Controls

This section is in need of revision. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. The reason given is: This page is VERY VERY out of date, but most of the information is still valid. I would however suggest looking at the in-game controls menu instead.

The keyboard and mouse are used to control your avatar and everything else in the game.

Most often, the player is moving their character and looking around, maybe shooting a gun or something. This is Character Input mode, when your mouse and keyboard commands are controlling the physical actions of your character.

Amidst doing those things, the player must occasionally use their character's hands to interact with the game or the environment, such as picking up items, opening doors, clicking on control panels and dialog windows filled with controls. This is Hand Input mode, when the mouse and keyboard commands are controlling something else besides the motions of your character.

Input Modes

Hand-Cursor Mode

• Hand-Cursor mode is used to interact with the user interfaces of the game. Appropriately, the cursor changes to an image of a hand when in Hand-Cursor mode. Think of this mode as freeing your character's hand to interact with the game or the environment. Most consoles in the game scene can be operated by using your character's hand in Hand-Cursor mode to click on the controls of the console.

Mouse-Look Mode

• Most of the time, the game operates in Mouse-Look Mode. Many actions related to the operation of your character or their equipment are performed while in Mouse-Look Mode. Usually the only cursor visible in Mouse-Look Mode is the cross-hair at the center of the screen.
• When Mouse-Look Mode is active, keyboard and mouse actions are routed to your character and any equipment your character is operating, such as a console. When engaged with equipment, the equipment may override character commands; in such cases, the equipment override prevails.

Switching Input Modes

There are three ways to switch input modes.

• Right-Click
  • Right-Click using the mouse to switch between Mouse-Look Mode and Hand-Cursor Mode. The selected mode remains in effect until Right-Click is again pressed to switch back to Mouse-Look Mode.

• Ctrl
  • The Ctrl key temporarily enables Hand-Cursor Mode as long as the Ctrl key is held down. When the Ctrl key is released, Mouse-Look Mode resumes. The Ctrl key provides a convenient way to gain control of the mouse pointer for a quick click on a console button or to open a door.

• Enter
  • The Enter key switches to Hand-Cursor Mode from Mouse-Look Mode. This method of switching modes is helpful when using the communications toolbar to chat with other players. The input focus is automatically moved to the chat input control when switching from Mouse-Look Mode to Hand-Cursor Mode using the Enter key.

Unit

Unit Selection

Units are selected by clicking on them or by click-dragging with the mouse in Hand-Cursor Mode; units are also selected using the Unit Orders (Default: Shift+F3) window.

Units can be selected in top-down view and in first-person view. In first-person view, click-dragging has a shorter range than clicking on individual units. In top-down view, there is no range limit to mouse selection actions.

Units can only be selected if you are in command of them. An officer of a spacecraft with troop berths can load troops. Troops on your ship's roster are in the Officer or Captains command.

Troops can operate vehicles, when a vehicle is operated by a troop in the player's command, the player can select the vehicle to issue orders to the operator.

In top-down view, units that can be selected are highlighted with a box around them. Enemy units and units commanded by other players can not be selected and so they are not highlighted with a box around them.

In first-person view, the player can click on the head of a unit to select when they are close enough.

Press the ESC key to deselect all units.

Unit Orders

Selected units are issued orders using the mouse and by using key commands listed in the UNIT KEYS table below, units are also commanded using the Unit Orders (Default: Shift+F3) window.

Orders can be issued to units in top-down, first-person, and third person views.

Click on the ground or on the deck of a spacecraft to order the selected units to move to that location.

Click on an enemy unit or wild animal to order the selected units to attack it. In first-person view, click on the head of a target when you are close to it.

Character Keys

The following table shows the default key command mapping for your character. Some command descriptions refer to a 'target'. The target is the object in the cross-hair at the center of your view.

E

• Enter/exit the closest console.
• Mount/dismount an animal or vehicle when close and targeted. In other words, look at it then press E.

F or Left Mouse Button

• Fire the weapon/use current item on the target.

U or Middle Mouse Button Press Mouse Wheel

• Use current item on yourself. Turn on/off lantern and torch if it is selected.

Alt+~ / Alt+Tilde

• Spawn tie to current city. Must be in a friendly town square. MOST KEYBOARDS REQUIRE THE SHIFT KEY ALSO.

Alt-Backspace

• Spawn recall, recall order is:
  • 1) Spacecraft you hold a berth aboard
  • 2) Last city spawn tied
  • 3) Capital city of your empire
  • 4) Capital city of another empire after getting reassigned to that other empire.

Mouse Movement

• Look in the respective movement of the mouse.

} / Mouse Wheel Up

• Select next item in inventory for use.

