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Welcome to Space Station 13! This is a 2D game that takes place on a space station. It looks very basic, but the game is very complex. Almost every mob is player controlled! There are many different servers with their own style of playing. I hope this guide helps you learn how to play this amazing game!

For this guide, we'll be focusing on how to play CM-SS13, a SS13 server that was inspired by the "Aliens" film and that forked from the "Baystation 12" codebase, which is also an SS13 server. This guide (as well as a few roles) may also apply to other servers, so keep in mind that not every server is the same as CM-SS13! Don't apply your usual Security moves in other SS13 servers as opposed to this one.

CM-SS13 is a fan-based server that, while it is inspired by the Alien franchise, it is NOT affiliated with 20th Century Fox, Disney Studios and/or its other companies in the production of other games or films.

Downloading BYOND

First things first, you'll need to download the BYOND Client in order to run the game. Head over to here and download the windows version of BYOND. Additionally, you're going to need a BYOND account as well.

Once you've downloaded the client and made an account. Open the BYOND client and enter your Login details. Once done you're all set to join a Space Station 13 server.

Getting Started

Rules

Every server has their own set of Rules. You MUST read all of the server rules before you start playing. If you don't, you're likely to get banned. Not reading the rules (just because "you know the rules" and whatnot) is NOT an excuse!

Setting up a character

At the start of your game, you'll be in the Lobby Menu. From there, you have four options to choose from. Click Setup Character to open the window for customizing your human character and setting your roles.

Name and Physical InformationOccupation ChoicesBackground InformationMarine GearUI CustomizationGame Settings

Option:	Function:
Name	Lets you change the name of your character. Many servers want your name to be realistic, but not based off something popular or something that is part of the game's lore, which includes this server. If you click (®) the name will be randomized. You may include a nickname in between your first name and last name. The usual naming format is "First Name 'Nickname' Last Name"
Always Pick Random Name	Lets you chose if your character's name will be randomized each round.
Always Pick Random Appearance	Lets you chose if your character's appearance will be randomized each round.
Physical Information	Lets you choose your character's age, gender, skin colour, eyesight and body type. If you click (®) the settings will be randomized.
Age	Lets you change the age of your character. This DOES NOT change the look of your character. It's just for roleplaying.
Gender	Lets you change your character's gender between male and female. A few audible emotes will be affected by this.
Ethnicity	Lets you change your body colour preselected from the options in it. By default, you'll start with the "Western" skin colour.
Body Type	Lets you change your character's body type - Underweight, Average or Overweight. Changes how your body looks.
Poor Eyesight	Lets you decide if your character requires glasses in order to see correctly or not. If you do, you'll spawn with a pair of Prescription Glasses.
Hair	Lets you change your hair type and colour. By default, you'll start with the "Crewcut" haircut.
Facial Hair	Lets you change your facial hair type and colour.
Eyes	Lets you change your eye colour.

Option:	Function:
Xeno prefix	Lets you change the first two letters of your xenomorph. The prefix and postfix can be anything as long as it is not offensive or explicit. If there are no prefixes inputted, it will be "XX". 1 or 2 letters max.
Xeno postfix	Lets you change the last letter and optional digit of your xenomorph. The prefix and postfix can be anything as long as it is not offensive or explicit. If there are no postfixes inputted, it will be blank. 1 letter max, with 1 digit optional. The positions of the letter and the digit cannot be changed.
Enable playtime perks	This will enable you to use your xenomorph name and when playing marine it will spawn you with the respective job playtime medals if set to yes.
Xeno sample name	Shows a sample name of your xenomorph using the completed prefix and/or postfix. The middle digits are randomly changed in each edit.
Be Xenomorph after unrevivably dead	You will roll xenomorph but only if you cannot be revived once you are dead (like decapitation, gibbed, etc).
Be Agent	Currently a defunct role that is not in the active gameplay loop. Can be safely ignored.
SEA grade path	Allows Senior Enlisted Advisor players (Mentors) to pick what grading path their SEA will have. The choices are Command or Technical.
Set Role Preferences	Allows you to pick what role you play when the round starts. You can pick to play as a marine by setting one of the marine jobs as High. It's recommended that you set squad marine has high for your first few rounds. or You can pick to play as a Xenomorph and reap terror onto the marines by setting Xenomorph to High. Whitelisted Roles can also be found here: Allows you to choose to be Synthetic survivor orSynthetic when the round starts. You must be whitelisted to play as a synthetic! Allows you to choose to be a predator when the round starts. You must be whitelisted to play as a predator!

