Difference between revisions of "Buildings"

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(Add reference to terraform by holding mouse click setting)
(Linked some terms, used templates for key presses, minor text changes.)
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The '''Buildings''' of Zero-K are the backbone of your strategy. Build [[Metal Extractor|Metal Extractors]] and [[Energy]] producers to propel your economy, build Factories and Caretakers to produce an army, build defensive and intel structures to protect yourself from your opponents' armies, and build superweapons to end the game in spectacular fashion.
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The '''Buildings''' of Zero-K are the backbone of your strategy. Build [[Metal Extractor|Metal Extractors]] and [[Energy]] producers to propel your economy, build Factories and [[Caretaker]]s to produce an army, build defensive and intel structures to protect yourself from your opponents' armies, and build superweapons to end the game in spectacular fashion.
  
 
Properties shared by most or all buildings in Zero-K include:
 
Properties shared by most or all buildings in Zero-K include:
 
* They cost the same amount of [[Metal]] and [[Energy]].
 
* They cost the same amount of [[Metal]] and [[Energy]].
* Once a nanoframe is placed, the ground beneath the building cannot be [[terraform]]ed until the building is destroyed.
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* Once a [[#Placing Nanoframes|nanoframe]] is placed, the ground beneath the building cannot be [[terraform]]ed until the building is destroyed.
  
 
== Building placement and construction ==
 
== Building placement and construction ==
Unless stated otherwise, the following commands are to be used during building placement. This means, that after selecting a building from the build menu, instead of simply left-clicking to place it these modifiers can be used.
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After selecting a building from the build menu, instead of simply left-clicking to place it, some modifiers can be used during building placement for additional control.
  
 
=== Command queuing ===
 
=== Command queuing ===
The normal command queueing options apply:
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The normal command queuing options apply:
* Hold '''Shift''' to append (build) orders to the end of the queue.
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* Hold {{key press|Shift}} to append orders to the end of the queue.
* Hold '''Space''' to insert (build) orders at the front of the queue. This will come before the current task if there is one.
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* Hold {{key press|Space}} to insert orders at the front of the queue. This will come before the current task if there is one.
* Hold '''Shift+Space''' to insert (build) orders between existing orders. The order will try to be inserted between two nearby orders such that the constructor will minimize the added movement distance.
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* Hold {{key combo|Shift|Space}} to insert orders between existing orders. The order will try to be inserted between two nearby orders such that the constructor will minimize the added movement distance.
  
 
=== Build Facing ===
 
=== Build Facing ===
When placing factories (or other structures), their orientation can be selected by clicking and dragging, rotated in 90 degree steps using '''[''' and ''']''', or rotated clockwise in 90 degree steps by pressing the R key.
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When placing factories or other structures, their orientation can be selected by clicking and dragging, rotated in 90 degree steps using {{key press|[}} and {{key press|]}}, or rotated clockwise in 90 degree steps by pressing the {{key press|R}} key.
  
 
=== Terraforming ===
 
=== Terraforming ===
[[Terraform#terraform_types|Terraforming]] can easily be queued before construction to put a structure on a spire or in a hole. There are various ways to issue this command depending on your advanced settings in Interface -> Building Placement.
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{{See|Terraform#Level{{!}}Level Commands}}
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[[Terraform#Terraform Types|Terraforming]] can be queued before construction to put a structure on a spire or in a hole. There are various ways to issue this command depending on your advanced settings in [[Ingame Menu#Interface|<samp>Interface</samp>]] &rarr; [[Ingame Menu#Building Placement|<samp>Building Placement</samp>]].
  
 
Height selection mode can be entered as follows:
 
Height selection mode can be entered as follows:
* By holding '''Alt''' and using the mouse wheel during structure placement.
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* By holding {{key press|Alt}} and using the mouse wheel during structure placement.
* By pressing '''B''' during structure placement. Press '''C''' and '''V''' to adjust the height.
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* By pressing {{key press|B} during structure placement. Press {{key press|C}} or {{key press|V}} to adjust the height.
 