{ / Mouse Wheel Down

• Select previous item in inventory for use.

Alt+(Number 0-9)

• Maps the current item to a number 0-9 on the keyboard for use. First, the current item must be selected using the Mouse Wheel. The position of the item in inventory is stored, not the item itself! If the item is moved, the key mapping does not follow it. Likewise, if the item is used up, the mapping is not lost.

Number 0-9

• Selects an item as the current item for use. The item selected by the number key is configured by pressing Alt+Number.

` Back Quote

• Spots the target or terrain and calls out information about the target onto the current Communicator channel and the screen. If nothing is targeted, information about resources present in the sighted terrain is called out. When the current Communicator channel is invalid, e.g. Intercom channel when not aboard a spacecraft, the information is called out on your screen but no other player receives the message.

The following commands are available when NOT engaged with a console.

W S

• Move forward and backwards, respectively.

A D

• Strafe left or right, or if riding a vehicle or spacecraft turn left or right, respectively.

C

• Ascend. Starts flying if the player is able. Starts your mount/vehicle (but not spacecraft) flying if your mount/vehicle can fly. Can also be used to ascend ladders (if mounted).

Z

• Descend. Drops altitude if the player/mount is flying, can also be used to descend ladders (if mounted).

Shift

• Run when combined with W

X

• Toggle between going prone (laying flat on the ground), and standing.

Caps Lock

• Crouch while held

The following commands are available when sitting at any control station. Display screen adjustments are saved in your local settings for each different character.

Alt+[

• Lower the console screen.

Alt+]

• Raises the console screen.

Alt+; (Semicolon)

• Push the console screen farther away from you.

Alt+' (Apostrophe)

• Pull the console screen closer to you.

Shift+: (Colon)

• Tip the top of the console screen away from you.

Shift+" (Quote)

• Tip the top of the display screen toward you.

The following commands are available when sitting at a Captain's Chair.

Alt+C

• Captain's chair -- all console screens are removed; only the chair remains.

Alt+E

• Engineer console screen is displayed, only if a crew member aboard the ship is manning an engineer station.

Alt+F

• Fire Control console screen is displayed, only if a crew member aboard the ship is manning a fire control station.

Alt+H

• Helm console screen is displayed, only if a crew member aboard the ship is manning a helm station.

Alt+N

• Navigator console screen is displayed, only if a crew member aboard the ship is manning a navigator station.

Alt+S

• Sensor console screen is displayed, only if a crew member aboard the ship is manning a sensor station.

Alt+D

• Shield console screen is displayed, only if a crew member aboard the ship is manning a shield station.

Unit Keys

The following table shows the default key command mapping for selected units. Some command descriptions refer to a 'target'. The target is the object in the crosshair at the center of your view.

Escape

• Deselects all selected units.

Shift+(Number 0-9)

• Creates a squad out of the selected units.

Ctrl+(Number 0-9)

• Selects the units in a squad. Deselects all other units.

Ctrl+A

• Attack Target
  • Orders the selected units to attack the target.

Ctrl+C

• Close Door
  • Orders the selected units to close the door closest to them.

Ctrl+D

• Defend Area Posture
  • Orders the selected units assume an area defense posture, attacking threats they detect that come within close range. At a battle station, does not fire on wild animals.

Ctrl+E

• Defend Self Posture
  • Orders the selected units to assume a self defensive posture, attacking only if attacked. At a battle station, only attacks enemy units and wild animals that have damaged the ship.

Ctrl+F

• Follow Target
  • Orders the selected units to follow the target.

Ctrl+G

• Get Item
  • Orders the selected units to get the target item.

Ctrl+H

• Come Here
  • Orders the selected units to come to your location.

Ctrl+I

• Get In
  • Orders the selected units to get into your vehicle or spacecraft.

Ctrl+K

• Berserk Posture
  • Orders the selected units to assume a berserk posture, attacking all enemy units including civilians and farm animals.

Ctrl+L

• Hold Fire
  • Orders the selected units to hold their fire, even if attacked.

Ctrl+M

• Follow Me
  • Orders the selected units to follow the player.

Ctrl+N

• Stations
  • Orders the selected units to operate the nearest turret or control station. Troops will man turrets if the ship they are aboard belongs to their empire. Crew will operate control stations if their empire is at least neutral toward the ship they are aboard.

Ctrl+O

• Get Out
  • Orders the selected units to get out of their vehicle or spacecraft.

Ctrl+P

• Open Door
  • Orders the selected units to open the door closest to them.

Ctrl+R

• Garrison
  • Orders the selected units to release their berth and guard their current location. Troops are assigned to guard a base in this way; they will eventually desert if ordered to garrison anywhere but a base. Passengers will join the local population; they can be ordered to garrison any developed tile of a city.

