Jacci Files

Jácci - Based on a game of dice

Version 4.5.0.2
16 April 2010

Author: alex@cs.adelaide.edu.au

Overview
========

Jácci is a single player simplified version of a dice game.  You have 3 turns to 
cast the dice and obtain the best possible score based on the categories 
available (each category may be used only once).

A subtotal of 63 or more in the singles categories attracts a 35 point bonus.

Scoring a Jacci (all dice the same) attracts 50 points, but if the Jacci slot 
has already been used, then subsequent Jaccis can be used to score Full House, 
Small and Large Straights provided that the corresponding singles slot for the 
dice value has not been used.

Controls
========

Mouse point and click should be fairly intuitive:

* To select a scoring category, click on the label or text box of the score
  field.
* The smart hold check box tries to mathch a potential scoring category
  depending on what is available.  
* Auto sort sorts the dice after each throw.

Keyboard Shortcuts work in two modes.

1. During the first two throws, the following keys can be pressed as shortcuts:

1-5          hold/release the respective die
c            cast the dice
a            select/deselect all dice
i            invert the dice selection
s            set/unset smart selection

2. Once the final (third) throw has been made, the keyboard shortcuts change to
allow selection of a scoring category:

1-6          select the corresponding single score
SHIFT + 1    three of a kind
SHIFT + 2    four of a kind
SHIFT + 3    full house
SHIFT + 4    small straight
SHIFT + 5    large straight
SHIFT + 6    jacci
SHIFT + 7    chance

After each throw, valid scoring options are highlighted for scores that would
result in non-zero scores.  Of course any available option can be selected, but
a score of 0 would be registered!

Log Window
==========

The log check box hides/shows a log window showing the scores and ranks for the 
current session of play.

High Scores
===========

Double click the high score text at the bottom to get a table of the top 10
high scores.

If you want to reset the scores, double click on the high score text with the 
right mouse button.

Medals
======

Starting with version 4.5, medals can be 'won' when various events occur:

[.] Getting a high score with one or more 0 scoring fields
[+] Using a Jacci in the corresponding Singles scoring field
[=] Using Jacci to score Full House or a Straight
[|] Using a non-6s Jacci in the Chance field
[#] Using a 6s Jacci in the Chance field
[$] Scoring a Jacci on the first throw of the game
[:] Using a Jacci to score 3 or 4 of a kind
[*] Each Additional Jacci after the first one

The only time medals make any difference to a game's outcome is if two high
scores are identical, then the score wth more medals outranks the one with
fewer medals.

Additional Info
===============

From the source code - the following shows the general order in which smart
hold attempts to match potential scoring candidates.

/*
* 1. Check for singles (if available)
* a. highest value of any more than 1 of a kind that has a singles slot
*    available
*
* 3. Check for jacci (if available)
* a. highest value of any >= 3 of a kind
* 
* 2. Check for 4 of a kind (if available)
* a. highest value of any >= 3 of a kind
* 
* 3. Check for 3 of a kind (if available)
* a. highest value of any >= 2 of a kind
* 
* 4. Check for full house (if available)
* a. two pairs or
* b. a 3 of a kind
* 
* 5. Check for large straight (if available)
* a. any straight run of 3 or more
* 
* 6. Check for small straight (if available)
* a. any straight run of 3 or more
* 
*/

Scores are stored in the registry at:

	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Jacci

The ranking system was based loosely on Army ranks but is only intended as a
bit of fun so no technical discussions will be pursued concerning the
respective stations and their associated quantities of chance and luck :-)