* If you have enabled '''Terraform by holding mouse click''' in your settings, by holding down the '''left mouse button''' during placement (keeping the cursor stationary). Once the terraform mode has been entered, the mouse can be moved up and down to adjust the elevation. Another left click finalizes the command.
 
* If you have enabled '''Terraform by holding mouse click''' in your settings, by holding down the '''left mouse button''' during placement (keeping the cursor stationary). Once the terraform mode has been entered, the mouse can be moved up and down to adjust the elevation. Another left click finalizes the command.
  
After choosing the terraform height, click to place the structure as usual to issue the terraform and construction command. Structure terraform does not support multiple structure placement but it does support queuing and insertion with '''SPACE''' and '''SHIFT'''.
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After choosing the terraform height, click to place the structure as usual to issue the terraform and construction command. Structure terraform does not support multiple structure placement, but it does support queuing and insertion with {{key press|Space}} and {{key press|Shift}}.
  
See the [[Terraform#Level|Level Command]] for details on the available modifiers.
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An existing building can be surrounded by a terraformed wall by selecting the terraform command from the Special tab (hotkeys {{key press|V}}, then {{key press|X}}), then holding down {{key press|Ctrl}} and clicking on the building. Release {{key press|Ctrl}} and move the mouse upwards to set the height of the wall.
 
 
An existing building can be surrounded by a terraformed wall by selecting the terraform command from the special tab (Hotkeys '''V''', then '''X'''), then holding down '''Ctrl''' and clicking on the building. Release '''Ctrl''' and move the mouse upwards to set the height of the wall.
 
  
 
=== Line and Rectangular Grid ===
 
=== Line and Rectangular Grid ===
* Hold '''Shift''' while dragging the mouse to place a line of structures.  
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* Hold {{key press|Shift}} while dragging the mouse to place a line of structures.  
* Hold '''Shift+Ctrl''' to drag a line of structures in the 4 cardinal directions. If holding the mouse over a building, it will surround that building with the selected structure.
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* Hold {{key combo|Shift|Ctrl}} to drag a line of structures in the 4 cardinal directions. If holding the mouse over a building, it will surround that building with the selected structure.
* Hold '''Shift+Alt''' to drag a rectangular grid of structures.
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* Hold {{key combo|Shift|Alt}} to drag a rectangular grid of structures.
* Hold '''Shift+Ctrl+Alt''' to drag a hollow box of structures.
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* Hold {{key combo|Shift|Ctrl|Alt}} to drag a hollow box of structures.
  
The spacing between the individual buildings can be adjusted by pressing '''x''' and '''z'''
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The spacing between the individual buildings can be adjusted by pressing {{key press|X}} or {{key press|Z}}.
  
 
=== Surrounding an existing building ===
 
=== Surrounding an existing building ===
By holding '''Ctrl+Shift''' during placement, an existing building can be surrounded with the selected building. For example, a fragile and expensive [[Fusion Reactor]] can be surrounded by sturdy and cheap [[Solar Collector|Solar Collectors]] by first building the Fusion Reactor, then selecting the Solar Collector from the build menu, holding down '''Ctrl+Shift''' and clicking on the Fusion Reactor.
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By holding {{key combo|Ctrl|Shift}} during placement, an existing building can be surrounded with the selected building. For example, a fragile and expensive [[Fusion Reactor]] can be surrounded by sturdy and cheap [[Solar Collector]]s by first building the Fusion Reactor, then selecting the Solar Collector from the build menu, holding down {{key combo|Ctrl|Shift}} and clicking on the Fusion Reactor.
  
 
=== Placing Nanoframes ===
 
=== Placing Nanoframes ===
Holding Q while placing structures will only place the framework (nanoframe), which will let the structure be completed later. This is often used when there are [[Caretaker|Caretakers]] nearby that can finish the construction on their own.
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Holding {{key press|Q}} while placing structures will place only the framework (''nanoframe''), which will let the structure be completed later. This is often used when there are [[Caretaker]]s nearby that can finish the construction on their own.
  