Option:	Function:
Citizenship	Lets you change your character's citizenship e.g where you come from. This is only for roleplaying.
Religion	Lets you change your character's religion. This is only for roleplaying.
Corporate Relationship	Allows you to set your character's relationship to The Company. This is only for roleplaying.
Preferred Squad	Allows you to set your character's preferred squad (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta or None). This increases the chance of being spawned in that squad. Unless if you are a Squad Marine, then you'll always spawn as that squad.
Character Records	Allows you to edit your medical, employment, and security records. This is only for roleplaying.
Character Description	Lets you describe your character's physical description in a more in-depth form. This is shown to another player when they examine your character. You do, however, have a two-hundred-fifty-five (255) hidden character limit while making your description.

Option:	Function:
Marine Gear	Lets you choose your underwear, undershirt, backpack type and your custom loadout for your character.
Custom Loadout	Lets you pick items like berets and cigars to spawn with at the start of the round. You can only have 7 loadout points at maximum.

Option:	Function:
UI Customization	Changes the look of your in-game interface.
Custom UI	While not listed directly in the setup, this changes the color and transparency of the UI. White UI is recommended.

Option:	Function:
Play Admin Midis	If enabled you will hear sounds that admins play during the round, like music or round-related noises.
Play Lobby Music	If enabled you will hear the lobby music while you're in the lobby.
Ghost Ears	Lets you chose to see all the /say dialogue in the round or only sounds in sight while you're a ghost.
Ghost Sight	Lets you *chose to see all the certain emotes (Like Bob gasps!* or /me actions) in the round or only the /me actions in sight while you're a ghost**.
Ghost Radio	Lets you chose between hearing all the radio chatter or only the radio chatter of the people near you while you're a ghost.
Ghost Hivemind	Lets you chose between hearing all the Hivemind chatter or only the Hivemind chatter of the aliens near you while you're a ghost.
Toggle Being Able to Hurt Yourself	If enabled, it allows you to hurt yourself in non-help intent.
Toggle Help Intent Safety	If enabled, it disallows you to hurt anyone in help intent, like firing guns or attacking in melee.

Joining a Round

If a round hasn't started yet you can select "Ready Up" and you'll spawn in when the round starts.

If you join in the middle of the round and want to play as a marine you select "Join the USCM!" . When you select "Join the USCM!" you'll get a list of roles you can play. Select one, and you'll spawn in.

If you join in the middle of the round and want to play as an alien select "Join the Hive!" . When you select "Join the Hive!" you'll need to wait until a larva bursts for you to play.

If you want to spectate the entire round and learn the basics while you're not playing select "Observe". When you select "Observe" you'll receive a confirmation if you wanted to join as a ghost. You cannot respawn as a Marine once you spectate the round! You can respawn, however, as an alien or other characters that might be in this round. Keep in mind that the Metagaming rule applies when respawning as a character from a ghost.

In the Game

The Tabs

On the top right side of your screen, you will see the tabs for the game.

Descriptions of what each tab does can be found in the table below:

Name Of The Button:	What it does:
Text	Hides the tabs and shows the game's logs instead.
Info	Shows the tabs on the top right corner instead of the game logs.
Changelog	Opens the changelog. The red changelog indicates a changelog update, showing the new update of the game.
Rules	Opens the Rules page on the CM-SS13 wiki.
Wiki	Opens the CM-SS13 wiki in your internet browser.
Forum	Opens the CM-SS13 forum in your internet browser.
Submit Bug	A popup message appears saying "Please search for the bug first to make sure you aren't posting a duplicate." Clicking Ok opens the CM-SS13 Gitlab page in your internet browser.
Discord	Opens the CM-SS13 Discord invitation link in your internet browser.
Status	Shows the status of your character. Like mission time for Marines and Plasma amount for Aliens.
Lobby	Shows how many players are ready and how long until the round starts, as well as the current gamemode. (Note: You will only see the Lobby tab when you're in the lobby of the game.)
Admin	Allows you to access certain administration commands either administrating the server or for fun. (Note: You will only see the Admin tab if you have sufficient permission (such as being an Admin, etc) from the admins.)
Debug	Allows you to fixes various bugs when encountered in the game. (Note: You will only see the Debug tab if you have sufficient permission (such as being an Admin, etc) from the admins.)
Ghost	Allows you to do many things as a ghost. (Note: You will only see the Ghost tab if you used the ghost verb.)
Alien	Shows you what you can currently do as an Alien. (Note: You will only see the Alien tab if you're (obviously) currently playing as a Xenomorph.)
IC	Shows you what you can currently do "In Character".
OOC	Shows you what you can do "Out of Character". You can also become a ghost when you died. It also allows you to send an Adminhelp (shortened to ahelp) and see the online staff.
Object	Shows you what you can do to various objects around or on your character.
Preferences	Allows you to enable and disable many different preferences.
Weapon	Shows you what you can do to your current weapon (Such as switching firing modes). (Note: You will only see the Weapon tab if you currently have a weapon on your inventory.)

Marine Interface

This is the human interface in CM.

Green Highlighted AreaRed Highlighted AreaOrange Highlighted AreaPink Highlighted AreaPurple Highlighted AreaYellow Highlighted AreaCyan Highlighted Area

Interface:	Function:
	Toggle to open or close the clothes menu.
	This is the headgear slot, you place hats and helmets here to wear them. Helmets provide protection to your head and provide some storage slots.
	This is the eyewear slot, you place glasses, welding goggles and other optical gear here.
	This is the mask slot, you place gas masks, coifs and cigars here.
	This is the ear slot, you place radio headsets or earmuffs here. Keep your headset to listen to your Squad and locate the SL if you're lost.
	This is the jumpsuit slot, you place your marine, medical or engineering uniform here. You're going to need uniforms to wear armor and ensure you're safe and ready to serve the corps.
	This is the exosuit slot, you place marine armor, jackets and coats here. Armor is essential to surviving in the field.
	This is the hand wear slot, you place latex gloves, insulated gloves and squad gloves here.
	This is the foot wear slot, you place combat boots and business shoes here. Boots increases movement speed.
	This is the exosuit storage slot, you will commonly place weapons here to store them for while you are out of combat.
	This is the identification card slot, you place your Id (Identification card) here. Always keep your ID here.
	This is the belt slot, you place belts and rigs here.
	This is the back slot, you place backpacks, satchels and other weapons here. It is recommended that you hold a satchel at your back.

Interface:	Function:
	These are your character's hands, you use these to pick up items by clicking on them. Your active hand, will be highlighted this means anything you pick up will go to this hand. To switch hands either click on the other hand, use middle mouse button or press X if you have hotkey mode toggled on. While an item is in your active hand, you can use that item (Such as holding two hands for rifles) by either clicking the item in your active hand or by pressing Z while in hotkey mode. If you have a missing hand however, you're unable to use or pick up the item with that hand unless if you're able to get a robotic replacement.

Interface:	Function:
	These are your characters pockets, you use these to store tiny items or pouches on your character.

Interface:	Function:
	This is the toggle rail flashlight button, when pressed it will toggle the rail light on your gun if you have one attached. In addition, when pressed it will also toggle scopes if attached to the gun.
	This is the use unique action button, you can use this to pump a shotgun or clear a round in the chamber of your rifle or to light the flamethrower so that it can be used.
	This is the eject magazine button, you eject the magazine or shell in the gun you are holding in your active hand if you press it. Alternatively, use the active empty hand to the gun to unload the magazine.
	This is the activate weapon attachment button, once clicked it will toggle any underbarrel attachment on the gun in your active hand (If applicable). This is also how you switch to reloading the attachment, remember to switch back to normal ammo after reloading attachment.
	This is the toggle burst fire button, once clicked it will toggle burst fire on the gun in your current active hand (If applicable).

