
			      C A S H F L O W

			      An Economic Game
		       for 2-5 Players/Computer-players

			     Stefan Gernhardt
			     Franz Fackelmann
		      fr 2-5 Spieler/Computerspieler


			       Version 1.00
				3/19/1995



(C) Copyright Stefan Gernhardt and Franz Fackelmann 1995.
All rights reserved.



Contents


1. Installation

2. Overview

3. Preparations before Playing

    3.1 Quickstart
    3.2 Gamestart

4. Rules

   4.1 Layout of the Screen
   4.2 Context-sensitive Help
   4.3 Exit Game
   4.4 Selecting Stones and Building Hotels
   4.5 Foundation
   4.6 Extension of Chains
   4.7 Merger
   4.8 Dead Stones and Fix Chains
   4.9 End of the Game
   4.10 Automatic Game

5. Hints and Tips

Appendix A - Creating Language Files

Appendix B - Creating New Help Files

Appendix C - Using Dialog Boxes

Appendix D - Feedback Address

Appendix E - Copyright and Warranty

Glossary



1. Installation


For playing Cashflow you need the following equipment:

- IBM-PC or compatible
- MS-DOS (tested upward version 5.0)
- about 500 KB free main memory
- mouse required
- almost every graphic device (VGA, EGA, CGA, Hercules, IBM8514)
- EPSON-compatible printer (only for a game with more than one human players)

The installation of Cashflow consists in unpacking the compressed
distribution file in an empty directory. The following files are part
of the Cashflow package:

  README        - Installation and Overview (English)
  LIESMICH      - Installation and Overview (German)
  CASHFLOW.EXE  - the Cashflow executable
  ENGLISH.TXT   - English manual in ASCII format
  DEUTSCH.TXT   - German manual in ASCII format
  ENGLISH.PS    - English manual in PostScript format
  DEUTSCH.PS    - German manual in PostScript format
  ENGLISH.HLP   - English help file
  DEUTSCH.HLP   - German help file
  ENGLISH.LNG   - English messages
  DEUTSCH.LNG   - German messages
  CASHFLOW.IMG  - Cashflow logo
  CASHFLOW.INI  - configuration file
  CASHFLOW.MUS  - song file
  SHOWHELP.EXE  - the help viewer (just for language file developers)


2. Overview


In Cashflow you can play the role of a stockholder. As in real (economic)
life the enlargement of fortune/wealth is the primary goal.

The playground consists, like a chessboard, of rows and columns. It shows
a terrain on which you can build hotels. There is one stone for every
single field of the playground. The stones represent hotels, and to put a
stone on the playground means to build a hotel. At the beginning of the
game every player gets a small set of stones. Every stone can be put at
only one position of the playground. This means, you decide for every
stone whether you build a hotel at this certain place or not. After a move
you get a new stone. If two hotels are built side by side in a row or
column, that means the foundation of a hotel chain. You can buy more
stocks from a hotel chain every time you expanding it with new stones. It
is important to have the majority of stocks of a chain. If two chains
increase and touch each other a fusion happens. At a fusion the greatest
chain eliminates the smaller ones. The main stockholders of the smaller
chains get a certain amount of cash. The advantage of the stockholders of
the bigger chain is the rising stock price.

To play successfully Cashflow means, that you have to increase your
fortune/wealth by enlarging hotel chains in order to keep stock prices
rising, and at the same time you have to take care that you have enough
cash in order to be able to invest in new interesting hotel chains. In
other words, you have to look at the right cashflow. The game ends if all
allowed stones are put. The winner is the one with the most cash, fortune,
stocks and bonuses.


3. Preparations before Playing


This chapter shows which preparations have to be made before starting the
game. It's possible to get a first impression of the game by reading
chapter "Quickstart".


3.1 Quickstart

After typing "cashflow" at the DOS prompt a dialog box appears. In this box
you can set game options, parameters and player names. Only the player
names are mandatory. The player fields are in the upper right corner of the
dialog box. You have to enter the names of two players. For the first time
one of the players should be a computer player. You can do that by marking
with a cross the field at the left of the name (go to that field and press
space).