 
=== Metal Extractors ===
 
=== Metal Extractors ===
 
There is a specialized [[Area Mex Command]] to place Metal Extractors in an area and optionally surround them with power generators at the same time.
 
There is a specialized [[Area Mex Command]] to place Metal Extractors in an area and optionally surround them with power generators at the same time.
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{{Navbox buildings}}
 
{{Navbox buildings}}

Revision as of 10:58, 12 November 2021

The Buildings of Zero-K are the backbone of your strategy. Build Metal Extractors and Energy producers to propel your economy, build Factories and Caretakers to produce an army, build defensive and intel structures to protect yourself from your opponents' armies, and build superweapons to end the game in spectacular fashion.

Properties shared by most or all buildings in Zero-K include:

  • They cost the same amount of Metal and Energy.
  • Once a nanoframe is placed, the ground beneath the building cannot be terraformed until the building is destroyed.

Building placement and construction

After selecting a building from the build menu, instead of simply left-clicking to place it, some modifiers can be used during building placement for additional control.

Command queuing

The normal command queuing options apply:

  • Hold Shift to append orders to the end of the queue.
  • Hold Space to insert orders at the front of the queue. This will come before the current task if there is one.
  • Hold ‎Shift + Space‎ to insert orders between existing orders. The order will try to be inserted between two nearby orders such that the constructor will minimize the added movement distance.

Build Facing

When placing factories or other structures, their orientation can be selected by clicking and dragging, rotated in 90 degree steps using [ and ], or rotated clockwise in 90 degree steps by pressing the R key.

Terraforming

Further information: Level Commands

Terraforming can be queued before construction to put a structure on a spire or in a hole. There are various ways to issue this command depending on your advanced settings in InterfaceBuilding Placement.

Height selection mode can be entered as follows:

  • By holding Alt and using the mouse wheel during structure placement.
  • By pressing {{key press|B} during structure placement. Press C or V to adjust the height.
  • If you have enabled Terraform by holding mouse click in your settings, by holding down the left mouse button during placement (keeping the cursor stationary). Once the terraform mode has been entered, the mouse can be moved up and down to adjust the elevation. Another left click finalizes the command.

After choosing the terraform height, click to place the structure as usual to issue the terraform and construction command. Structure terraform does not support multiple structure placement, but it does support queuing and insertion with Space and Shift.

An existing building can be surrounded by a terraformed wall by selecting the terraform command from the Special tab (hotkeys V, then X), then holding down Ctrl and clicking on the building. Release Ctrl and move the mouse upwards to set the height of the wall.

Line and Rectangular Grid

  • Hold Shift while dragging the mouse to place a line of structures.
  • Hold ‎Shift + Ctrl‎ to drag a line of structures in the 4 cardinal directions. If holding the mouse over a building, it will surround that building with the selected structure.
  • Hold ‎Shift + Alt‎ to drag a rectangular grid of structures.
  • Hold ‎Shift + Ctrl + Alt‎ to drag a hollow box of structures.

The spacing between the individual buildings can be adjusted by pressing X or Z.

Surrounding an existing building

By holding ‎Ctrl + Shift‎ during placement, an existing building can be surrounded with the selected building. For example, a fragile and expensive Fusion Reactor can be surrounded by sturdy and cheap Solar Collectors by first building the Fusion Reactor, then selecting the Solar Collector from the build menu, holding down ‎Ctrl + Shift‎ and clicking on the Fusion Reactor.

Placing Nanoframes

Holding Q while placing structures will place only the framework (nanoframe), which will let the structure be completed later. This is often used when there are Caretakers nearby that can finish the construction on their own.

Metal Extractors

There is a specialized Area Mex Command to place Metal Extractors in an area and optionally surround them with power generators at the same time.