Basic Help Tips

If you just somehow can't manage to read the Help Tips in game:

Aim = To swing a weapon you first need to go into aim mode by clicking on the middle mouse button or the TAB button. You exit aim mode the same way. You may interact with objects and characters in the world while in aim mode by placing the reticule over them, at which point the reticule will change into the appropriate type of cursor.

AP = You spend APs by selecting the tab of the Attributes window you wish to spend points in and then click on the individual Stat, Skill, or Mutation Path. You can then click on the up arrow at the bottom of the Attributes window to select the number of points you wish to add to the ability. You may do this with multiple abilities on a single page. Clicking Apply will apply all these changes and spend your AP.

Attackability = Some abilities are used along with attacks. Once these abilities are used they will go off the next time you make an attack with an appropriate weapon, such as a special melee attack going off when you swing your axe. These attacks hit whatever is in your reticule and is in range. An example of this type of ability, a Melee attack called Smash 1, is in your toolbar.

Attacking = Once you are in aim mode left clicking will attack using two-handed weapons or one-handed weapons in your right hand. If you have two weapons, right clicking will attack using the weapon in your left hand. [If you hold down either the right or left mouse button, or both, your weapon(s) will attack continuously now.]

Converse = Talk to people by using the right mouse button to click on them.

Crafting = To make an item, press L to open your recipe window. This will display a list of all the tradeskill knowledges you have. Clicking on a knowledge will display a list of all the recipes under that knowledge and the number of each recipe you can make with your current inventory.

Crouch = When sneaking past opponents, it is a good idea to Crouch by pressing C. While crouching, you move slowly but generate less noise.

Cycling = To cycle through your weapons press CTRL and turn the mouse wheel or use CTRL and a function key. 1 = Right Back, 2 = Left Back, 3 = Right Hip, 4 = Left Hip, 5 = Right Thigh, 6 = Left Thigh.

Driving = Click on the ATV to get on it. Once on use the W to accelerate, the S key to break, and the A and D keys to turn left and right. You may use pistols on ATVs or motorcycles and rifles on horses, but you may not use weapons while driving other vehicles.

Flashlight = You can turn on a flashlight by pressing the F key.

Interact = To interact with objects in the world, such as control panels or scavenging nodes, you can right-click or left-click on them.
[Note: Not mentioned in tips, but you can also mouse over an interactable item and press Y to interact (default Keymap)]

Inventory = You can view equipment you are carrying in your Inventory window and the equipment you are using in your Gear window. Pressing I will open your Inventory Window and pressing G will open your Gear window. The same buttons close the windows.

Inv management = Items can be moved around your Inventory and Gear windows by left clicking on them and dragging them. Right clicking on an item brings up a context menu.

Jumping = To jump, press the space bar. Jumping can get you into areas you cannot reach otherwise.

Ladders = To climb a ladder, move next to it. Climb up with the W key or down with the S key.

Looking = To look around when you are not in aim mode, hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse around.

Merchants = To buy from a merchant, double left click or right click on the goods listed in the merchant's window. To sell to a merchant, double left click or right click on items in your pack.

Mission = In the center of the screen is the Mission window. It lists all the missions you currently have. Selecting a mission from the list will give you a short summary of the mission and each individual goal for completing it. Missions in red text are above your level, missions in yellow text are roughly equal to your level, and missions in green text are below your level. Missions are grouped by their location. The Mission Tracker is on the middle right of the screen and displays the status of your current active mission.

Mounting = Right click on a vehicle or mount to get on it. Vehicles allow you to move faster, but limit your weapons and consume fuel as they move. Vehicles may be attacked and destroyed.

Moving = Move forward using the W key, left using the A key, back using the S key, and right using the D key. To use a control panel or switch, right click on it.

Name = The color of another characters name can tell you how they'll react to you. A red name indicates that they want to attack you. A yellow name means that you can attack them but that they won't start a fight with you unless you are of an opposing faction. Non-hostile characters will have white names.

Node = Harvesting nodes are scattered throughout the world, allowing you to gather resources and items by interacting with them by right-clicking on the node. These show up on the tactical map as piles of junk or plant symbols. Nodes can require skills, knowledges, or items in order to harvest them.

