[14-4] Actions

Learn how to master Quake's actions! This guide breaks down movement, attack, and special commands to give you the edge in single-player and multiplayer.

Alright, let's talk about how you actually *do* things in Quake. You can bind these commands to your keys, alias them in config files, or even type them directly into the console. Just remember, if you type a + action into the console, your character will keep doing it until you tell them to stop. Using a - before an action tells Quake to stop that action. Quake usually handles the - part automatically when you let go of a key bound to a + action, but it's good to know how it works!

For example, if you wanted to make a quick attack alias that only fires once, you'd set it up like this:

alias conserve_ammo "+attack;wait;-attack"

This tells Quake to start attacking, wait a moment, and then stop. Without that wait;-attack, your character would just keep attacking non-stop!

Here's a rundown of the most common actions you'll be using:

• +attack — This is your primary attack command. Hold it down to keep firing!
• +back — Move backward. Simple enough, right?
• +forward — Move forward. Your main way of getting around.
• +jump — Get some air! Essential for platforming and dodging.
• +klook — This one's a bit different. It swaps your forward/backward keys to control looking up/down instead of moving forward/back. Handy if you're messing with keyboard view controls.
• +left — Turn left.
• +lookdown — Aim your view downwards.
• +lookup — Aim your view upwards.
• +mlook — This switches control so your mouse handles your view, not your movement. The default for most players!
• +movedown — If you're flying around in noclip mode or something similar, this makes you float downwards.
• +moveleft — Strafe left. This means you move sideways without turning.
• +moveright — Strafe right. Move sideways to the right without turning.
• +right — Turn right.
• +showscores — In multiplayer matches, this brings up the scoreboard. In single-player or co-op, it shows your current progress: monsters killed, items found, secrets discovered, and your time.
• +speed — Double your movement speed! Hold this down to run everywhere.
• +strafe — When this is active, your +left and +right commands will make you strafe (move sideways) instead of turning. Great for dodging!
• +use — This is a bit of a mystery in the source text, but generally, it's used to interact with objects in the game world, like buttons or switches.