Close the dialog box by pressing the "OK"-button and the "Choose
Strategy"-box appears. Close it by pressing "OK" again. After that you can
see a price list of the hotel classes (after the game has started up, you
may review the price list by pressing "F2"). A last key hit removes the
price list and the game starts.


3.2 Gamestart

Start the program by typing "cashflow" followed by the Return key and the
introductory screen appears (cf. figure 1). With any key you can go on to
the dialog box. In the dialog box you can set the game options, parameters
and player names (cf. "Appendix C - Using Dialog Boxes" for getting
familiar with the handling of the elements inside a dialog box).

The dialog box contains the following areas: playground, chains, start
capital, players, options and command buttons.




	Ŀ
	                                                        
	   Playground                Type Players               
	   Columns:        12        [ ]  Stefan                
	   Rows:           14        [ ]  Franz                 
				      [X]  Computer              
	   Chains                    [ ]                        
	   Chains:         7         [ ]                        
	   Fix chains:     11                                   
	                                                        
	   Stocks:         24        Options                    
				      [X] Play songs             
	   Start capital:  6000      [ ] Mark fields            
				      [X] Black and white        
				      [X] Show Patterns          
	                                                        
	   Ok    Abort    Language                              
	
 		        Figure 1 - Game parameters


Playground area
Columns, Rows:	 The number of columns and rows set the size of the
                 playground.

Chains area
Chains: 	 Number of hotel chains.

Fix chains: 	 The chain length up to which hotel-chains may merge.

Stocks: 	 Number of stocks per hotel chain.

Start capital: 	 The players go with that amount of money into the game.

Player area
Players:	 This area offers input fields for five player names.

Type: 	         Every player field has an associated type field. When the
		 type field is marked with a cross, the corresponding player
		 is a computer player, otherwise it's a human player.

Option area
Play songs: 	 After a foundation you hear a short identifying melody
                 (default on).

Mark fields: 	 Every field of the playground is marked with its co-
		 ordinates, so you can find it easier (default on).

Black and white: Suppress colors for better reading on monochrome
		 screens (default off).

Show patterns: 	 The hotel chains have patterns to distinguish them
		 easier (default on).

Command buttons area
Ok: 	         Press this button to close the dialog box. For every computer
		 player you have to choose a strategy. If there are more than
		 one human player, three tables for each player will be
		 printed. The reason for the tables is to hide your stones
		 from your opponents. The encoded stones are shown on the
		 screen and with your tables you can decode them. For using
		 the tables cf. "4.4 Selecting Stones and Building Hotels" .

Quit: 	         Press this button to cancel the input and end the program.

Language: 	 Choose a language for all items displayed in the program. At
		 the moment English and German are available (cf. "Appendix A
		 - Creating Language Files").

	  Ŀ
	   field          min      max      default      
	  Ĵ
	   number columns     4         15        12     
	   number rows        4         15         9     
	   number chains      2         11         7     
	   number stocks      2         99        24     
	   chain fix          2        225        11     
	   start cash       100    100.000     6.000     
	  
		     Table 1 - Range of parameters


4. Rules


4.1 Layout of the Screen

The screen is divided in some areas. The greatest part is the playground.
The rows of the playground are marked with numbers and the columns are
marked with letters. You can change the number of rows and columns at the
beginning of the game. For every field of the playground there exists a
stone. A stone laid on the playground represents a hotel. At the right of
the playground are the player windows. In the lowest row you can see the
stones. In a player window there are also displayed the name of the
player, his cash and his stocks.


	  Ŀ
	                       hotel chain area                   
	  Ĵ
	       A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J                      
	     Ĵ                   
	                                                        
	   1                                                    
	                                                        
	   2                                                    
	                                        player windows  
	   3           playground                               
	                                                        
	   4                                                    
	                                                        
	   5                                 Ĵ
	                                                        
	  Ĵ      graph        
	              dialog area                                
	  
			      Figure 2 - Layout

At the top of the screen is the hotel chain area. Every hotel chain has a
name, a color and optionally a pattern. The status of a hotel chain
consists of three values. From left to right these are the number of
stocks free for sale, the price of stocks and the length of the chain. In
the player window you see your number of stocks in the same color as the
hotel chains on the playground or in the hotel chain area at the top.

