Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition

Hot Seat Client Information

Introduction
The EDEE hot seat client is designed to allow hot seat play (play from the same computer) for multiple opponents. This feature was not originally designed into the game, but many people have requested it. Therefore, a client has been developed to allow such type of play.

Be aware that the hot seat client will only work if you have the EDEE server installed.

How It Works
The hot seat client connects to the EDEE server via a local network connection, and from the server's perspective is treated as a networked client in a networked game.

The hot seat client is a separate window for a player to use to display his perspective of the game. It includes the ability to properly blank the screen to offer some level of visual protection while it is not the player's turn.

Hot Seat Client Preparation
The Hot Seat Client is a separate program called  "EmpireHotSeat.exe" located in the same directory in which you have the game installed. You might also want to add a shortcut for the program to your desktop.

It is first recommended that you bind the blank screen command to a key for convenient use. You only have to do this once. If you use the default key settings, I recommend binding F10 to blank the screen.

To do this, start the hot seat client or the EDEE server, and bind the key through the main menu option Preferences-> Key Bind Settings. Add the entry Display Toggles: Blank Screen and set the key value to F10.

Preparing a Game For Hot Seat Play
As previously mentioned, hot seat play woks via a local network connection. Being local, you machine does not have to be part of a network or attached to the Internet to function.

To begin, setup up a game as you normally would, except under the "Opponents" menu choose "Network Play".
 

When setting up players, set all human players to "Human via Network". Do not have one player be "Human - Local" (see ** for an explanation of this).

Before starting the hot seat clients, go to the connections tab. You should not have to adjust the port default from 46000 (but you may if you know what you are doing). Simply press the "Start Accepting Button.
 

Start a Hot Seat Client for as many people that are going to play Hot Seat. For each client, select the menu option Play->Prepare Hot Seat. Enter the Player's name and password, and Press the "Connect Button" If the steps were followed correctly, the client should connect to the server. You will also notice that the hot seat client window is now named for its commander. This will allow you to minimize it and still know the window's owner.

Once all clients are connected, go back to the server's Connection tab and use the player assignments section to assign the hot seat players by selecting a player, adjusting the "Set Position" combo, then pressing "Assign".

Game play should proceed normally with players taking turns. Be aware that the game does not indicate when your turn ends unless you have specifically set up a dialog to ask you if you are ready to finish you turn. Also, be aware that if you hold the mouse over the turn indicator a tool tip will appear to tell you who's turn it is.


Notes:
** Setting a player as Human Local will let one player use the server to play the game. This will have the disadvantage that the game window will not be named for that commander.