2.0 Controls and Commands

This section covers the control interface of Ace of Angels®, and the Commands that players can use. Each area has its own section. The Ace of Angels® interface is quite dynamic and allows for a great deal of customization. The default keyboard is just that, the "default"; except for a handful of reserved buttons, the keyboard can be fully modified.
2.1 Introduction
	Window Controls
	Default Keyboard
		Default Keys
		Default Alt-keys
		Default Ctrl-keys
	Other Game Controls Defaults
	Options Window
	Keyboard and Joystick Configuration
	Fighter Selection
	Definitions
	Player Commands

2.2 Windows/Displays Controls
	Overview
	Default Window Controls

Overview

All windows and displays within Ace of Angels® use the same controls. Windows and displays can all be selected using a left click of the mouse, and be moved by keeping the left button depressed. When selected, windows and displays will become opaque, making them easier to read. Clicking off a window, either on another window, or the HUD background, will unselect it, returning its transparency. Some windows will have text boxes that fold down when they are selected, that can be used for text entry (Communications Window), or as extra displays (Mentor F2). All windows can be accessed either with their Hot Key (see Default Window Display Controls below), or by using the HUD Taskbar (not implemented).

The HUD TaskBar defaults to the top of your screen, just above your Speed display. As you move your mouse over each button, text will appear that will describe the functioning of that button. Each button will allow you to toggle the various windows on the HUD.(not implemented)

Default Window Display Controls
Select Window	Click with Mouse
Move Window	Click and hold with left mouse. Drag Normally.
Move the currently selected window in the direction of the arrow key.	Alt-Arrow Key (any)
Display/Hide a window/display column	Press the appropriate tab on the left side of the window/display
Sort the information in the window/display	Press the appropriate tab on the bottom of the window/display.
Scroll window up	Shift-Up Arrow
Scroll window down	Shift-Down Arrow
Scroll window one "page" up	PageUp
Scroll window one "page" down	PageDown
Scroll to Top of window	Home
Scroll to Bottom of window	END
Decrease vertical size of window	Ctrl-Down Arrow Key
Increase vertical size of window	Ctrl-Up Arrow Key
Increase horizontal size of window	Ctrl-Right Arrow Key
Decrease horizontal size of window	Ctrl-Left Arrow Key
Unfocused Current Window	Esc

2.3 Default Keyboard
	Default Keymaps Graphics
		Default Keys
		Default Alt-keys
		Default Ctrl-keys
	Default Controls for Movement
	Default Keys for HUD
	Default Targeting Keys
	Saving Targets
	Default Communication Keys
	Default User Configuration Keys
	Default Keys for Weapons

Default Controls for Movement
Pitch Up	Up Arrow
Pitch Down	Down Arrow
Yaw Left	Left Arrow
Yaw Right	Right Arrow
Roll counter-clockwise	q
Roll clockwise	e
Thrust Forward	w
Thrust backward	s
Brake	x
Match Speed	0 On Number Pad
Skew Left	a
Skew Right	d
Skew Up	r
Skew down	v
Toggle Vector Lock/Free Modes	Ctrl-W
Increase Maximum Combat Speed	=
Decrease Maximum Combat Speed	-
Toggle Maximum Combat Speed	Tab
Skew Mode with Joystick	Ctrl-Tab (must keep depressed)
Deactivate N-Field	(Not yet Implemented)
Intercept Primary Target	i

Default Keys for HUD

Display Window Toggle ON/OFF
Help Window	F1
Mentor	F2
Space Background	Alt-F2
Stars	Alt-F3
Flight Maneuver Grid	Alt-F4
Communications Window	Alt-C
RADAR	Alt-R
RADAR Distance Display	Alt-G
Spotlight Target Windows 1 - 3	Alt-1 through 3
All Spotlight Target Windows	Alt-T
Weapons Configurations	Alt-W
Damage Window	Alt-D
Hide Selected Window	Alt-X
Arena Message Window	Alt-A
Ship Systems	Alt-S
User Window	Alt-U

Default Keys for Weapons
Fire Guns/Cannons	Spacebar
Fire Missiles	M
Toggle Link/Unlinked Guns/Cannons	Z

Default Targeting Keys
Set Target to Hostile	Ctrl-H
Set Target to Allied	Ctrl-L
Set Target to Friendly	Ctrl-F
Set Target to Unfriendly	Ctrl-U
Set Target to Neutral	Ctrl-N
Forwards/Backwards All Targets	T/Shift-T
Forwards/Backwards Hostile Targets	H/Shift-H
Forwards/Backwards Allied Targets	L/Shift-L
Forwards/Backwards Friendly Targets	F/Shift-F
Forwards/Backwards Unfriendly Targets	U/Shift-U
Forwards/Backwards Neutral Targets	N/Shift-N
Target Nearest Hostile Target	J
Target Unit under Center Sight	Y
Target Nearest Missile comming at me	G
Toggle RADAR	Alt-R
Toggle RADAR Distance Display	Alt-G
Toggle Spotlight Target Windows 1 - 3	Alt-1 through 3
Toggle All Spotlight Target Windows	Alt-T
Toggle Center Sight	Alt-L

Saving Targets
Select group 1 (default)	F5
Select group 2	F6
Recall Target 0 to 9	0 to 9
Set Target 0 to 9	Ctrl-0 to 9

Default Communication Keys
Toggles Communications Window	Alt-C
Enter one line of information into Communications window (ends with return)	Insert
Enter continuos information into Communications window	Scroll Lock
Enter one line of information into Last used Private Comm Window (ends with return)	Delete
Enter one line of information into Last person who sent me private	CTRL-Delete
Private Message (from Main Communications Window)	\p <name>: <message>
Scroll window display up	Shift-Up Arrow
Scroll window display down	Shift-Down Arrow
Scroll window display one "page" up	PageUp
Scroll window display one "page" down	PageDown
Scroll to Top of display	Home
Scroll to Bottom of display	END

Default User Configurations Keys
Reset Fighter Systems Settings to Default	Ctrl-Shift-S
Reset HUD Display to Default Positions	Ctrl-Shift-Alt-H
Save Fighter System Settings	Ctrl-F9 through Ctrl-F12
Recall Fighter System Settings 1 through 4	F9 through F12

2.4 Other Game Controls Defaults
	Joystick

Button 1	Fires Primary Weapons Group
Button 2	Fires Missiles
Button 3	Select Target in Center Site
Button 4	Toggle Weapons Linked/Separate
Button 5	Thrust Reverse
Button 6	Thrust Fowards
Button 7	Joystick X and Y become skew directions
Button 8	Stop
Hat Up/Down	Cycle Target Windows
Hat Left/Right	Cycle Hostile Targets
Ctrl-Hat Left/Right	Cycle Allied Targets

2.5 Options Window
	Overview
	Keyboard and Joystick
	Fighter Selection

Overview

The Options Window is the interface for; non-flight related activities. From here you can configure your keyboard and joystick settings, select and configure your fighter, and manage your Outerchange holdings. You access the Options Window by using the ESC key. At the bottom of the screen, are the buttons for the different functions of the Options Window.

Keyboard and Joystick

Enter the Options Window and use the mouse to select the CONTROLS button at the bottom of the screen. The Keyboard and Joystick window is divided into two general columns, Actions and Triggers. Actions are the events, (such as Fire Guns), and Triggers are the Keys or Joystick Buttons (such as SPACE or the Joystick Trigger). Move your mouse over an Action or a Trigger to show Action Buttons.

Clicking on the Trigger Bar will set it Map Mode. Press the Key, Key Combination or Joystick Button you desire, and then hit ENTER. Use ESC to discard changes. Be sure to hit the Save Changes Button at the bottom right of the Screen. Above the Save Changes button is the Restore Defaults button, which will restore all game defaults.

Move your mouse over an Action or a Trigger to see the buttons appear
Action	Trigger
Duplicate Action	Restore Defaults
Creates a separate Actions that can then be mapped to a new key	Returns the mapping for this Action to its default game Trigger
Delete Action	Unmap Trigger
Removes a Duplicate Action (Note: you cannot remove the last existing instance of an action)	Removes the association of that Trigger and Action

Fighter Selection

Enter the Options Window and use the mouse to select the FIGHTERS button at the bottom of the screen. Then use your mouse to click on the name of the fighter you wish to look at. The default fighter is the fighter you are currently set to. Once you have made your selection, click on the COMMIT button with your mouse. Return to the game to fly your new fighter.

2.6 Definitions
	In order to fully explain the Ace of Angels® flight engine, it is helpful to know the terms defined below. Most are familiar or self-explanatory; however some are unique to the AoA flight engine.

