1. Without the router DNS server is not available and you should left it blank.
2. Without the router Gateway is not available and you should left it blank.
3. Without the router DHCP server is not available and you should set fixed IP addresses on all network computers. 172.31.0.1, 172.31.0.2, 172.31.0.3.
4. Crossover cable is needed
only if you used old Ethernet adapters. All modern adapters has automatically in/out mapping. If you see in taskbar icon that network connection is limited - the cable is the problem.
5. You can test the networking
only after the physical connection become available and
ping IP1 from pc with IP2 working.
Hope this helps.

ADD: Hog3PC may be runed on the same PC with LIGHTCONVERSE in dualview screen mode. You also need working network for this. If network not available than you can up Microsoft Loopback Adapter with a needed IP.