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3.
Controls And The HUD
The default control scheme for Star Wars™ Galaxies is meant to be easy to understand and accessible. However, it' s also versatile to allow players to customize their own experience.
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EXPLORIN' THE GALAXY IS REALLY AS SIMPLE AS TURNING YOUR HEAD IN ONE DIRECTION AND MOVING YOUR FEET. BUT YOU' D BE WISE TO KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS, GET FAMILIAR WITH NEARBY SETTLEMENTS, AND LEARN TO SPOT ANY DANGEROUS WILDLIFE BEFORE YOU WANDER TOO FAR INTO THE WILDERNESS.
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3.1.
Keyboard
You can use the keyboard to do almost everything in the game. You can review the keyboard commands by hitting the CTRL+ O keys, selecting Controls, and then clicking Keymap. You can reassign any command to virtually any key you want in the Controls menu.
3.2.
Movement
The MOUSE 2 button moves your character forward, depending upon the direction the camera is facing. The default movement setting is "run," but you can change this to "walk" in the Game Options menu. You can also walk by holding down the SHIFT key.
To set your character to "autorun" ( run continuously without holding down the MOUSE 2 button), strike the NUMLOCK key. Repeat to stop running.
BURST RUNNING
To escape enemies or cover more ground, you can temporarily increase your speed for a short time using the Burst Running special ability. Every character begins the game with Burst Running, which is placed in the fifth slot in your toolbar (default: F5 key). To use Burst Running, type /burstrun in your Chat Input bar, click on the Burst Run icon, or press the F5 key. Note that this is also an extremely "expensive" special ability that drains hundreds of Action points from all three pools every time you use it.
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WHEN YOU STUMBLE ACROSS AN ANGRY GRAUL OR FIND YOURSELF OUTNUMBERED BY PIRATES, IT' S TIME TO TURN TAIL AND RUN. FLEEIN' AN UNWINNABLE FIGHT ISN' T PROUD, BUT I' D RATHER BE EMBARRASSED THAN DEAD.
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3.3.
The Heads Up Display (HUD)
The Quick Start Guide covers the basic Heads Up Display (HUD) elements, while this section identifies all the elements. The following callouts refer to the HUD screenshot below:
- HAM Bars: Health, Action, and Mind attributes. These drain as you take damage.
- Wound Indicator: Reveals that your character is suffering from wounds to a given attribute. Wounds prevent a character's Primary Attributes (Health, Action, and Mind) from fully replenishing and require special healing. (For more information on wounds.)
- Posture: Indicates whether you are standing, sitting, kneeling, or prone.
- States Display: Any positive or negative states affecting your character are displayed here. A "state " is a special condition your character endures or enjoys for a short period of time, and can apply negative or positive modifiers to your attributes and combat abilities. If you are victim of a Blinding Attack in combat, your character will temporarily suffer from a "blinded" state, receiving penalties to hit in combat ( For more information on states)
- Toolbar: A bank of shortcuts used to perform actions very quickly. (For more information on the toolbar)
- Radar: Go here for more information on Radar.
- Reticle: When in World mode, the reticle attaches to your cursor and can be moved around the screen. As you move your mouse over an object, the reticle will change color and shape depending upon how you can interact with that object. (For more information on Reticle)
- Chat Window: This is where all chat and other important messages are displayed. You'll notice several tabs on the Chat window. These represent different Chat channels, each functioning similarly to Chat rooms. (Chat channels are covered in more detail here)
- Chat Input: Type here to make your character "say" anything.
- Data Screen Icons: Each of these icons corresponds to a separate data screen that remains hidden until you need it. A more detailed discussion of these icons follows below.
To access a data screen, enter Data mode by hitting the ALT key on the keyboard, and then left-click on the icon of whichever data screen you want to access. Each data screen can also be opened and closed while in World mode by using keyboard shortcuts. (Each data screen is described in more detail here)
- Map: Opens a planetary map that shows cities and other important locations (CTRL+ V keys) .
- Inventory: Allows you to examine or equip and unequip items, including weapons and clothing (CTRL+ I keys).
- Datapad: Stores specific types of data, including navigational aides (called waypoints) and schematics useful for building equipment and items in the game (CTRL+ D keys).
- Character Sheet: Provides all pertinent information about your character, including current attributes and your standing with the Empire and Rebel Alliance (CTRL+ C keys).
- Skills: Review your Skills, All Skills, and Skill Requirements (CTRL+ S keys).
- E-Mail: Allows you to send persistent messages ("mail ") to other players or receive persistent messages from other players (CTRL+ E keys).
- Options: Access graphics, controls and other settings (CTRL+ O keys).
- Community ("People "): Provides tools to find other players online (CTRL+ P keys).
- Abilities & Commands: Access your character 's special moves, as well as general actions anyone can use. While in Data mode, you can use the mouse to drag any action or ability from the Abilities screen into your toolbar to assign it to a Function key ( F1- F12 ) ( CTRL+ A keys).
- Holocron: Puts you in touch with the Star Wars Galaxies in-game help system (CTRL+ H keys).
- Game Menu: Allows you to quit the game (SHIFT+ ESC keys).
3.3.1.
Customizing The User Interface (UI)
Virtually every HUD and User Interface (UI) element in the game can be resized and moved. To customize the UI, switch to Data mode (by hitting the ALT key), and then simply move your mouse over any window. The cursor will transform indicating that you can move or resize the element.
