Trios Game © 2003 Michelle K. Martin
based on the Card Game SET! © 1999/2001 Ravensburger Spieleverlag

How To Play Trios is a single or multiplayer card game. The card deck contains 81 different cards (27 in easy mode). 12 cards are dealt to the table. Each player tries to find sets consisting of three cards that match the set criteria (see below). For each set found, the player gets 3 points. The cards are taken away and three new cards are dealt to the table. If it is impossible to build a set from the cards on the table all cards are exchanged. The game ends when no cards are left in the deck and no further sets are possible. The player with the most points wins. (see below for Multiplayer Rules) Clicking on the menu item "Give me a Hint" will highlight one card that belongs to a set that can be build with the cards displayed. This Hint will cost 1 point. What's a set? Three cards together constitute a set. But only if each of the four characteristics is either absolutely identical on all three cards or totally different on each card. The cards don't have to be displayed in any particular arrangement. All 81 cards are different with respect to the following four characteristics: Quantity: 1, 2 or 3 symbols on a card Color: red, green or blue symbols    (in easy mode all cards are blue) Shape: three different shapes Filling: no filling, solid filling, structured filling Examples of a set:     Quantity = same! Color = same! Shape = same! Filling = totally different!   Quantity = totally different! Color = same! Shape = totally different! Filling = same!   Quantity = totally different! Color = totally different! Shape = totally different! Filling = totally different! Examples of NO sets:     Quantity = same! Color = totally different! Shape = same! Filling = 1 solid, 2 empty!   Quantity = same! Color = 1 green, 2 red! Shape = same! Filling = 1 solid, 2 structured!   Quantity = 1 single, 2 triples! Color = 1 green, 2 blue! Shape = 1 different, 2 equal! Filling = 1 structured, 2 solid! Multiplayer Rules If in a two player game (hot seat), a HOT-Key is assigend to each player. All players scan the displayed cards for a set. If a player finds one, he/she hits her HOT-Key as soon as possible and then has 10 seconds to select the cards. If this time is up or his card don't build a set, two points are taken from his/hers credits. Both players can continue playing. If in a two player network (TCP/IP) game, all players scan the displayed cards for a set. If a player finds one, he/she marks the cards as soon as possible while the other player can do the same. When a card is marked, it has a border in the color of the player who activated it. As soon as three corresponding cards are found, the player who first marked them gets the points. Disclaimer The idea of Trios is based on the card game "SET". The original card game SET! was published by Ravensburger. The C++ Code and the graphics of this computer game belong to ASHWIND Software. Thus, this game is not freeware and may not be copied, changed or redistributed. Non-commercial paying costumers are free though to change graphics and make their own sets. 06/01/2004   Michelle K. Martin, Jan Müller