Interface:	Function:
	This is the intent wheel, there are 4 types of intents colored in each square. You can cycle through these intents using 1-4 with hotkey mode toggled on. The green square in the top left is Help intent, helping marines either with by pulling out the flames of another human character or an encouraging hug. You can walk through other characters with Help intent on, exchanging your character's position to another character's position, but once you're in an intent other than Help, you'll push and block other character's movement. This is important during a fight. Read this for more details. The blue square to the right is Disarm intent, disarming and shoving other human characters. The yellow square below disarm intent is the Grab intent, grabbing another character (Which is the same as pulling). The red intent is Harm intent, punching other characters and allows you to fire point blank.
	This is the aiming target, which allows you to click on different parts of the body to aim for. You can use the numpad to quickly switch between parts. If you're a Combat Marine, aim at the chest for minimal friendly fire. If you're treating a wound, aim at the wounded part and click at your character.
	This is the resist button, press this when you are on fire to stop, drop and roll or if you in a nest you can press it to start breaking out. You can set a Macro as a hotkey for this action.
	This is the drop button, once clicked it will drop any item or stop pulling in your active hand. Alternatively, you can press Q to drop an active item or stop pulling a character with hotkey mode on.
	This is the throw button, press this when you want to throw what's in your active hand. To throw just click the throw button then click on a tile. You can also catch things if you have throw toggled on. You can also press R to toggle throwing on/off in hotkey mode. Grenades (once primed) or flares (once lit) will automatically allow you to throw, so just prime and click to a location to throw.
	This is the toggle firing mode button, press this and you'll toggle between normal firing and aimed firing. Aimed firing means if you click on someone you'll aim at them instead of firing, this then pops up with more options where you can allow them to pickup items and move about. If you are taking prisoners as a CLF/UPP, the firing mode may help you.

Interface:	Function:
	This is the squad leader locator, the arrow points to where the squad leader is so you can always stay with them. The Squad Leader locator locates ever 10 seconds, so don't complain where is your SL at when you're gone.
	This is the internals button, when pressed it will toggle the between the use of internals, aka on or off. To use internals hold an oxygen tank and then equip a mask, after this toggle internals on. You're not going to use this a lot, except when you are a Medical Doctor.
	This is the the icon that shows the state of your characters health, from green with a 100% bar indicates healthy status, which is full health to crit indicates critical status, that being, almost dead. If you get to Crit, fall back and go to a medic immediately.
	This is the hunger meter for your character, it will display how hungry you are by the colour. If you're full it'll disappear, if you're hungry it will be coloured orange and grey if you ate too much. You'll start to lose movement speed once you get hungry, so try to eat some food before heading down.

Interface:	What it does:
	This section is for toggle state buttons, when pressed they will toggle the state of the item they are depicting, for example the armor box when clicked will toggle the armor light on or off.

Alien Interface

This is the alien interface.

Figure 1Figure 2Figure 3Figure 4Figure 5Figure 6Figure 7, 8 and 9Pheromones

Interface:	Function:
	These are your xenomorph hands; you use these to grab people by pulling or grabbing them (via Grab intent) or pick up facehuggers by clicking on them. To switch hands either click on the other hand, use the middle mouse button or press X if you have hotkeys toggled on. Remember, switch hands while your active hand is occupied (via Facehugger or pulling).

Interface:	Function:
	This is the resist button, to use the resist button click on it. The uses of the resist button for xenos is limited to putting yourself out when set ablaze, if the flames do not go out keep resisting to stop drop and roll to extinguish the flames.

Interface:	Function:
	This is the hunt/stalk button, when pressed it will toggle between Hunt (Which is running mode) and Stalk (Which makes your xenomorph walk). However, when Lurkers are in Stalk mode it makes them partially invisible. Always keep it at Hunt mode unless if you're playing as the Lurker.
	This is the intent wheel. Like the Human interface, the Xenomorph interface contains the same 4 intents, but with different actions. Note that you can use hotkeys to cycle through intents by pressing 1 - 4. Disarming other Xenomorphs does not help put them out if they've been set on fire. The green intent is Help which allows you to help other Xenomorphs get up faster after being stunned as well as that it enables you to help extinguish any Xenomorph sister that has been set on fire. Like the Marines, other Xenomorphs in Help intent can walk through other Xenomorphs with Help intent, exchanging positions. However, if your intent is anything other than help, you'll be able to push other Xenomorphs out of your way. 'Bodyblocking' other Xenomorphs (pushing Xenomorphs to dangers such as marine gunfire while the aforementioned is getting out of danger) is frowned upon and usually against the rules. Big Xenomorphs as well as all Tier 3 Xenomorphs will always push and bodyblock other Xenomorphs regardless of intent. Blue intent is Disarm and when this is active you'll attempt to tackle any mob you click on. This intent does not affect xenomorphs with the exception of the Queen. Yellow intent is Grab, this allows you to grab mobs and move them (Which takes up your current hand, similar to pull). Red intent is Harm, when active you'll slash any mob or object you click on (With a few exceptions).
	This is the aiming target, which allows you to click on different parts of the body to aim for when you attack something/someone.
	This is the drop button, once clicked it will stop pulling the mob your Xenomorph grabbed on or drop the facehugger in your active hand. You can also press Q to drop something or stop pulling when you have hotkey mode toggled on.
	This is the throw button, press this when you want to throw what's in your active hand. To throw just click the throw button then click on a tile. Note that the Xenomorph throw distance is about 1-2 tiles, unless you're a Carrier in which case they have an ability to launch huggers vast distances using shift-click or middle mouse button.
	Appears when you are pulling, click to stop pulling.

Interface:	Function:
	This is the plasma meter, it shows how much plasma you have left in a visual form, aka if the meter is full of blue your plasma is full. To get a more accurate reading of how much plasma you have go to the status tab and it'll be displayed there. Fall back and stay in weeds when you're out of plasma.
	This is the queen locator, normally there is an arrow pointing to which way the queen is so you can always help her, when she is in need. When the Queen dies or isn't in-game there won't be an arrow there due to there being no queen. Note that when you are playing as the queen an arrow will not appear like in Figure 4.
	This is your health meter, the green acid blood empties as you take damage, note that currently the xeno players health is full. Retreat to weeds and rest on them to regain lost health.
	Clicking this will toggle on and off your ability to see in the dark as a xenomorph, useful when looking for light sources from marines or survivors.

Note all of these are xeno abilities of which are detailed on each xenomorph castes page.

Interface:	Function:
Regurgitate	To devour, grab a host with Ctrl + Click or `Grab` intent (3 in hotkey mode) then click yourself, standstill. To stop the host from getting up and running away, you can switch to an empty hand (X in hotkey mode) and keep tackling them using `Disarm` intent (2 in hotkey mode) when you are devouring them. Xenos with devoured humans inside them can not vent crawl but Xenos with devoured monkeys can. Hosts with boot knives can injure the Xenomorph they are inside if they are conscious. (Edit this template)
Grow Ovipositor	Grows an ovipositor from which the queen begins to passively create eggs from. Costs 700 plasma.
Screech	A wide area of effect stun, screeches upon activation. Costs 250 plasma.
Emit Pheromones	Emit one of the three Pheromones. It is advised to emit the pheromone that are not already being emitted, as pheromones don't stack. Costs 30 plasma to emit and then drains plasma while active.

Interface:	Function:
Plasma and Health Indicator	Visual indicator of the level of plasma and health a xeno has.

Interface:	Function:
Mature Xeno Icon	Visual indicator that the xeno is at the mature level in the upgrade system.
Elder Xeno Icon	Visual indicator that the xeno is at the elder level in the upgrade system.
Ancient Xeno Icon	Visual indicator that the xeno is at the ancient level in the upgrade system.

See Pheromones for the details.

Interface:	Function:
Frenzy Pheromone	Increases movement speed and damage from slashes.
Warding Pheromone	Grants a reduction in armor taking damage, can also slow and even prevent crit bleedout for Xenos. Additionally provides a small health boost to critically wounded xenomorphs. Potent enough warding pheromones will completely negate bleed out and improve damage reduction to armor..
Recovery Pheromone	Increases health regeneration, increases plasma regeneration on weeds, reduces stun times of affected Xenomorphs.
Examples	The yellow glow around the Recovery pheromone symbol means that Xenomorph is the one emitting the pheromone.

How To Play

Movement- You move your character around with the ARROW KEYS. Alternately if you press the tab key you can enable hot keys which allows you to run with WASD.

Interacting with People and Objects- The game mostly involves using the mouse. You can pick up objects by clicking on them, and they'll go into your active hand. To set them down, find a table to set them on or use the drop button on your HUD. You can also throw objects using the throw button on your HUD. You can grab people and certain objects with your grab intent. You can also hurt people using your harm intent. Advanced interactions can be found on the FAQ page.