- Move Window: Press and hold the MOUSE 1 button, and then move the window wherever you want. Release the mouse button when you 're finished.
- Resize: Press and hold the MOUSE 1 button, and then move the mouse to make the window bigger or smaller. You can expand windows horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, depending upon where you place your mouse.
3.3.2.
Toolbar
The toolbar is meant to be an easy method for performing virtually any action quickly and efficiently. Each box on the toolbar corresponds to one of your Function keys (F1- F12 ). You can click on virtually any icon, action, or piece of equipment; and then drag it into the toolbar to assign it to a Function key. Cycle between toolbar banks using the toolbar arrows or the CTRL+ ` keys.
You have access to 6 toolbars (numbered 0- 5). You can drag the edges of the toolbar pane to expand the toolbar to two rows. The second row can be utilized by hitting the SHIFT key and the corresponding Function key.
3.3.3.
Radar
Your radar shows you a mini-map of the terrain around you. You can zoom your radar in and out to give you a better perspective. The radar also reveals other characters and objects in the environment.
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YOUR RADAR IS ONE OF YOUR MOST USEFUL GADGETS. DON'T FORGET TO GLANCE AT IT BEFORE HEADING INTO AN UNEXPLORED AREA OR WHEN YOU'RE GETTIN' READY FOR A FIGHT.
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- North Direction Indicator
Mission Waypoints:
Orange Arrows.
Generic Waypoint:
Blue arrows.
- Current Target:
Brackets around target.
- Enemies: Red dots. In general, larger dots represent more powerful enemies.
- Group Members: Green dots.
- Group Leader: Magenta dots.
Corpses: White "X" s.
- Other Players: Light Blue dots.
- Current Coordinates
- Current Radar Range: Indicates how far the radar is zoomed in.
- Zoom In: Only in Data mode.
- Zoom Out: Only in Data mode.
- NPC: White dots
Other objects, like lairs, crafting stations, and buildings, appear on the radar as squares.
3.3.4.
Reticle
The reticle is yet another information delivery device. Holding the reticle over any object in the world will reveal that object's name. In addition, the reticle will change color and shape depending upon how you can interact with an object.
The default reticle. If the reticle remains green when you place it over an object, you can't interact with that object, but you may be able to examine it.
Reveals you can "use" an object or item. Double-click to begin using the object or item.
Indicates that you can attack the object (usually a creature or enemy character). Double-click on object to attack.
Appears over any item you can equip, including armor and weapons. Double-click item to equip.
Default action is Examine.
Allows you to loot items from a fallen foe.
Enables you to eat an item.
3.3.5.
Default Actions
You can interact with objects using default actions or a radial menu. Nearly every object has a default action. To use the default action, double-click on the object. Default actions for some common objects are:
- Enemy Non-Player Character (NPC) or Creature: Attack
- Other Player-Character: Trade
- Non-Enemy NPCs: Start Conversation
- Chairs, Couches, and the like: Sit
- Data Terminals (Mission Terminals, Bazaar Terminals): Use
3.3.6.
Radial Menus
Radial menus give you more options for interacting with an object. To produce a radial menu, press and hold the MOUSE 1 button on an object until it appears. As long as the MOUSE 1 button is depressed, you can move your mouse over any option. Release the button to activate a highlighted option. If you don' t want to choose any of the available options, move your mouse away from the radial menu and release.
Each type of object has its own radial menu with different options. In some cases, the options that appear will be influenced by your skills and even by the person who owns the object. the game world as well. You' ll often need to talk to these NPCs to gain missions, training, or information.
3.3.7.
Talking to NPCs
Although Star Wars™ Galaxies is populated by thousands of other live players, there are also be hundreds of computer-controlled characters (known as non-player characters, or NPCs) in the game world as well. You often need to talk to these NPCs to gain missions, training, or information.
To start a conversation, place your reticle over the NPC, and then click and hold the MOUSE 1 button until a radial menu appears. If the NPC is willing to talk to you, Converse will appear on the radial menu. Once you begin a conversation, the NPC' s dialogue will be on the left side of the character with a list of possible responses on the right. Click on one of the responses to continue the conversation.
You won't lose control of your character while conversing. You can move freely, continue to chat with other players, and look around while talking to an NPC. The conversation automatically ends if you wander away or do not answer the NPC after an extended period of time. You can only talk to one NPC at a time, and these conversations are not private.
The information, dialogue options, and missions you receive from an NPC depends upon your responses, as well as who you are. Some NPCs will only offer you work after you have established yourself in the game or performed favors for their friends. If you' re a Rebel soldier, don' t expect a stormtrooper to be forthcoming.
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IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM DEALIN' WITH THE SCUM OF THE GALAXY, IT' S THAT EVERYONE WANTS SOMETHIN' , FROM THAT LITTLE BAT-FACED DRUNK IN THE CORNER TO THE CRAZY OLD HERMIT IN THE DESERT TO THE HIGH- STAKES GAMBLER. BUT YOU CAN' T FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT OR NEED UNLESS YOU TALK TO ' EM, SO DON' T BE AFRAID TO START UP CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYONE YOU SEE.
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3.4.
Keyboard And Mouse Map
This is a diagram of SWG keyboard and mouse combinations.
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