The communication between you and the program will the most time occur in
the dialog area which is situated in the lower left corner of the screen.
The mouse will than be restricted to that area to facilitate input.

The evolution of the game is displayed in the lower right corner of the
screen. For each player there is a graph showing the player's fortune. The
player with the highest graph at the end of the game is the winner. In
color mode the graph is printed in the same color as the name of the
player. In black and white mode the graph of the actual player is dotted.
Note that the graphs area shown only when less than five players
participate.


4.2 Context-sensitive Help

In every situation you can get a help text with "F1". You can remove it by
pressing any keyboard or mouse key.


4.3 Exit Game

You can leave the game at every time by pressing Ctrl+Break.


4.4 Selecting Stones and Building Hotels

The move of a player consists in putting a stone on the playground. A move
can produce different actions, that will be explained in later sections.
After a move you get a new stone, if there are still some stones left.

At the start of the game each player gets a certain number of stones
(default six). The stones represent hotels and to put a stone on the
playground means to build a hotel.

If there is only one human player, his stones are shown not encoded.
Additionally the position of his stones is displayed directly on the
playground.

If many human players take part at the game, it's necessary to hold the
position of the stones secret. Therefore you'll be informed about your
stones in encoded form. Instead of the co-ordinates of the stone, a player
will see a code number for the corresponding stone. To get the real
position of the stone from the given code number follow the procedure
below:

1. To decode the numbers you have to use the middle table which has the
   heading "Association of coded blocks to fields". The table has two
   columns which are broken in some parts and are printed side by side. If
   you want to decode a stone position you have to search the code number
   in the first column. In the second column you will find the
   corresponding position on the playground.

2. The third table ("Association of fields to coded blocks") is the
   inverse function of the middle table. When a player is waiting for a
   certain stone, he can use the table to find the code number that will be
   displayed for that stone.

You select the stones with the mouse. The mouse is restricted in the range
of your stones. If a stone has been selected it will appear flashing on
the playground. You end your turn by pressing the button labelled
"Continue".


4.5 Foundation

If you put a stone in the way that there are two hotels side by side in a
row or column, a foundation of a hotel chain happens. You have to choose
the name of the hotel chain in the hotel chain area at the top of the
screen. You cannot take the name of a chain that is already founded (see
1. Hint). The color and pattern of the stones on the playground now turn
to the ones of the new hotel chain.

The founder of a hotel chain gets a stock for free and he has the option
to buy up to three stocks. In the dialog area there are four fields for
this purpose. The first field means to buy no stocks, the second one is
used to buy one stock, and so on. The amount you have to pay is displayed
on the fields.

A foundation causes some changes of values:

In the player window the value of cash decreases, but the value of
fortune/wealth usually will increase, because the player becomes a
stockholder. The number of stocks belonging to this chain increases.

In the hotel chain area the three values of the chain status change
(chain length, stock price and number of stocks).


4.6 Extension of Chains

If you put a stone directly beside a hotel chain you "extend the chain".
The stone (your hotel) becomes part of the hotel chain and gets its color.
The price of the stocks of the chain may raise, because the length of the
chain increases. To extend a chain allows you to buy 0, 1, 2 or 3 stocks.

