# The &kggz; Handbook

Josef
Spillner

    josef@ggzgamingzone.org

2002-2005
Josef Spillner
&FDLNotice;
2005-03-11
0.20.00

&kggz; is &kde;'s Core Client for the &ggz;. This handbook describes how to use it to satisfy everyone's gaming needs.

GGZ
&ggz;
ggz-kde-client
kggz

## Introduction

&kggz; is &kde; Core Client for the &ggz;. It is a central place where people can play games, chat and have much fun.

### &ggz; for &kde; users

There are several GGZ applications available for the gamer who is using the &kde; desktop. Beside &kggz;, which is the main chat-and-play application, there is also the game quick launcher GGZap, the tournament calendaring tool Competition Calendar, the graphical chatbot configuration dialog kgrubby, a configuration module for the control center, and much more. Have a look at the individual handbooks for each application to find out more.

### Launching &kggz;

In the &kde; menu, you will find the entry Games/GGZ Gaming Zone/Internet Gaming Center (KGGZ). This will launch &kggz;, and offer you a connection dialog, so you can log into a GGZ server. Alternatively, the program can be launched with a connection URI such as ggz://username@live.ggzgamingzone.org as command line argument.

## Connecting to a server

### The connection dialog

In order to connect to a GGZ server, the connection dialog is invoked and offers several connection options as well as server profiles.

The connection dialog with a custom profile

Connection options include the encryption of the connection (if supported by the server), and the ability to launch the server locally. Profiles on the other hand keep track of the GGZ server hostname, the username, the password (depending on the login type), and the login type which can be either of anonymous, regular or first time. Anonymous users can log in without password, but will not have any game scores or statistics recorded. First time users will be sent their password upon successful first login.

Connection profiles

A couple of profiles is preconfigured already, although more can always be added. Using the GGZ metaserver means that the hostname to connect to is determined automatically and randomly. It can also be used to view the list of known GGZ servers, and connect to one of them. The second profile, Default stable server, defaults to live.ggzgamingzone.org, and should always work. The third standard profile, LAN game, can be used to automatically detect a GGZ server which has been set up on the local network.

### Login

When the connection succeeded (i.e. GGZ client and server protocol versions match), the login procedure takes place. If it succeeds as well, the first room is entered automatically, which will almost always be the Lounge, which has no game associated with it and is thus a pure chat room. From there, a game-specific room might be looked up in the room list. In most cases, the GGZ server will also send a message of the day (MOTD), which is displayed first.

Message of the day

The KGGZ room window consists of a chat display, a room list left to it and a list of active tables above it. The icon in the upper left corner is specific for the gametype associated with each room.

Chat window, player list and table list

## Chat

### Chatting

Simply type some text into the input box and press enter to send it over the wire. For private messages, type /msg (playername) (text). A list of all chat commands can be fetched by typing /help.

Each player in the playerlist is displayed with a lag indicator, so you can find out about the connection quality, and a buddy icon which suggests whether the playertype is regular player, guest, administrator or chat bot. Additionally, users of &kggz; can mark each player as either friend or foe, and ignore chat messages from the foes.

### Chat bots

There are chat bots on most GGZ servers, often named grubby. You can speak with them using another set of commands, which might also be requested from the bot by typing: (botname) help. Most bot commands only work in private conversation mode. To make it easier to communicate, a visual frontend is available.

The visual grubby dialog

## GGZ Games

### Playing games

When being in a game room, the game associated with this room can be played. Click Launch game in the game menu to launch one at a new table. Alternatively, you can join an existing table if it allows this and if there is a free seat on it. Some games also support spectators, so feel free to watch the other players anonymously while they play.

When launching a new game, a dialog pops up which can be used to control the maximum number of players and bots. Seat reservations for friend players or tournaments can also be handled here by right-clicking on any seat.

Table configuration during game launch

When multiple game frontends are available, one can be chosen before the game is launched. Since they all speak the same protocol, it doesn't matter which frontend is chosen.

Sometimes, games crash or fubar for some odd reason. Such a game can be cancelled then by clicking at the appropriate menu entry. Some games support leaving during gameplay, others will be stopped if the player leaves before they are finished.

## Tips and Tricks

### Panel watcher

If there are not many players online, &kggz; can be minimized and a panel icon informs about new players or chat activity. With a simple click on the icon, the whole chat window can be restored again.

Panel watcher

## Credits and License

&kggz;

Program copyright:

### Developers

- Josef Spillner josef@ggzgamingzone.org

Documentation copyright 2002-2005 Josef Spillner josef@ggzgamingzone.org

&underFDL; &underGPL;

## Installation

### How to obtain &kggz;

&install.intro.documentation;

### Requirements

In order to successfully use &kggz;, you need &kde; 3.3 or 3.4 installed. Additionally, the &ggz; libraries libggzcore installed, including its dependencies libggzmod and libggz.

For LAN server detection, the howl library must be installed also.

### Compilation and Installation

&install.compile.documentation;

&documentation.index;