourself or the rules of the game (e.g., "Martin's Tournament with Dutch rules").
Password. Optional. If specified, the joining players must specify the correct password when they join the game. The password is case-sensitive and masked with asterisks. Notice that the session and session data (the names of the players, the rules used in the game and the current status of the game) is always displayed to the joining players, even if the host has specified a password for the session. The host can specify, change or remove the password also after the game has started by using the Password command (on the context menu of the player list of the current game on the Statistics tab of the Game Manager).
Log on name. This is the name by which you will be known to other players of the game. The log-on name defaults to the name specified for the human player on the Players option page of the Preferences dialog box. You can change your log-on name after the game has started using the Change Log-on Name command (on the context menu of the player list of the current game on the Statistics tab of the Game Manager).
Send face. If you have specified a customized face bitmap, you can send it to other players by checking this box.
Auto-move timeout. The time in seconds Four Winds waits for the human player's decision for discarding a tile. After the specified time has elapsed, the computer makes the decision for the player, but the player is allowed to continue the game. The default is 0 seconds, which means that the program never performs an auto move (note however that the log-off time out is still applied for discarding). Note that this setting overrides the Auto move after setting specified on the Gameplay option page of the Preferences dialog box.
Log-off timeout. The time in seconds Four Winds waits for the human player's actions before logging him off the game. The default is 180 seconds (3 minutes). As the player is logged off, a computer player will take his place.
Delay of pop-up messages. The time in seconds the pop-up messages (informing about players' claims and other game events) stay visible. Pop-up messages appear to the left of players' discard slots.
Delay between deals. Time in seconds between the deals (the time the Scores dialog stays open after an ended deal and before the new deal starts). If the host closes the dialog box before the delay time has expired, the new deal starts immediately.
Allow joining in the middle of the game. Specifies whether players are allowed to join the game after it has started. If this is allowed, the new players will be seated during the host's turn. The option can be set also after the game has started using the Deny New Players command (on the context menu of the player list of the current game on the Statistics tab of the Game Manager).
Allow personal messages. If enabled, the players can send (in addition to public messages) messages that are displayed only to the specified addressee. Normally this is not allowed but if you play Mah Jong as a team game, it may be a good idea to allow personal messages.
Allow spectators. If enabled, allows maximum of 10 spectators to join the game. If your connection speed (band width) or latency is low, it may be a good idea to disable the spectators. The option can be set also after the game has started using the Deny New Spectators command (on the context menu of the player list of the current game on the Statistics tab of the Game Manager).
Allow display of tiles. Specify whether the players can expose their opponents' hands (and whether a spectator is allowed to expose players' hands). Notice that Four Winds does not allow a spectator who has exposed the hands to join the game during the deal the hands were exposed. Letting the players show each other's hands may be useful for helping newcomers to learn the basics of the game.

After you have specified the options for the multiplayer game, click the Finish button. Four Winds initializes the game and begins to wait for other players to connect the game.

If you play on the Internet, you must deliver your IP address to other players so that they can connect to your computer and join the game.
When a player joins the game a pop-up message appears to the left of the player's discard slot, indicating that the player is ready to start the game.
To start the game, press F2 (or choose Start game on the Game menu).
If a new multiplayer game is started, the host picks a tile to determine the first dealer (East wind), and then the deal begins. After the tiles have been dealt, the game data is sent to other players. When other players have received the game data, the tiles in your hand are turned face-up and the East can make his first discard. (If East wind is a computer player, he will make the first discard after a delay of 30 seconds.)
If a saved multiplayer game is started, it is always the host's turn. When all players have joined, press F2 and make your move to continue the game.
If other players cannot see the session you have created, please check the FAQ article Why my IP address is not visible to other players.