ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º º º REFERENCE CARD º º for DESCENT 1.0 º º SHAREWARE º º º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ GAME OPTIONS KEYS ----------------- ESCAPE Main menu/Abort game F1 Help screen F2 Options F3 Cockpit on/off F4 calibrate joystick F5 Demo recording on/off F6 Toggle teammate IDs (team mode only) F7 Kill list display (multiplayer only) F8 Send typed message (multiplayer only) F9-F12 Taunt macros (multiplayer only) SHIFT-F9 Define F9-F12 taunt macros (multiplayer only) thru SHIFT-F12 PAUSE Pause game +/- change window size print scrn save screen shot SHIFT-ESC Quick exit DEFAULT CONTROLS ---------------- The following assignments may all be modified in the Options/Controls/Customize menus JOYSTICK: dive /\ | Button 1: fire primary | Button 2: fire secondary ---------- | | | | | -- | turn left <-- | |XX| | --> turn right | -- | | | | | ---------- | | \/ climb KEYBOARD: flight: arrow keys ship rotation = or keypad forward = A reverse = Z cruise faster = S cruise slower = X cruise off = C bank left = Q or PAD 7 bank right = E or PAD 9 slide on = Left Alt slide left = PAD 1 slide right = PAD 3 slide up = PAD - slide down = PAD + rear view = R (hold & release or tap on/off) automap = TAB weapons: fire primary = left ctrl/right ctrl fire secondary = spacebar drop proximity bomb = B select primary = 1 thru 5 select secondary= 6 thru 0 1 = lasers 6 = concussion missile 2 = vulcan cannon 7 = homing missile 3 = spreadfire cannon 8 = proximity bomb 4 = plasma cannon 9 = smart missile 5 = fusion cannon 0 = mega missile DEMO PLAYBACK CONTROLS ---------------------- up arrow play down arrow stop right arrow single frame forward left arrow single frame reverse shift-right fast forward shift-left fast reverse ctrl-right go to end ctrl-left go to start OTHER CONTROL DEVICES --------------------- Devices may be selected and customized under the Options/Controls menu Descent fully supports the following: mouse joystick (one or two) CH Flightstick Pro Gravis GamePad * Logitech Cyberman * Thrustmaster FCS, WCS, FLCS * Gravis Phoenix * DESCENT2.ADV, DESCENT.B50, DESCENT.M50, and DESCENT.PHX control files can be found in your DESCENT directory. See README.TXT for details on these devices. AUTOMAP ------- Your ship's Automap will show areas of the mine you have seen. Arrow keys will rotate the view left/right and up/down. Hitting +/- will zoom in/out. ======== POWERUPS ======== Access Keys = These access keys give you access to the different security levels of the mines. They are color coded to the doors they open. Energy Boost = This will give your energy banks a boost, up to 200 units max. Energy Centers can deliver recarge up to 100 units. Shield Boost = This will give your ship's shields a kick. By getting shield powerups, you can get your shields up to a maximum of 200 units. Cloaking Device = Gives your ship cloaking ability for a limited time. Invulnerability = Makes your ship invulnerable for a short time. Extra Life = Gives you a bonus life. Laser = Laser cannons have four power levels. The laser powerup will give you the next available level. Quad Laser = This powerup will modify your existing laser system to fire four bolts instead of the standard two. Vulcan Cannon = This weapon rapidly fires explosive-tipped shells. Vulcan Ammo = This gives you more ammunition for the Vulcan Cannon. Spreadfire Cannon = This fires a spread of energy at your target. *Plasma Cannon = Fires bursts of supercharged plasma. *Fusion Cannon = Fires destructive blasts of energy directly from the ship's fusion reactor. Capable of punching through large crowds of robots before running out of power. Concussion Missiles= All-purpose dumbfire rockets. Come singly or in packs of four. Homing Missiles = Same size warhead as Concussion Missiles, these are equipped with a tracking device that can follow a target around most turns. Come singly or in packs of four. Proximity Bombs = These bombs are launched behind your ship, waiting to explode when something gets near. Can be armed as a secondary weapon, or dropped directly by hitting the default key "B". *Smart Missile = When this missile detonates, it sends bomblets of heated plasma after the surrounding targets. *Mega Missile = Stand back when you fire this earthshaker. * These four weapons (plasma cannon, fusion cannon, smart missile, & mega missile) are only available in the registered/commercial version of DESCENT. See ORDERFRM.TXT for details. ===== DOORS ===== Doors can be opened by shooting them or bumping them. If a door is locked, it needs the appropriately colored access key. If a door is not color coded and cannot be opened, it is a trap door that may open by a motion sensor somewhere in the mine. ============ MINE CENTERS ============ Energy Center = Designed for "on the fly" replenishing of robot's power cells, it will also recharge your own. These will charge your ship's energy banks (up to 100 units). Robot Generator = Automated centers that determine a mine's needs and assemble robots from surrounding minerals and metals. Very dangerous. Main Reactor = The power generator of the whole mine. Usually in a secluded place away from day-to-day mine mishaps. =================== TIPS FOR NEW PILOTS =================== Here are a few things that help new players adjust to the fully 3D world and intelligent robots of Descent. Heed these tips and you'll soon be blasting robot hordes (and your friends!) with ease. o If you use a two-button joystick, try keeping one hand on the A and Z keys to control your FORWARD and REVERSE. o If you're up against a wall, try using REVERSE to back away instead of turning around. o Learn how to SLIDE well. Using vertical sliding instead of pitching will help keep you upright. If your joystick has a Hat Switch, use it to slide. o Use SLIDE to evade enemy fire. This will help keep the robots in your sights. o Sweep fire side-to-side to hit evading robots. This is especially important on higher skill levels where robots evade faster. Also try using lasers and missiles simultaneouslly against an evading robot. o Try clearing a path to the exit before you attack the Main Reactor. You may run out of time if you're battling hordes of robots on your escape! o The blast radius of a concussion missile is very effective against tight groups of robots. o Look for secret doors. Weapons and ammo are often behind them. They can be a different color, or have small seams running down them. Keep in mind, Descent is fully 3D, and secret doors aren't only in the walls... o DON'T SIT STILL. The best way to stay alive is to keep moving. Using SLIDE to circle a target while you're firing is very effective. o Learn to use your ship's Automap. It can reveal things your eyes may miss.