Light Connection

Extend a connected line across the dartboard by linking successive dart landing spots. Each dart you throw creates a new point on the board, and these points are joined in sequence to form a continuous line. The goal is to build the longest possible line — measured by total geometric length — while avoiding penalties that halve your score.

Light Connection is exclusive to the DARTSLIVE3 electronic dartboard system and cannot be played on a conventional steel-tip or standard electronic board. The board's software handles all line rendering, distance calculation, and scoring automatically.

2 or more players may participate. Select Light Connection from the DARTSLIVE3 party-game menu and follow on-screen prompts to register each player. The board will assign throwing order and display each player's line in a distinct colour. No manual scoreboard is required.

Players take turns throwing darts at the board. Each dart that lands on a valid segment creates a connection point at that location. The board draws a straight line from the previous point to the new point, extending the player's chain. The first dart of a player's game establishes the starting point; subsequent darts extend the line one segment at a time.

Penalty conditions — score halved: Several situations cause your accumulated score to be cut in half:

• Self-crossing: If your new line segment crosses any part of your own existing line, the penalty applies.
• Opponent-crossing: If your new line segment crosses any part of an opponent's line, the penalty applies.
• Outboard throw: If a dart misses the scoring area entirely (lands off the board), the penalty applies.
• Hazard contact (Special Stage only): If your line passes through a designated hazard zone (such as an electric barrier), the penalty applies.

Because each infraction halves your running total, consecutive penalties compound quickly. For example, if you have accumulated 200 points and your next dart causes a self-crossing, your score drops to 100. If the very next dart then crosses an opponent's line, it drops again to 50.

All line tracking, collision detection, and penalty enforcement are handled automatically by the DARTSLIVE3 system.

Points are awarded based on the total geometric length of your connected line as calculated by the board's software. Longer distances between successive landing points yield more points, so spreading your darts across the board — without triggering crossing penalties — is rewarded.

• Clean segment: Full point value equal to the measured distance between consecutive connection points.
• Penalty segment: Your entire accumulated score is halved each time a crossing, outboard throw, or hazard contact occurs.

Because scoring is distance-based and computed electronically, exact numerical values depend on dart placement. As a general illustration, a dart thrown from the 20 segment across to the 3 segment — nearly the full diameter of the board — would generate a significantly higher distance score than two darts landing in adjacent segments.

The player with the highest total score — that is, the longest effective line after all penalties — at the end of the game wins. The DARTSLIVE3 system displays final scores and rankings on-screen once all rounds are complete.

In the event of a tie, the board's software determines the tiebreak. Players should confirm the selected tiebreak rule (if any) before the game begins.

Normal Stage: The standard mode of play. The board is free of obstacles; the only penalties come from self-crossings, opponent-crossings, and outboard throws. This is the recommended starting mode for new players.

Special Stage: An advanced mode that introduces additional interactive board elements. These may include warps (portals that teleport your line's endpoint to a different location on the board), walls (barriers your line cannot pass through), and electric hazards (zones that trigger the score-halving penalty on contact). Strategic use of warps can dramatically extend your line's total length, while walls and hazards add risk to aggressive long-distance throws.

Spread your darts wide: Because scoring rewards distance between connection points, aim for segments on opposite sides of the board on consecutive throws. A line that zigzags across the full diameter accumulates length far faster than short hops between neighbouring segments.

Track every line on the board: Crossing any existing line — yours or an opponent's — halves your score. Before each throw, study the display carefully and choose a landing zone whose connection path stays clear of all drawn lines.

Avoid compounding penalties: A single halving is painful; two in a row is devastating. If you are unsure of a risky long throw, opt for a shorter, safer connection to preserve your score rather than gambling and potentially suffering consecutive penalties.

Use warps deliberately in Special Stage: Warps can reposition your line's endpoint across the board at no length cost, effectively giving you a free long-distance segment on your next throw. Aim for warp entry points when they align with open board space on the exit side.

Prioritise early board coverage: In the opening rounds — when few lines exist — you have maximum freedom to place long, unobstructed segments. Build your score aggressively early, then play conservatively once the board becomes crowded with crossing hazards.