Editing Starter guide (section)

== Controls ==


[[File:Hotkeys.png|thumb|500px|[[Keyboard_Shortcuts|Keybindings]] for the [[Keyboard_Shortcuts|hotkey mode]]]]

There might seem like quite a few controls, but don't worry - you'll only be using a few the majority of the time. There's a lot of edge cases in SS13, due to the sheer nature of features and content available. You can check [[Controls|this page]] for a list of every keybinding. Although your control scheme was changed to '''[[Keyboard_Shortcuts|Hotkeys]]''' in the Game Preferences menu, it may not have applied itself - if there is a large red bar going across the bottom of the screen, click somewhere on the game window and press '''Tab'''. This is the manual toggle for [[Keyboard_Shortcuts|hotkey]] mode - if the bar changes to white, you're good to go.

* Use '''WASD''' to move.
* Press '''T''' to talk.
** If you add a semicolon before anything else, you'll transmit your message to the general chat radio.
** You can speak on department specific radio channels - the format is the same for each, just with a different letter. To speak on the medical channel, for example, type '''.m''' before your message. (You can also use ''':m''' or '''#m''')
* Press '''O''' for OOC chat.
** Be careful not to mix the two chat buttons up - your cry for help might end up going in OOC, where anyone can see it at any time.
* Press '''M''' to write an emote.
** This is for nonverbal actions - for example, writing "sighs." in the text box would show as "''[Character Name]'' sighs."
* '''Click''' on objects in the game world to interact with them. For most, you'll need to be next to or ontop of the object.
** This is used for things such as interacting with computer terminals, picking up items, using an item on something, or attacking someone.
* '''Right-click''' on something to open the context menu.
** This is slow and clunky, and you can usually perform most actions with [[Keyboard_Shortcuts|hotkeys]]. There are a few examples of actions that can only be done with a right-click, but they're far and few between.
* Hold '''Control and click''' on something to drag it.
** This won't work if the item in question is fixed in place. You can use this to drag almost anything otherwise.
** Press '''H''', '''Delete''' or use the pull [[File:Hud-pull.png]] icon to stop dragging.
* Hold '''Shift and click''' on something to examine it.
* Press '''X''' or '''Middle Mouse Button''' to change your selected hand.
** Your selected hand is the one that will pick up an object (if empty) or use the object in that hand (if holding something). You can tell which is selected by the small box around one of your hands.
* '''Clickdragging''' is used for a couple of specific actions.
** For example, to climb onto a table, drag and drop your character to the table.
** To put things on/take things off of someone, drag and drop their character onto yourself. (To put things on them, you'll need to have the item in your selected hand.)
** You can open a container without holding it in your hand by alt-clicking it or clickdragging it onto yourself. This also works for storage items you're wearing, which is useful if your hands are full.
** You can also buckle yourself/other people to chairs using this. It can be tricky, as you have to be on top of the chair, and your mouse has to be on top of the chair's exposed sprite.

<div style="text-align: left; max-width: 800px;">{{#tag:tab|Press '''Z''' to use the item in your selected hand. (You can also click on the object in the HUD) This is used for things like toggling the fire mode on a weapon or turning on an [[Energy Sword|energy sword]]. Some objects such as food require you to click on your own character sprite, and do nothing if you "use" them.

Hold '''Alt and click''' to perform specific, context sensitive actions. Some functions for alt-clicking include removing an ID from your PDA (or pen if there's no ID in it), toggling the lock on a locker, split a stack of items, crawling into vents (as something small like a monkey) etc.

Hold '''Shift and press Middle Mouse Button''' to point at something. This creates a message in the chat and temporarily displays an arrow over the thing you point at.

Press '''R''' to enable throwing mode. If you click somewhere in the game world when you have throwing mode on and an item in your selected hand, you'll throw it at that point. If someone throws an item at you, and you have throwing mode on, you'll catch the item.
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