Mega Scrabble 26×26 – Retro Terminal Edition

End User Support Manual
Written by ChatGPT for Smazlabz

1. Game Overview

Mega Scrabble 26×26 is an expanded version of classic Scrabble with:

• A 26×26 board (4× larger than the standard)

• 11 letters per player

• Quadruple Word Score (QWS) blocks

• CPU opponent or 2-player mode

• ASCII retro terminal-style graphics

• Live score tracking and HELP ON support

The goal is to score more points than your opponent by forming valid words on the board.

2. Game Setup

1. Open index.html in a modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).

2. The game starts in CPU vs Human mode by default.

3. Each player receives 11 random tiles from a 400-letter bag.

4. The board grid is displayed with X (columns) and Y (rows) axes.

Color Codes for Board Multipliers:

Block Type	Color	Effect
QWS (Quadruple Word Score)	Orange	Multiplies word score by 4
DW (Double Word Score)	Red	Multiplies word score by 2
DL (Double Letter Score)	Cyan	Multiplies letter score by 2
Normal	Green	No multiplier

3. How to Play

Player Turn

1. Select tiles from your rack by clicking.

2. Place tiles on the board by selecting a starting cell and choosing horizontal or vertical placement.

3. Click Submit Turn (or CPU will automatically place its word).

CPU Mode

• The CPU will calculate its best move automatically.

• CPU debug panel shows candidate words, chosen move, score, and placement.

2-Player Mode

• Click the Toggle CPU/2P button to switch modes.

• Players take turns placing words on the same board.

HELP ON

• Shows the best move for the human player.

• Includes word, placement, direction, and expected score.

4. Scoring Rules

1. Each letter has a standard Scrabble score:

Letter	Value	Letter	Value
A, E, I, O, U, L, N, S, T, R	1	F, H, V, W, Y	4
D, G	2	K	5
B, C, M, P	3	J, X	8
Q, Z	10

1. Multipliers:

   • DL = Double letter

   • DW = Double word

   • QWS = Quadruple word

2. 11-letter bonus: Using all 11 tiles in a single turn gives +250 points.

3. Score updates after every turn and is displayed in the High Scores panel.

5. Game Statistics

• Score Tracking: Current points for each player displayed live.

• High Scores Panel: Top scores for session play.

• CPU Debug Info: Candidate words, move selection, and scoring for AI analysis.

6. Dictionary

• Default demo dictionary included for instant play.

• To use the full 100k+ word dictionary:

  1. Click Load Dictionary and select a .txt file with one word per line.

  2. Words must contain only uppercase letters A–Z.

  3. CPU and HELP ON will now use the full word list.

7. Audio / Theme

• Click Play Theme to start background music (placeholder currently).

• Stop Theme halts playback.

• Future updates include a looping MIDI-style theme.

8. Tips for Playing

• Prioritize using QWS blocks for maximum scoring.

• Use all 11 letters whenever possible to gain the 250-point bonus.

• Check CPU debug panel to learn word placement strategies.

• Use HELP ON strategically to maximize score.

• Remember: the board is huge (26×26) — plan words both horizontally and vertically.

9. Keyboard / Mouse Shortcuts

• Select Tile: Click on tile in rack

• Place Tile: Click on board cell

• Submit Turn: Auto-submit after placement

• Toggle Mode: Button to switch CPU/2P

• HELP ON: Suggest best move

• Load Dictionary: File input

• Play/Stop Theme: Control background audio

10. End of Game

• The game ends when:

  • Both players have used all their tiles, or

  • No valid moves remain

• The player with highest score wins.

• High scores are displayed in the panel for review.

11. Troubleshooting

• Board not visible? Reload browser and ensure JavaScript is enabled.

• Dictionary file fails? Check it’s a .txt file with one uppercase word per line.

• Audio not playing? Ensure browser supports HTML5 audio; file currently uses placeholder.

• Tiles missing? Refill by starting a new game.

12. Credits

• Game Design & Implementation: ChatGPT for Smazlabz

• ASCII art and retro terminal styling inspired by classic computing terminals