This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

Table of index (click to expand)

• Introduction
• Games
  • The Elder Scrolls: Arena

Introduction

Some DOS games have fairly complex control mechanics to the point its simpler to explain them here than referring to the game owners manual.

Games

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

The Elder Scrolls: Arena (TESA) uses both keyboard and mouse controls together. This guide paraphrases the control scheme information from TESA's game manual and consolidates it into one guide so that people do not have to read the entire game manual to learn the game's controls.

Keyboard Controls

ESC = Setup menu

F1 = Character / Equipment Sheet (After launching this menu, left-click the Next Page button on page 1 to equip your character and use items).

F8 = Compass on/off toggle

Up = Move Forward

Down = Move Backward

Left = Turn Left

Right = Turn Right

A = Attack–weapon draw/sheath toggle

C = Cast

J = Jump

SHIFT + J = Jump forward when standing still

L = Logbook

M = Automap

SHIFT + M = Continental Map

P = Pick/Steal

R = Rest, Camp option

S = Status of character

U = Use

[Top]

Mouse Controls

General Mouse Controls:

When your mouse cursor is arrow-shaped, you can move in the arrow's direction by pressing the left mouse button.

The further towards the top, bottom, sides, or edges of the screen your arrow goes, the faster you will move.

When your mouse cursor is X-shaped and you left-click an object, you will interact with that object. The exact interaction will depend on if you are using Talk, Cast, or Attack Mode.

When your mouse cursor is X-shaped and you right-click on an object, you will identify the object in question.

Right-clicking (without any other mouse keys pressed) will cause you to jump.

[Top]

When Mouse Cursor Is An Arrow:

When your mouse cursor is arrow-shaped, you can move in the arrow's direction by pressing the left mouse button.

The further towards the top, bottom, sides, or edges of the screen your arrow goes, the faster you will move.

[Top]

When Mouse Cursor Is a Sword:

When the arrow is a sword, you can click on icons in the walk-around menu.

[Top]

When Mouse Cursor Is an X:

When your mouse cursor is X-shaped and you click the left mouse button on another person, you will talk to that person, attempt to pickpocket him or her, or cast a spell at him or her, depending upon if you are in Normal, Steal, or Cast Mode.

When your mouse cursor is X-shaped and you click the left mouse button on a locked door or chest, you will see the status of the lock or you will be allowed to attempt to unlock it, depending upon if you are in Normal or Steal Mode.

When your mouse cursor is X-shaped and you click the left mouse button on treasure, you will display a list of all the potential items to be taken.

When your mouse cursor is X-shaped and you click the right mouse button on a monster or door, you will identify the monster or store. If the door belongs to an equipment store, pressing the right mouse button will show the name of the equipment store, placing that name in your automap for future reference.

[Top]

Mouse In Character / Equipment Sheet

Press either F1 or left-click on your character's face to open the Character / Equipment Sheet.

The In-Game Character / Equipment Sheet shows your character's stats on page 1 and your inventory of weapons, armor, and items on page 2. On page 1, press the Next Page button to go to page 2 in order to view your inventory to be able to equip your character and use items.

Left click equips the item if your character class can use it.

Right click gives you information about the item in question if information for it exists.

The Spellbook button provides a spell list and how much casting said spells costs.

Left or right clicks on a single spell will display the spell's characteristics.

Spells can only be cast from the walk-around menu and not the character sheet.

Items that cannot be equipped are displayed in red.

Items that can be equipped are displayed in tan.

Items that are equipped are displayed in yellow.

Magic items that are unidentified are displayed in cyan.

Equipped magic items that are unidentified are displayed in bright cyan.

[Top]

On-Screen Buttons

Crossed Swords Icon — Attack Mode

Click on this icon to unsheathe your weapon.

Press and hold the left mouse button to move in the direction you want to go.

Press and hold the right mouse button, then move your mouse in any direction to swing your weapon.

The J key allows you jump, while Shift + J performs a standing long jump.

Click on this icon again to sheath your weapon.

[Top]

Sunburst Icon — Cast Mode

Left click on this icon to cast a spell and open your spellbook.

In the spellbook, select the spell to be cast as well as the spell's target.

After casting a spell, you can recast it by right clicking the icon again, assuming you have enough remaining spell points to do so.

[Top]

Fingers picking gold icon — Steal Mode

Either left or right click on this icon to steal something and a "Target?" window will be displayed.

Select the on-screen target.

If the target is a person, you will try to pickpocket him or her.

If the target is a chest, door, or other barrier, you will try to unlock it.

If you try any of the above actions in a city, be vigilant of guards because you may attract their attention which you obviously will not want.

[Top]

Hand grabbing icon — Use Mode

Click on this icon to display an inventory of usable magic items.

Select the desired item and follow any relevant instructions involving the item in question, such as “Target?” for a ring spell.

Note: You can only use an item from the 3D walk-around menu. You must use a healing potion from here and not the character sheet.

[Top]

Snake-staff icon — Player Status

Player Status.

Clicking on this icon pauses the game and displays your current status, date and time of day, or reputational conditions that can affect you at the present location.

Other displayed information can include your present condition, health, spells presently affecting you and presently active spells.

[Top]

Parchment with lines icon — Logbook

Clicking on this icon opens the ‘Logbook’, a journal of your travels. Your logbook contains information on any quests upon which you are embarking and province locations of places that people have placed onto your continental map.

You can easily manage your promises and priorities via this logbook.

However, you can only record 16 quests at a time and the logbook itself removes the oldest entry. As a result, you will only see 16 entries here.

If you do not want to lose any entries that you deem really important, print out the logbook periodically. ‘Getting quests’ for further details.

[Top]

Campfire icon — Camp

When you left click this icon, you will rest.

As you rest, you will regenerate lost hit points and spell points, as well as relieve fatigue.

You may camp anywhere outside a city’s walls.

You cannot camp inside a city's walls without purchasing or sneaking into a room in a tavern and are currently inside the tavern where that room is located.

Where you sleep directly affects how great your healing is.

If you sleep in better and more expensive accomodations, you will heal faster per hour.

[Top]

Automap icon — Automap/Continental Map

Left clicking Map icon:

Left clicking this icon opens the automap which will record all the places you visited. Pay attention to the map because there will be times where it can reveal clues when you are looking for something.

Left click on the map again to type notes. Press Enter or right-click to use the pen to write more notes elsewhere on the map.

If you want to erase a line, click on the line to be erased and press Escape.

Left click the compass points on the automap to scroll the map in order to see a larger area.

To center the map on your location, left click the center of the map.

As a note, any locations that are marked automatically by the automap, (ie not by you) will be left of the first character in the sentence. Therefore an inn that is marked on your automap will be to the left of the first character in its name.

[Top]

Right clicking Map icon:

Right click the Automap icon to display the Continental Map, which allows you to travel to other cities, towns, or villages.

You can travel to another place from anywhere outside in the world of Tamriel.

However, you have to exit an interior first to travel to another city.

[Top]