Ctrl+S

• Stay
  • Orders the selected units to stay at their current location.

Ctrl+T

• Go To Target
  • Orders the selected units to go to the target location.

Ctrl+V

• Offensive Posture
  • Orders the selected units to assume an offensive posture, initiating attacks on threats they detect. At a battle station, will fire on wild animals.

User Interface Keys

The following table shows key commands that affect the user interface of the game.

Right-Click

• Switches between "Mouse-Look Mode" and "Hand-Cursor Mode".

Enter

• Quickly switch from "Mouse-Look Mode" to "Hand-Cursor Mode" and automatically makes the communication window chat bar active for typing.

Ctrl While held, puts the avatar in "Hand-Cursor Mode", immediately returns to "Mouse-Look Mode" when release. This does not work in reverse!

, Comma

• Reduce cross-hair and Head-Up-Display (HUD) alpha intensity.

. Period

• Increase cross-hair and Head-Up-Display (HUD) alpha intensity.

/ Forward Slash

• Change on-screen message text alpha intensity. Cycles between four different intensity levels.

Shift+ESC

• Show/hide the User Interface (Health/selected item/reticle/HUD).

F1

• Show/hide all windows. Restores windows from last session when used after program start.

F2

• Show/Hide Mail UI to exchange messages with other players using an in-game mail system. Receives status reports from cities that are in the player's chain-of-command.

F3

• Show/Hide Communicator UI for immediate communication with other players and with cities for trade purposes.

Shift+F3

• Show/Hide Orders UI for commanded units.

F4

• Show/Hide inventory UI to manage items in the player's personal inventory.

F5

• Show/Hide cargo UI to transfer items between the player's personal inventory into/from the spacecraft they are aboard cargo.

F6

• In Design Studio: Show/Hide the parts menu in the designer UI.

F7

• Show/Hide Locator UI to show the player's galactic position, latitude, longitude and compass direction.

F8

• Show/Hide Bio UI to view detailed information about the avatar being played.

F9

• Show/Hide the spacecraft window to show space craft missions, damage reports, among other things.

F10

• Show/Hide building menu, allowing the player to perform manual labor, run tasks, or check the status of a building.

F11

Show/Hide Construction UI to plan the construction of new towns, roads and buildings and to upgrade or destroy existing buildings and roads. The player must be in the chain-of-command of a planet to start a new city there. The player must be in the chain-of-command of a city to construct or destroy anything there. NOTE: Construction and destruction may not be performed in a city that has any non-repaired battle damage.

F12

• Show/hide Governance UI to manage policies, regulate commerce, establish rewards, and adjust taxes for the empire; only the Executive and Vice-Executive officers can manage these settings.

Shift+F12

• Show/Hide Settings UI to adjust program settings.

Alt+F4

• Closes Shores of Hazeron

Alt+Enter

• Switch between full-screen and window mode.

Alt+P

• Take a screenshot.

Backspace

• Switches between First Person view (the default) and Top Down view, for a tactical/planning view of terrain and the spacecraft the player is aboard.

The following commands are available in top-down view:

\ and Shift+\ Backslash

• Changes the resources, buildings, names, and empires shown in top-down view. This can be used for resource hunting, or tactical planning in warfare.

[ and ]

• Changes the birds-eye-view camera height above your head.

Control Stations

Spacecraft systems are controlled by crew stations. The following tables show the key command mappings for the various control stations found aboard spacecraft.

Tab

Display Spacecraft Design Specifications

Captain's Chair

L

Exterior Lights On/Off

I

Interior Lights On/Off/Dim

J

Crew Doors Lock

Shift+J

Crew Doors Unlock

K

Hull Doors Lock

Shift+K

Hull Doors Unlock

M

Remote Door Switch

B

Close All Hull Doors

Engineering Station

O

Wormhole drive power toggle

N

Wormhole drive polarity toggle

C

Wormhole drive commit

G

Gravity drive power toggle

Up Arrow

Turn rate tune up

Down Arrow

Turn rate tune down

Left Arrow

Turn rate tune left

Right arrow

Turn rate tune right

Home

Turn rate tune hold

A

Acceleration tune left

D

Acceleration tune right

Z

Acceleration tune hold

P

Power plant power toggle

W

Power plant tune up

S

Power plant tune down

X

Power plant tune hold

Helm Station

End

Increase vertical throttle

Home

Decrease vertical throttle

Page Up

Increase forward throttle.

Shift+Page Up

Increase throttle to maximum forward.

Page Down

Decrease forward throttle. Reverse throttle when at zero.