You can find out the prices of stocks within the price list (press F2 or
have a look at the first table on your printout). The hotel chains are
divided in three price classes. The first thing you have to do, is to find
the chain name in one of the first three columns, then you have to find
the row with the right chain length.

   price list ͻ
                                                                      
    Festival     Maritim     Imperial                                 
    Tower        American    Continental                              
                 Worldwide                                            
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                         Price/Stock  First    Second 
                                                                      
     2 -   2                                  200      2000     1000  
     3 -   3      2 -   2                     300      3000     1500  
     4 -   4      3 -   3      2 -   2        400      4000     2000  
     5 -   5      4 -   4      3 -   3        500      5000     2500  
     6 -  10      5 -   5      4 -   4        600      6000     3000  
    11 -  20      6 -  10      5 -   5        700      7000     3500  
    21 -  30     11 -  20      6 -  10        800      8000     4000  
    31 -  40     21 -  30     11 -  20        900      9000     4500  
    41 - 225     31 -  40     21 -  30       1000     10000     5000  
                 41 - 225     31 -  40       1100     11000     5500  
                              41 - 225       1200     12000     6000  
                                                                      
                    Weiter mit einer beliebiger Taste                 
  ͼ
			  Table 2 - Price list

You can see the actual prices of stocks in the hotel chain area at the top
of the screen. If you want to extend a chain, be aware of that by
increasing the length of the chain the price of the stocks may also
increase, and consequently you will have to pay the higher price for the
stocks. So if you intend to extend a chain you can find out the price you
will have to pay within the price list, by taking in account the new
length of the chain.


4.7 Merger

A stone, that connects two or more hotel chains is a merger stone and
causes a "merger". The biggest chain, the so-called "superior chain", eats
the smaller ones, which are called the "inferior chains". If there are
ambiguities which chain is the biggest one, the player at turn has to
select the superior chain.

The stockholder with the most stocks (main stockholder) of an inferior
chain gets a payment of compensation ("merger bonus"). The second
stockholder gets a merger bonus too, but only the half. In case that there
is just one stockholder of an inferior chain, then this one gets the first
and the second merger bonus. If there are more than one main stockholders,
the sum of the first and second boni will be equally divided among them,
and the second stockholders don't get anything. If more than one second
stockholders exists and none of the above applies then the second merger
bonus will be equally divided between them.

The amount of the merger boni can be seen in the price list. You search
the name of the chain in the headers of the columns, then you look in the
row with the correct length of the chain. In the column "first" you'll
find the merger bonus for the main stockholder, and in the column "second"
you'll find the merger bonus for the second stockholder.

Every player, who has stocks from an inferior chain, gets in the "exchange
procedure" the following possibilities. He can exchange the stocks of the
inferior chain to stocks of the superior chain in proportion of 2:1 (one
superior stock for two inferior stocks). Another possibility is to sell
the stocks at the actual price. The last possibility is to keep the stocks
in the hope that the chain will be founded again.

The player who put the last stone starts with the exchange procedure. If
there are more than one inferior chain the exchange procedure will be
repeated for every inferior chain.


4.8 Dead Stones and Fix Chains

Stones that are not allowed to be put on the playground are called "dead
stones". There are two possible reasons:

1. The stone would cause a foundation, but all hotel chains are already
   founded. The stone will become alive again, when a merger happens. After
   a merger there is at least one hotel chain free for founding.

2. The second reason for a dead stone has to do with fix chains. At a
   certain length (default: eleven hotels) hotel chains can not be merged.
   These chains are called "fix chains". Stones that would cause such
   mergers are dead stones and remain dead until the end of the game.

If you only have dead stones your turn will be skipped until one of the
stones becomes alive, or until the other players have only dead stones
too. In the latter case the player who waits the longest time gets a new
stone.


4.9 End of the Game

The game ends, if all stones are put, or there are only dead stones left.

Your three most important financial values are in your player window on
the right side of the screen. You can see your cash in the upper right
corner. Your fortune that consists of the sum of cash and the value of
your stocks is at the beginning of the second row. At the end of this row
you can see your "fortune at end". The fortune at end is the sum of your
fortune and your possible merger boni. The possible merger boni are the
payments a player would get, if all hotel chains in which he is the first
or second stockholder would be inferior chains. In this calculation you
also have to include the fixed chains.

You can see the evolution of the "fortune at end" values in a graph in the
lower left corner of the screen. The winner of the game is the player with
the most "fortune at end" after the last move.


4.10 Automatic Game

The last few moves of a game are often without effect on the outcome of
the game. So you can speed up this part of the game with the automatic
game option when ending your turn.

