Dark Radiant Must Know Basic Intro

Here are just a few things the beginner to Dark Radiant must know as they are mostly assumed in tutorials.
Tutorial writers: Please refer here at the start of your tutorial!

Orthoview

The two dimensional grid view (not the camera view may be referred to as 'grid' view (though the grid might be turned off, invisible!) the orthoview, the 2D view, the 'top view', 'side view', 'front view'. Hopefully it is obvious.

Abbreviations

LMB, RMB, MMB, MMW are left mouse button, right mouse button, and middle mouse button (press wheel often)

Creating an Entity

To create an entity you RMB in the grid view and select 'Create Entity' from the popup menu.

• Some entity creations need a brush selecting or creating first while others already include a model shape. Dark Radiant will tell you if you need a brush.
• You cannot use that menu to change the entity of an existing entity:

1. With a model you can change its entity by typing in the Entity Inspector
2. With a brush or patch entity you can use RMB in the grid view and use 'revert to world spawn' FIRST and THEN 'Create Entity'

Creating (inserting) a Model in your mission

To create a model use RMB in the grid view and select 'create model'. You can change an existing model by selecting it in Entity Inspector and using the choose model button at the bottom of that panel. (not with AI though!)

Adding/Changing/Deleting Properties

• the Entity Inspector can be shown/hidden with default key N or just select its tab on the panel if you can see it.
• In there you can see the properties of a selection.
• You can change them by typing in afresh at the foot of that panel. There is an input box for the property name and one below it for the value. These you need to either press the Enter key or click the check button to make them effective. Some properties might have special buttons or inputs.
• If the property already exists you can select it then it shows in those input boxes for you to modify.
• Another way is to select the Class Name at the top of the Entity Inspector and then RMB and selecting 'Add Property' from the popup menu. This will show you properties appropriate to that entity if you click the top one item with the entity class name. Clicking each may give you additional info at the bottom. You can also see general properties further down.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The keys you can use in Dark Radiant are shown in the Help menu where you can also change them.

Controls

All the Dark Radiant controls are listed at Dark Radiant Controls, Keys & Mouse.