Shift+Page Down

Decrease throttle to maximum reverse.

Backspace

Increase reverse throttle.

Delete

All stop. Forward and vertical throttles to zero.

A

Turn left

D

Turn right

W

Pitch up

S

Pitch down

Z

Roll left

C

Roll right

L

Exterior light toggle

I

Interior light toggle. Off, On, Dim

G

Gravity drive power toggle.

H

Gravity drive full vs park power toggle. Gravity drive must be on.

P

Power plant power toggle.

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

N

Reference mode cycle: Auto, Planet, System, Sector

B

Close All Hull Doors

Navigator Station

N

Neighbor sectors toggle

O

Orbit rings toggle

H

Wormholes toggle

A

Pan solar system display left. Rotate sector display left.

D

Pan solar system display right. Rotate sector display right.

W

Pan solar system display up. Rotate sector display up.

S

Pan solar system display down. Rotate sector display down.

K

Center solar system display. Top view sector display rotation.

Home

Pan to ship.

M

Front sector display rotation.

J

Left sector display rotation.

I

Back sector display rotation.

L

Right sector display rotation.

Page Up

Zoom In

Page Down

Zoom Out

Sensor Station

X

Top view

A

Rotate left

D

Rotate right

W

Rotate up

S

Rotate down

Page Up

Increase magnification

Page Down

Decrease magnification

Home

Normal magnification

L

Lock on selected blip

Backspace

Unlock from selected blip

I

Scan selected blip

Vehicle Keys

The following tables show the key commands for the various vehicles that can be operated in the game. It is generally advisable to remap the enter/exit key ("E") to a different key in order to avoid accidentally jumping out.

Motor Bike

W

Increase Throttle

S

Decrease Throttle

A

Turn Left

D

Turn Right

Space

Brake

L

Headlight On/Off

P

Engine Power On/Off

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

K

Refuel and Repair

Sail Boat

W / Page Up

Raise Sail

S / Page Down

Lower Sail

A

Turn Left

D

Turn Right

Space / Delete

No Sail, Stop

B

Move back one seat position in sequence.

N

Move to next seat position in sequence.

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

K

Refuel and Repair

Space Fighter

W

Pitch Up

S

Pitch Down

A

Turn Left

D

Turn Right

Z

Roll Left

C

Roll Right

Left Arrow

Thrust Left

Right Arrow

Thrust Right

Up Arrow

Thrust Up

Down Arrow

Thrust Down

Space

Brake Forward/Backward

Q

Brake Laterally and Vertically

Page Up

Increase Throttle

Shift+Page Up

Increase Throttle to Maximum Forward

Page Down

Decrease Throttle

Shift+Page Down

Decrease Throttle to Maximum Reverse

Delete

No Throttle

L

Headlight On/Off

P

Gravity Drive Power On/Off

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

K

Refuel and Repair

Space Rocket

W

Pitch Up

S

Pitch Down

A

Turn Left

D

Turn Right

Z

Roll Left

C

Roll Right

Left Arrow

Thrust Left

Right Arrow

Thrust Right

Up Arrow

Thrust Up

Down Arrow

Thrust Down

Space

Brake Forward/Backward

Q

Brake Laterally and Vertically

Page Up

Increase Throttle

Shift+Page Up

Increase Throttle to Maximum Forward

Page Down

Decrease Throttle

Shift+Page Down

Decrease Throttle to Maximum Reverse

Delete

No Throttle

L

Headlight On/Off

P

Engine Power On/Off

B

Move back one seat position in sequence.

N

Move to next seat position in sequence.

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

K

Refuel and Repair

Submarine

W

Pitch Up

S

Pitch Down

A

Turn Left

D

Turn Right

Z

Roll Left

C

Roll Right

Left Arrow

Thrust Left

Right Arrow

Thrust Right

Up Arrow

Thrust Up

Down Arrow

Thrust Down

Space

Brake Forward/Backward

Q

Brake Laterally and Vertically

Page Up

Increase Throttle

Shift+Page Up

Increase Throttle to Maximum Forward

Page Down

Decrease Throttle

Shift+Page Down

Decrease Throttle to Maximum Reverse

Delete

No Throttle

L

Headlight On/Off

P

Engine Power On/Off

B

Move back one seat position in sequence.

N

Move to next seat position in sequence.

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

K

Refuel and Repair

SUV

W

Increase Throttle

S

Decrease Throttle

A

Turn Left

D

Turn Right

Space

Brake

L

Headlight On/Off

P

Engine Power On/Off

B

Move back one seat position in sequence.

N

Move to next seat position in sequence.

M

Bay door remote control. Opens or closes the nearest large hull door.

K

Refuel and Repair