During the automatic game the computer does the moves for the players as
long as a merger, a foundation or the extension of a chain can be avoided.

The automatic game option should be activated with the consent of all
players just when no change in the ranking is expected.


5. Hints and Tips


i.    Choose a hotel chain
      There are three classes of chains. You should take at first the
      chains of the upper and more expensive classes. You can see these
      chains on the left side in the hotel chain area at the top of the
      screen.

ii.   Stocks
      You should try to get the most stocks of a hotel chain to become
      the main stockholder.

iii.  Cash
      The cash is your scope of action. The best case is that you spend
      your whole money and in the next move you get new money because a
      merger happens.

iv.   Main Stockholder
      If there are many players it is difficult to be the main
      stockholder of every chain, so it is better you concentrate on few
      chains.

v.    Guaranteed Main Stockholder
      If you get more than the half of the stocks you are in every case
      the main stockholder.

vi.   Increase Fortune
      If you extend a chain of which you have stocks, the prices of your
      stocks and merger bonus may raise.

vii.  Getting Merger Boni
      By expanding a chain a player gets the chance to buy stocks. When
      someone consequently invests in a hotel chain, he can become the
      main or second stockholder and this will be rewarded with a bonus
      when a merger occurs.

viii. Keep Extension Stones
      You should keep important extension stones until you have enough
      money to buy the stocks.

ix.   Planning of a Merger
      You should, if possible, plan a merger in that way that you get
      much money. You should be the main stockholder of an inferior
      chain.

x.    Fix Chains
      If you want to prevent that an opponent gets a merger bonus, you
      have to extend this chain until it is a fix one. Note that you
      don't have to spend any money for extending a chain.

xi.   Keeping of Stocks
      If a merger happens at the end of the game you should exchange or
      sell all your stocks. In the middle of the game you can keep the
      stocks in the hope a new foundation will occur.


Appendix A - Creating Language Files


If you press the button "Language" in the first dialog box you get a list
from which you can select a national language. At the moment you can play
Cashflow in English or German. The messages for a certain language version
are stored in a language file. If you want to extend the game by your
native tongue you have to copy an existing language file under a new name,
translate the contained messages and write its file name into the
initialisation file CASHFLOW.INI.

To create a new language we propose the following procedure:

1. Copy an already existing language file (e.g. ENGLISH.LNG) under a new
   name. This name should characterise the language and the file extension
   should remain LNG.

2. Every line of the language file refers to one dialog message. The
   symbolic name in square brackets is followed by the clear text in the
   respective national language. Translate all clear text portions of the
   language file, but never change the symbolic name.

   Example:

     The English version

       [GAMEOVER] "Game over."

     looks translated to German as follows:

       [GAMEOVER] "Das Spiel ist beendet."

3. Enter the new language into the CASHFLOW.INI file. For this you have
   to insert a new line into the section [Languages] which looks like:

     Languagen=language name,language file,help file

   where n is the number and language name is the name of the new language,
   language file is the name of the new .LNG-file and help file is the name
   of the corresponding help file (cf. "Appendix B - Creating New Help
   Files").


Appendix B - Creating New Help Files


The help files of Cashflow are text files containing all help pages in a
sequential order. The beginning of a help page is marked by a heading. The
current help page ends at the next heading or at the end of the file.

The definition of a help page uses a SGML-like notation. Inside a SGML-
document, so-called tags mark the beginning and the end of headings,
paragraphs, lists or emphasised text portions. Every element of a document
begins with a start-tag denoting its type, which is followed by the
content of the element, and ends with an end-tag. In some cases the end-
tag may be omitted. A start-tag is surrounded by the characters `<' and
`>', while an end-tag is delimited by `</' and `>'. Example:

  <H1>A Headline</H1>
  <P>This is a paragraph.

The help files of Cashflow use a small subset of tags, which are defined
in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). You have to enter the corresponding
text and surround it by the appropriate tags. When Cashflow wants to
display a certain help page, it reads the text from the help file and
formats it as specified by the tags. As a consequence, it doesn't make
sense to try to pre-format the text by using line breaks, spaces or other
means, because the layout of the text is determined just by the tags.
Sequences of spaces, line breaks or unknown tags are ignored.