Bogie Name		The name assigned to a target by the Command, Control, and Communications Center of a fleet.
Combat Area Zero: CAZ		Because space has no basic form, combats are set around arbitrary points. For a given battle this point is called the Combat Area Zero, or the imaginary center of the combat
Combat Area Zero Speed: CAZS ("Cass")		This is "Speed" Relative to the CAZ. Also simply called "Speed" for short
Disposition		An Object’s or Unit’s attitude in relationship to another object. You can set an object's disposition to one of the following categories
	Hostile	Units that are actively acting against you or your allies (attacking)
	Allied	Units "on your side" that you have full interaction with. This includes the ability to land and resupply on capital ships of that disposition.
	Friendly	Units that are "on your side", but whom with you have limited interaction (for example: you can land on a capital ship, but cannot resupply)
	Unfriendly	Potentially Hostile Units, but ones that are not actively attacking you
	Neutral	Unit has no other disposition. Usually terrain, third party noncombatants or inactive objects such as buoys
Electronic Counter Measures (ECM)		The interference generated by a unit in order to confuse the scanning systems of an attacking unit, or its weapons. Also used as a term to describe the amount of interference a unit can generate (The fighter's ECM is 30).
Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM)		The measures taken to reduce or eliminate the ECM of another unit. Also used as a term to describe the amount of ECM a given unit can reduce. (The fighter's ECCM is 30).
Handle		The name used by players to identify themselves in Ace of Angels® and by pilots in The Known Sphere™
Harmonization		The "tuning" of shields by a unit in order to limit the shield cracking effects of weapons.
HUD		The "Head's Up Display", that is integrated into the Virtual Cockpit. This display contains the various tactical sights and information necessary for combat
Flight Grid		In order to help you remain oriented in space, your cockpit has a projected flight grid to give you a feel for your relative speed and position. Takes the form of a box of dots around you.
Maximum Combat Speed (MCS)		While, a ship's top speed is quite high, once its CAZS exceeds its thrust by a large enough factor, its ability to change vectors is reduced. As a result, fighters have a governor set on their speed. This governor, or "Max Combat Speed" (MCS), is scaleable according to the wishes of the individual pilot, and may be turned off entirely
Maximum Thrust		The maximum change in velocity a ship is able to generate
N-Field		The field generated by gravity drives that is the basic form of propulsion and maneuver for all Known Sphere™ fighters and ships
Pods		Special devices attached to racks in the place of missiles. Pods use the same Class systems as missiles for the purpose of mounting
Racks		The mounts upon which missiles, torpedoes, and other special Pods are attached. Racks come in four Types, I, II, III, IV
Vector		The term used to describe the combination of velocity and direction of movement of an object.
Virtual Cockpit		In the 24^th Century, fighter pilots have access to a great deal of sophisticated technology, including an advanced virtual cockpit. In Ace of Angels® you are placed in the cockpit of a fighter from one of the races of the Known Sphere™, complete with a display that allows for the maximum information to be given to the pilot, despite the way things "really" look or sound. Your forward view is the 90 Degree arc in front of your ship. As the pilot, you see other ships displayed, with the appropriate information needed for dogfighting. This includes the sounds of gun fire, hits to your shields, friendly and hostile fires, navigational aids, and a variety of other information

2.7 Player Commands
	Basic Commands List
	Teams
	Missions
	Squadrons (see Outerchange)

Basic Commands List
Commands are entered inside a communications window. All commands are prefaced with the the '/' symbol.
/mute	Toggles on/off all game sounds

Team Commands
/join <team number> Example: /join 99	Join an existing team (if team already exists) or Create a team and become Wingleader
/private	Make your team "invitation only" (wing leader only)
/invite <player handle> Example: /invite Seenar	Invite another player to join your team (wing leader only)
/kick <player handle> Example: /kick Jolly Roger	Remove someone from your team (wing leader only)
/wingleader <player handle> Example: /wingleader Ash	Sets teammate to Wingleader of Team (wing leader only)

In Game Mission Commands
/joinmission <mission name> <teamname> Example: /joinmission Any_Cost Us	Join a mission while already in the flight loop on the designated team
/loadmission <mission name> Example: /loadmission Any_Cost	Load a mission and prepare it to be joined/run
/startmission <mission name> Example: /startmission Any_Cost	start the loaded mission
/stopmission <mission name> Example: /stopmission Any_Cost	stop the mission (does not unload, but pauses the AI's)
/setmission <mission name> <teamname> Example: /setmission Any_Cost Them	put a player into a mission
/listmission	lists what missions are available
/unloadmission <mission name> Example: /unloadmission Any_Cost	remove the mission from the server

2.0 Controls and Commands

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Windows/Displays Controls

2.3 Default Keyboard

2.4 Other Game Controls Defaults

2.5 Options Window

2.6 Definitions

2.7 Player Commands