Direct Control mode ("DC mode") in Nations is a system for controlling your craft through player movement and inventory key bindings.
You can activate Direct Control mode by typing /directcontrol or /dc. Activating it automatically starts cruising.
You can deactivate Direct Control mode by typing the command again. Deactivating it automatically stops cruising.
Please make sure you are not standing on a half-slab when activating Direct Control mode, as you may fall from your craft!
There are four different types of Direct Control, depending on the craft class.
These crafts will always cruise in the direction of their determined "front". If you try to cruise sideways, your craft will move diagonally in that direction instead.
The front of a craft is determined in two ways.
- If your craft has exactly a single Cruise sign, the "front" is the direction that the sign is facing.
- If your craft has none or multiple Cruise signs, the "front" is the general cardinal direction (north/east/south/west) that you are facing when piloting the craft.
Direct Control mode for these crafts works as follows:
Moving
- Move forward (default: W) to cruise in the direction of the front of your craft.
- Move backward (default: S) to cruise opposite of the front of your craft. The craft will move at half the forward cruising speed.
- Move left (default: A) to cruise diagonally leftwards.
- Move right (default: D) to cruise diagonally rightwards.
- Holding the Sneak key (default: Shift) cruises toward the direction you are facing. If you are facing to the left or right, you will cruise diagonally in that direction. Releasing the sneak key stops cruising.
- Tapping your Sneak key also stops cruising no matter the direction you are moving or facing.
Rotating
Have a Compass in your hand. During Direct Control mode, it will not be moved from your inventory while using rotation keys.
- Press your Swap Item with Offhand key (default: F) to rotate your craft 90 degrees clockwise.
- Press your Drop key (default: Q) to rotate your craft and camera 90 degrees counter-clockwise.
For Fighters and Bombers, Direct Control mode works as follows.
Activating Direct Control mode starts cruising toward the cardinal direction you are facing (north/east/south/west).
Holding the sneak key temporarily stops cruising. Releasing the sneak key starts cruising again toward the new cardinal direction you are facing (north/east/south/west).
Moving
You can only use these movement keys while not sneaking.
- Move forward (default: W) to diagonally descend toward the cruising direction.
- Move backward (default: S) to diagonally ascend toward the cruising direction.
- Strafe left (default: A) to cruise diagonally toward the left of your cruising direction.
- Strafe right (default: D) to cruise diagonally toward the right of your cruising direction.
Forward-backward movements can be combined with leftward-rightward movements.
Always keep looking toward the direction you are cruising, for easier control.
Rotating
Have a Clock in your hand. During Direct Control (sneaking) it will not be moved from your inventory while using rotation keys.
- Press your Swap Item with Offhand key (default: F) to rotate your craft and camera 90 degrees clockwise.
- Press your Drop key (default: Q) to rotate your craft and camera 90 degrees counter-clockwise.
The craft rotates about your current position.
Throttle
- Scrolling through your hotbar with a Clock in your hand changes the throttle of your plane.
- Scrolling right increases speed, and scrolling left decreases speed.
For all other crafts except Submarines, Direct Control works as follows:
Moving
- Move forward (default: W) to cruise toward the cardinal direction you are facing.
- Move backward (default: S) to cruise opposite of the cardinal direction you are facing.
- Strafe left (default: A) to cruise left, relative to the cardinal direction you are facing.
- Strafe right (default: D) to cruise right, relative to the cardinal direction you are facing.
- Holding the Sneak key (default: Shift) cruises toward the cardinal direction you are facing (north/east/south/west). Releasing the sneak key stops cruising. Tapping your Sneak key also stops cruising no matter the direction you are moving or facing.
Rotating
Have a Compass in your hand. During Direct Control mode, it will not be moved from your inventory while using rotation keys.
- Press your Swap Item with Offhand key (default: F) to rotate your craft and camera 90 degrees clockwise.
- Press your Drop key (default: Q) to rotate your craft and camera 90 degrees counter-clockwise.
The craft rotates about your current position.
Direct Control for Submarines is identical to Normal direct control mode, except that the craft can also move upwards and downwards like in Aircraft Direct Control mode.
- Move forward (default: W) to diagonally descend toward the cruising direction.
- Move backward (default: S) to diagonally ascend toward the cruising direction.