The following table lists the recognised tags and describes their effect
on the layout of the help page. Three successive dots "_" may be replaced
by an optional text. Tags enclosed in square brackets are optional and may
be omitted.

- <H1>...</H1> Heading
  A heading denotes the beginning of
  a help page, and at the same time
  the end of the previous page.
  Headings are displayed in a special
  font.

- <P>...[</P>] Paragraph
  A paragraph contains normal text.
  Successive paragraphs are separated
  from each other by an empty line.

- <PRE>...</PRE> Pre-formatted
  Text portions that have to be
  displayed as formatted in the help
  page, have to be declared as pre-
  formatted by using this tags.
  Warning: Lines that are too long to
  fit on a line will be truncated.

- <LI>...[</LI>] List entry
  Every item of a list has to be
  enclosed by these tags. Paragraphs
  embedded inside a list entry will
  be indented as needed.

- <UL>...</UL> Unordered list
  An unordered list contains entries
  where every item is prefixed by a
  dot.

- <OL>...</OL> Ordered list
  The entries of an ordered list are
  numbered sequentially starting with
  the number one.

- <EM>...</EM> Emphasis
  Text that has to be emphasised,
  will be displayed in a lighter
  color.

- <BR> Line break
  If a line break should be
  effectuated at a certain position
  under every circumstance, then use
  this tag.

- <OB> Optional hyphen
  This tag marks the position at
  which a word may be broken if it
  doesn't fit completely on a line.
  Use hyphenation in order to put
  more characters on a line.

- <!- ... --> Comment
  Text contained in this tag is
  ignored by Cashflow.

If you want to create a help file in a new language, so you have to copy
an existing help file under a new name, and translate the contained text.
You should pay attention to the fact that the text is tagged as shown
above, or else some text portions may not be displayed if they are located
"outside" of tags. The contents of a help topic should not exceed the
space of one help window, because scrolling is not supported. Additionally
the heading tags shouldn't be used for highlighting purposes, and
shouldn't be removed, because Cashflow accesses help pages by using
headings and their order inside the file.

To support the creation of a help file, Cashflow is shipped with a
program, that can show the help pages in sequential order. SHOWHELP.EXE
has to be issued using the name of the help file to be viewed as a command
line parameter. Leafing through the help pages is done by pressing the
buttons "Previous" and "Next", resp. the keys [PgUp] and [PgDn]. The size
of the help page displayed by SHOWHELP.EXE is identical to the one used by
Cashflow. This enables you to employ the optional hyphen tag <OB> to reach
the best utilisation of a line.


Appendix C - Using Dialog Boxes


The communication of the user with the application happens inside one or
more windows by accessing different controls using the keyboard and/or the
mouse. Cashflow uses the following controls in its dialog boxes:

- Text fields display data and collect the user's input. The number of
  characters that may be entered in a text field is limited, and depends
  of the type of input expected. Editing is accomplished by using the
  usual keys (Del, Insert, cursor left and right, End, Home, etc.)

- When leaving a text field that contains an invalid value, its content is
  replaced by a reasonable default value.

- Toggle fields correspond to switches having the states on/off, resp.
  yes/no. Changing the state of the toggle is done by pressing the space-
  key when on such a field, or by clicking on the field with the mouse.

- Radio fields allows a user to select in a simple way an item out of a
  list of options. The application insures automatically that exactly one
  of the options in the list is activated. Choose the desired item by
  using the cursor keys and select it by striking the space-key. When
  using the mouse, just click on the option to be selected.

- Buttons are provided to issue certain actions. Clicking on a button, or
  striking the [Enter]-key when a button is highlighted, will activate the
  associated action.

  The most used button is the "Ok"-button. Pressing it will close the
  dialog window and means the confirmation of the dialog's contents.