Prone = To go prone, press P. Movement while Prone is very slow, but it creates minimal noise and allows you to get to areas you could not otherwise reach.

Raising = Stats cost 5 AP per point to raise. Skills and mutation paths cost 1 AP per point to raise. Stats have a base value of your level +10 and a max of 150 percent of their base. Each skill and mutation has a base equal to a ratio between two stats, such as Rifle being based on 75 percent Dexterity and 25 percent Perception. The max value for a skill is twice its base.

Reloading = Pressing R will reload your weapons. If you are using two weapons it will reload both of them simultaneously.

Rifle = To raise your Rifle skill click on the Skills tab of the Attributes window. Then click on the Rifle skill. Click on the up arrow until you have assigned 10 APs to the Rifle skill. Then click Apply.

Scope = Some rifles come equipped with scopes. To use the scope hold down the B button while in Aim mode.

Search = Bodies you can search have a green glow to them. Search them by right clicking on them. This will open a loot window where you can drag items to your Inventory or use the Loot All button.
[Obsolete – Bodies you can loot now have ‘flies’ above them, and interacting will first loot, then a second interact will harvest, if it’s harvestable. NPC’s who aren’t harvestable will open the old loot window.]

Skills = Attributes determine the base abilities of your character, such as hit points, stamina, and resistance to special attacks. Skills determine how well you use items, such as weapons and armor, and what special abilities you can access. Mutation Paths allow you to access special abilities and must be gained in game before you can spend APs on them. Tradeskills allow you to craft items. Attributes, Skills, and Mutation Paths are raised with APs. Tradeskills are raised through use.

Special = You have learned a special ability called Stanch Wounds 1. You use it by clicking on your intended target and either clicking on the icon in your toolbar or hitting the number key associated with that toolbar slot. Special abilities are learned through missions or knowledge books and consume stamina, gamma, or items when used. All your available abilities are displayed on the Ability window, which is opened with the N key.

Stances = Some abilities called Stances give your character attribute modifications as long as the stance is active. Characters can only have one stance active at a time.

Stealth = If you approach opponents from behind, they will not see you, but they may hear you. Moving or attacking generates noise that may draw their attention. Your noise level is displayed on the two bars on the sides of the tactical map. Enemies detect noise levels based on their Perception scores.

Symbols = A green symbol above a converser's head means you have completed a mission for that converser and may turn it in. A red symbol above a converser's head means you have an uncompleted mission for that converser. A yellow symbol above a converser's head means they have a mission to offer you.
[Not mentioned, a gray symbol means you are too low level to get a mission that NPC offers,]

Tool = The tool tip bar at the center of your screen can be used to activate special abilities and items. They are dragged to the toolbar from the Inventory or Abilities windows. Items or abilities in the toolbar may be activated by clicking on them or using the 1-10 keys. The toolbar may be resized by clicking and dragging the corners. Extra slots created by doing so can be activated by clicking on them or with the Ctrl and Shift keys along with the appropriate number.
[Somewhat obsolete and incomplete – 1-10 and then – and = are mapped to the first 12 hotbar actions, then repeating for the rest of the 36 possible actions with shift and alt 1-10, etc. To expand the hotbar, click and drag the lower right corner. No, you can’t have more than a single bar, but it can have multiple rows.]

Using Items = To use a medkit, left-click on the creature you intend to heal. [Not in aim mode, or you’ll attack them!] Then open your inventory, right-click on the medkit, and select Use. Alternately, you can drag the medkit to your toolbar and click on it after selecting the target. To use it on yourself, do not select a target. [You can also drag an item to the action bar, where clicking it will ‘use’ it.]

Waypoints = Waypoints show you where to go to complete a mission. They appear on the tactical map, in the upper right corner of the screen. If the waypoint is on the edge of the map, it is more than 50 meters away. A waypoint may be above you or below you. This is indicated on the waypoint with a corresponding up or down arrow near the waypoint marker. [There are also user-created waypoints now - Use alt-p to access their window]

Weapons = Double clicking on an item in your inventory will equip that item. Alternately you can drag it from the Inventory window to the Gear window, use the context menu on the Inventory window, or double-click on the weapon on your character.