Networking SuSE 9.1 & Debian 3.1

Hey guys, i've got these two Linux boxes connected on ADSL connected through a broadband router. The SuSE machine is running KDE 3.2 & Debian is GNOME 2.8.

When I got to computer > network it says "Windows Network" (on both machines) and then
when clicked, it's empty. WTF? There is no Windows happening here. I guess that's Samba or something but i'm a total networking newb so i don't know the zillions of acronyms and jargon.My goal is to play a network game of freeciv!

I look in a linux book for help first but the stuff was way too heavy, it left me clueless, so here i am :)

You can use either Samba or NFS. I use Samba for linux to linux boxes as well as to win boxes. I have no experience however with NFS yet.