shell cloak
Hi and welcome to Silica!
Since onboarding is still not in-game, the community has created this section in order to answer the most common questions related to "How do I even play this game? What am I supposed to do?" type of questions.
Since we're aware that we're at Early Access and the game is changing in front of our eyes, we'll work to keep this section updated.
So here we go and see you on Baltarus!!!
Oh, we now have a Wiki here to know more stuff
https://silica.fandom.com/wiki/Silica_Wiki (Thanks GOLANX!)
I'M NEW, HOW DO I PLAY THIS GAME? WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING?
Here's a very quick "onboarding" guide you may find useful.
I recommend playing the short INTRODUCTORY missions just to get used to the controls. And play **ARENA **to get to know the units (note, Centauri faction units are not in-game yet).
But right now, as an FPS (both Alien and Humans), you can:
- Scout for the enemy base.
- Assist your Commander by revealing the fog of war and provide him with info.
- As an FPS player, think as if you were the Commander, what would my commander need right now? Resources? Protect a Harvester? Scout? Take the offensive? Work as a team.
- Help your commander protect your economy (Harvesters for Humans and Shrimps for Aliens).
- Mine with the harvester by going under it, press E to lower the ladder and make your way up to the top to get control. Your Commander will appreciate it 🙂. Holding LMB lowers the shovels. While harvesting, look down and harvester the blue stuff, the crystals are not the resource and plan your "exit route" so by the time you leave the Balterium field you have a full load and on your way to deposit.
Tips:
- Middle mouse click to PING something.
- As Commander, spacebar takes you to alert comm event
- CTRL + Number to create a group of units. Works with single structures instead of clicking the structure).
- Q for combat/Alien vision
- H to hide chat
- Use TAB (or M) to display map and see where action may be taking place
- TAB to Switch between MAIN and TEAM chat.
- As a commander, if you type !surrender in main chat you end the match (Note: It is actually a mod in the Prime Battalion server in order to end quicker to the next match).
- As commander, letter C opens the build menu.
- Holding ALT allows you to rotate the camera while keeping the unit's orientation. In other words, if you are in a tank and hold ALT, you can shoot its turret alone instead of the cannon (useful when shooting and moving)
- Some vehicles have boost with SHIFT and some can even jump with spacebar.
**As humans: **
- Grab a hoverbike at the barracks to traverse the terrain (more options for traversing will be added).
- Use Teleportation at the HQ or Barracks, each TP has a 60 second cooldown (the more of these structure the more teleports you have available). Right now you can teleport anywhere in the map where an allied unit is located.
- Press E to claim a vehicle (land or air) and it will go to your position, E again to drive it and E to leave. And if Aliens, press E to "transfer mind" to another life form.
If against Aliens:
- Kill the QUEEN to win the match.
- Destroy Bio Caches and Shrimps to attack their economy.
- Destroy the Quantum Cortex to prevent more advanced units from being produced. Until it is rebuilt.
As Aliens:
- Aim at another life form and press **E **to transfer mind to it (you become the selected unit).
- Build your eco and expand, harass and build a forward base.
- The Lesser Spawning Cyst is the "barracks" for Alien players. Build more to grant your players places to spawn (Note: Right now you cannot choose where to spawn location but pressing T and selecting Infantry makes you respawn, hopefully closer to combat)
If against Humans:
- Destroy the HQ to win the match.
- Attack their harvesters to attack their eco.
- Destroy the Human Research Facility to prevent more advanced unit from being produced.