Communication

F3 or T to talk

Use F3, T (in hotkey mode), or the chat box at the bottom of the screen (you need to type Say before your message if you use the chat box at the bottom).

To contact Marines or Aliens over a long distance you can use a radio/hivemind. Here is a list of radio keys:

Channel:	Key(s):
Command	:v
Military Police	:p
Requisitions	:u
Medical	:m
Engineering	:n
Your squad's channel or Common channel Alien hivemind The Queen and designated Alien Leaders have larger text when they communicate through the hivemind.	;
Alpha Squad (command headset)	:a
Bravo Squad (command headset)	:b
Charlie Squad (command headset)	:c
Delta Squad (command headset)	:d
Responder channel (Both Friendly and Hostile) Department channel (based on headset)	:h
Intel	:t
JTAC	:j
Hellhound hivemind	:

Hotkeys

To toggle hotkey mode on/off press the Tab button. Below is a list of hotkeys which can make your everyday round of SS13 that much easier. You can also make your own key bindings and one-click multi-functions for in-game actions with Macros. It is highly recommended that users new to SS13 use keybindings rather then macros.

Hotkey List:

This section means that these key commands can be only be used with hotkey mode toggled on.

What it does:

Hotkey:

Forward

W

Left

A

Backwards

S

Right

D

Drops the item in your active hand.

Q

Quick equips the item in your active hand.

More Detail:

Quickly equipping any held item will send it to any worn (not held) container capable of containing it, in order of most to least specialized, prioritizing belts and holsters over pouches. Backpacks are last on the list. Note that weapons will only ever quick-equip to places only requiring one click to take them out again. Additionally it will Holster/Unholster a weapon and place it in your active hand.

E

Toggles Throw so when you next click on a tile, you'll throw the item in your active hand there.

R

Bring up the Say" Chatbox

T

Swap Hands

X

Activate Held Object (Toggle weapon wielding with both hands)

Z/Y

Help Intent

1

Disarm Intent

2

Grab Intent

3

Harm Intent

4

Toggle Move Intent (Run/Walk)

5

Any Mode:

This section means that these key commands can be used even with hotkey mode toggled off.

What it does:	Hotkey:
Face North	Ctrl + W
Face East	Ctrl + D
Face South	Ctrl + S
Face West	Ctrl + A
Drops the item in your active hand.	Ctrl + Q
Toggles Throw so when you next click on a tile, you'll throw the item in your active hand there.	Ctrl + R
Swap Hands	Ctrl + X
Activate Held Object	Ctrl + Z or Ctrl +Y
Help Intent	Ctrl + 1
Disarm Intent	Ctrl + 2
Grab Intent	Ctrl + 3
Harm Intent	Ctrl + 4
Toggle Move Intent (Run/Walk)	Ctrl + 5
Pull	Delete
Cycle Intents Right	Insert
Drop item in your active hand.	Home
Swap Hands	Page Up
Activate Held Object	Page Down
Throw item in your active hand.	End
Adminhelp Chatbox Popup	F1
OOC Chatbox Popup	F2
Say" Chatbox Popup	F3
Me" Chatbox Popup	F4
Toggle Hud On/Off	F12
Quick Pull	Ctrl + Click
Quick Examine	Shift + Click
Point To	Shift + Middle Click
Tactical Binoculars: Designate Laser Target	Ctrl + Middle Click
Swap Hands (Only if you don't have certain items in your active hand, or have shift click functions enabled as an alien)	Middle Click
Alien abilities (Only If you have shift click functions enabled as an alien.)	Shift + Click

(Edit this template)

Keybinds

Keybinds are an editable set of keybindings (like any modern game) where you can change certain keys for certain commands. Know that the difference between macros and keybinds is that keybindings have a set command (For example "Toggle Weapon Safety" is a command and it's deafult keybinding is Shift+V) to edit the key (you cannot enter your own command), compared to macros where you enter the command and the key yourself.

You can press Clear to clear the keys in the input section.

An example is the input key for the command: select help intent is 1 which can be cleared and changed to what you would like.

The plus symbol when clicked will turn green, when it does the next key you press will be used as the input key.

More Information

There are more guides to help you start your first few rounds in CM-SS13.

The Marine Quickstart Guide and the Xeno Quickstart Guide are very helpful.

List of other guides