How to Play

**Basic Controls:** For the most part, Expansion Core follows standard FPS controls (WASD to move, Shift to sprint, Left Mouse to attack)

For more specific controls, you can access the pause menu with the Escape key or P key. From there in the options menu, you can access the controls screen. Most interactions in Expansion Core are given through contextual UI, which are the pop ups that show when looking at certain objects.

**Inventory:** The inventory uses mouse interactions, but there are some useful shortcuts that you can use to make inventory management easier.

* "T" - Transfers the hovered item given that there is another storage open
* "F" - Transfers the hovered item into the given storage's fuel slot (if it has one)
* "Q" - Drops the hovered item within the inventory

**Resource Gathering:** For the most part, resource gathering in Expansion Core is as simple as hitting something enough times to drop items. For example, you can chop down trees with an axe to cut them down, then afterwards you just cut the trunk of the tree into logs.

There are more complex forms of resource collection, like the use of Mining Bots.

**Crafting:** Crafting, like resource gathering, is pretty standard. Simply press 'C' to open the crafting menu, or access it through the crafting tab. Once there, select an item that you wish to craft and, given you have enough resources, the "Craft" button will be active. Larger items that can't be crafted in your inventory must be built (see below Building section).

**Building:** Allies and Structures that are too large for the inventory must be built via the usage of blueprints. The "Chassis" and "Structures" tabs hold blueprints that can be placed in the world with Left Click. Once placed in the world, you will see the blueprint itself and a stockpile. In order to construct the blueprint, you must fill the stockpile with the relevant resources and then press the build button. Any time during construction, the player may cancel the blueprint to recollect their resources.

The player may also interact with their Mobile Base Bots in order to build Modules in a similar way. Simply Interact with the Mobile Base with "E" and select one of the bases module slots (the plus icon). From there, select a module to build and press the "Build Module" button to place a blueprint. Note: The Mobile Base must be set up during the whole building process, or it will be cancelled.

**Allies:** Allies, known in game as Bots, are robots that can be built by the player to assist them in their journey. Bots come in a wide variety, but generally fall into three categories; Combat, Storage, and Utility. More details can be seen on the Bots page.

Ally Interaction is still under review and is subject to change heavily, but currently the controls are:

* Hold "F" - Opens the Ally Interaction wheel. Hover over an option and release "F" to execute the selected command. Current commands are [All Follow, Single Follow, All Hold, Single Hold, Defend Location and Move To]
* "J" - Signal all nearby bots to follow you
* "H" - Signal all bots following you to stop following
* "T" - Tell an individual bot that you're looking at to follow you
* "X" - Tell all bots following you to move to/attack a location/target

These controls may be outdated in the current version due to the constant work being done on reworking the ally movement system.

**Mobs:** Mobs, known in game as creatures affected by Corruption, come in a very wide variety. Mobs are generally either passive, neutral, or aggressive by default. Some creatures, like the Sprinter, come in all three aggression levels based on their level of corruption. As a creatures level of corruption increases, they have a chance to undergo Mutation and become a more powerful version of themselves. Mobs that are mutated gain more abilities, become deadlier and drop more and rarer items.

**Beacons:** Beacons are large structures that have landed throughout the landscape of Expansion Core. They can be seen from far away due to their indication lasers that shine into the sky. These indicators shine orange for inactive beacons and blue for beacons that have been activated by the player. Beacons are used to request HUBs, massive structures that provide the player with certain benefits while nearby. Active beacons can also be used for Trading (see the Trading section below).

**Trading:** Trading plays a large part in Expansion Core's main gameplay loop. To trade, you must access an active Beacon and supply it with energy in the form of Energy Fragments, Charcoal, or Energy Shards. Once fueled, you may request a Trade Pod from the Beacon which will land nearby. From there, you can access the Trade Pod and fill it's storage with items that you wish to sell for Currency. When ready, you may initiate the launch of the Trade Pod, which will start an Event. Mobs will spawn and attempt to attack the Trade Pod, so the player must defend it until it finishes launching. The total profit gained from the Trade Pod launching is dependent on the pod's health at take-off.

**Research:** Researching in Expansion Core is done through both Structures and Bots. All manners of Crafting, Building, Modules and Chassis recipes may be researched at the cost of Currency. Research starts out via the Research Station, which can be built by the player near the start of the game. From there, the player can learn how to build Research Bots, which unlock higher tiers of research.

**Storms:** The Storms are a major force of danger for the player as they progress throughout the game. Storms living, thinking swarms of AI that seek out large sources of Energy. They move through the landscape, spreading Corruption and causing Mutations in any creatures they touch. Storms will occasionally actively seek out the player and force them to pack up and move before it's too late.

**Data Logs:** Data logs can be found throughout the world. You can interact with them in order to read them, and they contain the best loot of all.... Lore!