  Moving to the next control is done by pressing [Tab] or cursor down.
  Reversibly stepping to the previous field is done by pressing [Shift][Tab]
  resp. cursor up. Pressing the [Enter]-key when on a field, the
  default-button of the dialog is activated. The default button is generally
  the "Ok"-button. A second [Enter] will close the window and let the appli-
  cation continue.


Appendix D - Feedback Address


Criticism, suggestions and new language and help files may be sent to the
following CompuServe address:

    Franz Fackelmann
    Mannheim, Germany
    100333,724

For people having access to the Internet, the address above sounds:

    100333.724@compuserve.com


Appendix E - Copyright and Warranty


The authors reserve all rights to all parts of this program. You are
however free to copy and distribute this program to anyone you like as
long as all files and this copyright note remain together and unchanged.

This program is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The
entire risk as to the quality and performance of the program is with you.
Should the program prove defective, you assume the cost of all necessary
servicing, repair or correction. In no event will the authors be liable to
you for any damages including any lost profits, lost savings, or other
incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to
use this program even if the authors have been advised of the possibility
of such damages or any claim by any other party.


Glossary


Automatic Play
  The last few moves of a game are often without effect on the outcome of
  the game. So you can speed up this part of the game with the automatic
  game option when ending your turn. During the automatic game the
  computer does the moves for the players as long as a merger, a
  foundation or the extension of a chain can be avoided.

Cash
  The cash is your scope of action. You can see it in the player window
  in the upper right corner.

Chain Length
  Number of hotels a chain consists of.

Dead Stones
  Stones, that are not allowed to be put on the playground are called
  "dead stones". There are two possible reasons. Firstly a stone would
  cause a foundation, but all hotel chains are already founded. Such
  stones will become alive again, if a merger happens and a free hotel
  chain is available again. The second reason for a dead stone has to do
  with fix chains. Stones, that would cause a merger which involves a fix
  chain, are dead stones and will stay dead till the end of the game.

Exchange Procedure
  Every player, who has stocks from an inferior chain, gets in the
  "exchange procedure" the following possibilities. He can exchange the
  stocks of the inferior chain to stocks of the superior chain in
  proportion of 2:1 (one superior stock for two inferior stocks). Another
  possibility is to sell the stocks with the actual price. The last
  possibility is to keep the stocks in the hope that the chain will be
  founded again.

Extension
  Extension of a chain means to put a stone on the playground direct
  beside a hotel chain (next row or next column).

Fix Chain
  Above a certain length (default: eleven hotels) chains cannot become
  inferior chains. Such chains are called fix chains.

Fortune, Wealth
  The fortune is the sum of cash and stocks values.

Fortune at End
  The fortune at end is the sum of your fortune and your possible merger
  boni. The possible merger boni are the payments a player would get, if
  all hotel chains, in which he is the first or second stockholder would
  be inferior chains. In this calculation you have to include also the
  fixed chains.

Foundation
  If you put a stone in the way that there are two hotels side by side in
  a row or column, a foundation of a hotel chain happens.

Hotel chain
  see foundation

HTML
  Hypertext markup language is simple system, that is used to write
  hypertext documents. These documents are portable on several platforms.

Inferior Chain
  If a merger happens the biggest chain under the affected chains is
  called the "superior chain" and the others are the "inferior chains".
  If there are ambiguities, which chain is the biggest one, the player at
  turn chooses the superior chain.

Main Stockholder
  The player with the most stocks of a hotel chain is the main
  stockholder. At a merger he gets the biggest merger bonus if the chain
  is the inferior chain.

Merger
  A stone, that connects two or more hotel chains is a merger stone and
  causes a "merger". The biggest chain eats the smaller ones.

Merger Bonus
  At a merger the stockholder with the most stocks (main stockholder) of
  an inferior chain gets a payment of compensation ("merger bonus"). The
  second stockholder gets a merger bonus too, but only the half. If there
  is only one stockholder, this one gets both payments and if there is
  more than one main or second stockholder the bonus will be divide.

Superior Chain
  see inferior chains

SGML
  The Standard Generalized Markup language is a system for defining
  structured document types.

Tags
  Tags surround elements of a SGML-document.
