Item Operations
Items are primarily used through drag-and-drop (click and hold to drag with the mouse). However, there are a few unusual methods.
Use
How do you use potions, scrolls, books, and other items from your Backpack? For example, you want to use a magical scroll with a spell. Double-clicking the mouse will activate the spell, and the cursor on the map will change to the “Cast” command. After that, simply select and target as usual. Some items are easier to use, such as potions, which are considered consumed immediately after double-clicking.
Drop Items
Items from your Backpack can be dropped onto the map. Select an item in a slot, hover over it with the cursor, and click the left mouse button. Without releasing it, drag the item onto the map (location doesn’t matter). These items will be placed in a bag that appears at the hero’s feet. You can drop all items of one type from a single slot at once. To do this, press Shift on the keyboard, and without releasing it, repeat the same actions as for one item. All items in that Backpack slot will be selected and dropped.
Drop Money
The hero can drop a certain amount of money onto the map. Double-clicking on the money slot will bring up a window asking how much money to drop. Enter the amount and confirm it (“Accept”). The money will appear at the hero’s feet.
Movement Modes
In addition to the normal control mode (clicking the left mouse button on the map or an enemy), there are a few more useful modes.
To move in “combat readiness” mode, use the S key — this will make your character attack enemies as soon as they see them. If the enemies retreat, the character will pursue them. Once all enemies are defeated, the character will continue moving to the designated point and stop there.
If you issue a guard (location) command, the character you command will guard the surroundings of the point where they are located (the guarded area is usually slightly larger than the visible area). If an enemy appears within the guarded area, the character will attack them. If the enemy is killed or retreats, the character will return to the designated point without pursuing them. When the “guard” command is given to a group, the guarded area is considered shared by all group members. The farther apart the group members are, the larger the guarded area becomes.
Protect. Upon receiving this command, the character (or group) will follow the protected target at a certain distance. If enemies appear near the character to be guarded, the character (group) will attack them.
Hold Position. The selected character (or group) will stop at the specified location and will only attack enemies if they come within shooting or striking distance.
Retreat. Upon receiving the “Retreat” command, the character (or group) will disengage from combat and move towards the area with the fewest enemies.
Assigning Hotkeys
For convenient spell casting during missions, there’s a faster way than constantly referring to the Spellbook (I use the “Space” key to quickly open and close the book). To do this, first select the mage and open the Spellbook. Select a spell from the book — the corresponding slot will be highlighted. Press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard, then choose and press any key from F4 to F12, for example, F5. After this, the F5 key will be associated with the selected spell, and a message “F5” will appear in the upper-left corner of its slot.
The assignment of a function key for a spell applies to other mages under your control who know that spell.
Now, to use them, you no longer need to open the Spellbook. Select the mage and press the quick spell key. The cursor will change to the form shown on the left, and all that’s left is to choose a target and start the attack.
Assigning Spells for Automatic Use
Additionally, you can assign a spell to a mage for automatic use. After selecting a spell in the open book, press Ctrl + A on the keyboard. Now your character will automatically use this spell when attacking an enemy.
Assigning Function Keys for Item Use
There’s a quick way to use items from the Backpack. To do this, with the Backpack open, select an item and press the Shift key on the keyboard simultaneously with any function key from F4 to F12. Now, pressing that key will use the item, regardless of whether your Backpack is open or closed. If the item can be worn or held, it will be equipped or placed in the character’s hands. If it is a scroll with a spell, it will be used according to its purpose. Multiple similar items can be assigned to a single function key — each press will use one item.
If the function key chosen for item use is already assigned to a spell (for a mage), the spell casting by this key will be automatically canceled.
Character Group Numbers
How to Assign Character Group Numbers
You can assign each of your characters a number for quick selection (for example, if you control a summoned creature). To do this, select them in the usual way and press the Ctrl key and any number from 1 to 9 on the keyboard, for example, 1. The selected character will be remembered under this number, and a small number “1” will appear next to them. Now, if you press the number 1 on the keyboard, this character will be automatically selected.
Using Group Numbers
Similarly, you can remember several characters as a group and assign them a number from 1 to 9. To do this, press the Ctrl key and any number from 1 to 9 on the keyboard, for example, 2. The selected group will be remembered under this number, and a small number “2” will appear next to each group member. Now, if you press the number 2 on the keyboard, this group will be automatically selected.
The same character can belong to multiple different groups. After selecting a character (or characters) already belonging to one group, add them as a member of another group by pressing Ctrl + Shift and any number from 1 to 9 on the keyboard (if you want to keep the existing groups, avoid using numbers already occupied by them!).
Now, the selected character will belong to both groups. The number next to them will indicate the group to which they were first assigned. If the groups the character belongs to receive different orders, they will follow the command given most recently.
Sometimes it’s convenient to center the screen on the selected group. To do this, press and hold the Alt key, then press the number of the selected group. Group management is carried out the same way as managing a single character.