In Space Station 14, given that the player is holding a specific item and a specific item is under the mouse pointer, there are generally multiple interactions available to them, with a different way to trigger each interaction:
- Left click: Standard interaction; what this is varies depending on the held item and the item under the pointer. Interactions that are specific to the item under the pointer generally take priority over interactions that are specific to the held item, eg clicking a container with a hand labeler attempts to put the labeler in the container, rather than labeling the container
- Left click (combat mode active): Attack
- Alt + left click: Alternative interaction. This depends on the item under the pointer but not on the held item, I think. This includes locking/unlocking items and ejecting items.
- Ctrl + left click: Begin dragging the item under the pointer. If already dragging it, stop dragging it.
- Shift + left click: Examine the item under the pointer.
- Right click: context menu, regardless of what is held or clicked on; provides a way to select between multiple items under the pointer, and then select any available interaction for the selected item
- Right click (combat mode active): Alternate attack
- Ctrl + right click: if dragging an item, move that item to the location under the pointer; otherwise do nothing
- Shift + middle mouse: point at the item under the pointer
- E: Activation interaction; does something to the item under the pointer, does not depend on what item is held. Typically the standard interaction when the active hand is empty is the same as this interaction
- Z: Use in-hand; an interaction involving only the held item, such as opening a held container or eating a held food.
- Alt + Z: Alternative interaction for the held item, rather than for the item under the pointer.
- Q: Drop the held item
- Ctrl + Q: Throw the held item
There are also mouse drag-and-drop interactions, which include buckling, climbing, and looking at another player's inventory and equipment.
All of these interactions are useful, but it seems to me that there are a lot of them, and I think this is one of the main reasons that the controls for Space Station 14 have a steep learning curve. I want to look more closely at how other games allow for multiple interactions between a held item and a pointed-to item. I lean towards implementing a simpler system than the above, but I want to have a better feel for what systems exist for this before I make any decisions.
In Space Station 14, given that the player is holding a specific item and a specific item is under the mouse pointer, there are generally multiple interactions available to them, with a different way to trigger each interaction:
There are also mouse drag-and-drop interactions, which include buckling, climbing, and looking at another player's inventory and equipment.
All of these interactions are useful, but it seems to me that there are a lot of them, and I think this is one of the main reasons that the controls for Space Station 14 have a steep learning curve. I want to look more closely at how other games allow for multiple interactions between a held item and a pointed-to item. I lean towards implementing a simpler system than the above, but I want to have a better feel for what systems exist for this before I make any decisions.