MESSAGES

You can access your messages by using the hotkey or button you've assigned to them. The default key is 'M'. You can also select 'Messages' from a building's menu. Opening the Message Menu takes you to a list of messages. The list indicates new and read messages, sender, and subject. You cannot send messages.

You open a message by selecting it with your mouse and left clicking. The message will have a body and some buttons at the top that may allow you to target sender, delete the message, target the subject of the message, or play a video message. Check and clear out your messages often.

NAVIGATIONAL
MENU

The Nav Menu is generally the most used. It contains a variety of things you can target and targets you have saved. The Pilot and Buildings Menu's have a 'Locking' feature to keep new targets from overwriting needed items.

The Pilot Menu -- has pilots you've targeted either in flight or as a member of someone else's enemy list. You can cycle through the pilots and see their location on the map to the left.

The Building Menu -- is just like the Pilot Menu, except it has targeted buildings instead of pilots. Locations are shown on the map at the left.

Radar Range -- includes every Moth and piece of booty in radar range. It is displayed as a list of buttons that you can click to select a target. It is convenient because you can see what's around you all a once instead of having to cycle through individual objects.

Local Services Menu -- includes standard services available in nearly every crater such as a garage, weapons dealer, trading post, police station, and Light Well. Just click the button to target the location. These will be added to your Buildings Menu.

MAIN HANGAR MENU

Whenever you are inside a hangar you will be presented with a standard set of options:

Launch Moth -- Does just what it says. This is how you exit a hangar.

Get Out Of Moth -- Takes you out of your Moth and into the hangar where you are presented with a new menu that allows you to change Moths and board a taxi.

Messages -- Takes you to your main Message Screen.

Access Computer -- This option takes you to the hangar's menu. These vary as described in later sections.

Navigation -- Opens your Nav Menu.

BUSINESS HANGAR MENUS

Hangar Menus vary depending on the business of the hangar you are inside. Most hangars have a 'Sell Cargo' and 'Browse Stock' options. These are used to sell whatever you're carrying or buy goods from the hangar.

Trading Posts have additional 'Needs List' and 'Sales List' options. Needs Lists list businesses and what they need. The Sales List tells you where you can buy things. The Sales List is a great search tool for finding things in Misplaced Optimism. Using the lists together you can put together profitable trades.

The Police and faction facilities have lists of wanted pilots. The factions call these 'Enemies' and the Police have a 'Wanted List'.

YOUR HANGAR MENU

One of the more important menus you will come across is the menu that allows you to control your own hangar. The initial screen when you enter your own hangar is the same as the main hangar screen anywhere else, but accessing your computer gives you some special options.

Repair -- Let's you repair your Moth for free.

Owner Controls -- This allows you to open your hangar to the public, toggle your repair drones and sales system on/off, and let's you pick up the cash other pilots have spent at your hangar. Most people turn on the repair drones and make the hangar public as soon as they buy and get to it. A well placed hangar can be a real money maker.

Remove -- Allows you to cycle through the removeable components of your Moth and remove those you choose.

Browse Stock -- Let's you see what you have in your hangar and load or fit items as you desire. You, of course, aren't charged for your own hangar's services.

TARGETING

Much of the targeting done in HardWar is done through menus, but there are a couple of other targeting functions worth noting.

'T' key - Targets whatever is in your reticule. This comes in very handy when targeting buildings that aren't on 'Local Services' menus. Just put the target in your center reticule and press the 'T' key.

'Y' key - is the 'Next Target' function. It cycles through all of the targets in radar range and presents them in your target view box on your HUD. Very handy if you believe someone around you has valuable cargo and you want to find out who.

Learn to use your 'Radar Range' function of your Nav Menu quickly. Use it often, particularly if you see white triangles in your radar. It's always a good idea to know what's around you.