Basic Interface

This part of the Game Help explains the buttons on the starting screen, the buttons you see at the screen's bottom in-game and the menus said buttons lead to.

Starting the game

When you start Widelands you first see the splash-screen and get then to the starting menu:

Single Player

Allows you to open a game in order to play alone or against the computer. Also leads to the Widelands Campaigns and allows you to load a previously saved single-player-game. To start a single player game, click 'Single Map' and choose the map you want to play on. At the right side you see the map description. Above that, there is a checkbox labeled 'Load Map as scenario'; if this is checked, any events (actions triggered by certain circumstances set by the map creator) will occur, otherwise they are disabled. After choosing the map click 'Ok' and you see a list of all players in game - you and the computer-controlled tribes. You may deactivate any computer players by un-checking the checkbox next to the player's name. You may also determine what kind of tribe each player shall play. The 'Start Game'-button starts the game then.

Multi Player

Allows you to open a multiplayer game for several human players; for more information on this subject, check out the Multiplayer Help.

Watch Replay

Only available from a save game.

Options

Allows you to set game options, such as:

resolution

you may choose between a resolution of 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768 with 16 or 32 bit colours respectively

fullscreen

if checked, you see the game in fullscreen; otherwise in window mode

grab input

if checked while in window mode, the mouse will never leave the window

After choosing your desired options, click 'Apply' to use them and return to the main screen.

Editor

Opens the Widelands Map Editor, which you can use to create your own maps, scenarios and campaigns. For further information on this subject, check out the Editor Help .

View Readme

Shows the content of the Readme-file.

License

Shows the Gnu General Public License.

Exit Game

Exits Widelands.

In-Game

After starting a game, you see your headquarters in the centre of the screen and the landscape around it. At the screen's bottom, there are five buttons

with following meaning respectively:

Main Menu

Allows you to

Objectives

If you play a scenario-map (campaign) this button opens the list of objectives you need to reach at the moment.

Mini-Map

Shows a mini-map, on which you can toggle on/off: terrain, conquered area, flags, roads, buildings (buttons from left to right, upper row first). Left-clicking the mini-map instantly moves your view to that position.

Building Help

Toggles on/off the building help, which shows you what can be built on every field:

A flag may be built in any of these cases by choosing the "build road" button.

Tribe's Ware Encyclopedia

shows you all the wares of your tribe.

Other features/functions and keyboard shortcuts

• You can scroll in any direction by holding the right mousekey and moving the mouse in that direction.
• Close any window by right-clicking on it.
• You can move any window (except windows created by storyline) wherever you want to and minimize it to the window title by clicking with the middle button of the mouse on it. By clicking on the window title with the middle button of the mouse again you can expanded it. (Instead of the midle button of the mouse, you can use Ctrl + left klick)

You have also the following features in-game: