How-To-Use
SpellCaster was designed to be very easy-to-use. The first question is: Where do you want to improve the game? Dow you want to control your spaceship? Do you play an action-adventure where you want to use your items or spells with SpellCaster? Do you play an RTS and want to focus on the strategic part? This sections provides you with examples how to use SpellCaster. We start with the simplest setup and go into detail later using the connection dialog. Don't worry: it will take only a couple of minutes to learn the tools.
Example 1: An action adventure where you can activate all spells with a single key on your keyboard.
Task: You want to trigger the two spells heal and push and activate your robot TX-1 with your voice.
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'heal' and name it heal.
Note: The name is not necessarily what you said. Remember that SpellCaster doesn't know any words or languages. The name is only for you, the user.
Step 2: Which key on your keyboard triggers the heal-spell? In this case it is the Q key. Simply add a key command by pressing Q and name it 'heal'.
Congratulations! You have set up your first working command. Since you used the same name for your sound- and key command they got connected automatically.
Repeat step 1 and 2 for your push spell.
If you don't use the same name for your sound- and key command you have to add a connection:
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'TX-1' and name it 'TX-1'.
Step 2: Which key on your keyboard activates the robot? In this case it is the R key. Add a key command by pressing R and name it 'activate robot'.
Step 3: Add a connection that connects your sound command 'TX-1' with your key command 'activate robot' by simply double clicking on the commands in the connection dialog.
Now you are finished with your setup. Press the 'Start' button. The training takes a couple of seconds. Afterwards you can use SpellCaster in your action-adventure game.
Example 2: Communication with the computer of your spaceship
Task: You want to activate the warp drive by saying 'Computer: activate warp drive'
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'computer'.
Step 2: Add a sound command where you say 'activate'.
Step 3: Add a sound command where you say 'warp drive'.
Step 4: Add a key command to select the engine menu and call it 'engine menu'.
Step 5: Add a key command to select the warp drive and call it 'warp drive'
Step 6: Add a connection that connects the sound commands 'computer', 'activate' and 'warp drive' with your key commands 'engine menu' and 'warp drive'.
Congratulations! You have connected multiple sound commands with multiple key commands. You can repeat that for every communication with your spaceship.
Example 3: An action adventure where you have to cycle through your spells and items to activate them.
Task: You want to trigger a storm and use the healing item with your voice. To activate the storm you have to change your weapon. To use the item you have to cycle to the healing item.
It is best practice to have a default setup in your game. That means that you have a default spell, item etc. SpellCaster should return to this default setup every time.
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'storm'.
Step 2: Add a key command to change the weapon and name it 'change weapon'.
Step 3: Add a key command to use the weapon (trigger the selected spell) and name it 'use weapon'
Step 4: Add a connection that connects the sound command 'storm' with the key commands 'change weapon', 'use weapon' and 'change weapon' again. Since there are always downtimes in games (time windows where no inputs are registered), add waiting times between the key commands. Use the button 'Test in Game' to adjust the waiting times properly.
Congratulations! You have set your first working complex command. To use the healing item you have to perform the following steps:
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'heal'.
Step 2: Add a key command to change the item and name it 'change item'.
Step 3: Add a key command to use the item and name it 'use item'
Step 4: Add a connection that connects the sound command 'heal' with the key commands 'change item', 'use item' and 'change item' again. Since there are always downtimes in games add waiting times between the key commands. Use the button 'Test in game' to adjust the waiting times properly.
Example 4: Hold and release buttons
Task: Moving forward by saying 'go'. Stopping the movement when you say 'stop'.
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'go'.
Step 2: Open the dialog for adding a key command. Click the 'Hold and Repeat' button.
Step 3: Select the type 'Hold'.
Step 4: Name it 'go'.
Step 5: Press the 'Record' key.
Step 6: Press the W key on your keyboard.
Step 7: Press the OK button.
Congratulations! You set up an infinite key command that holds the key W, for moving forward.
Now you have to add a key command that releases the W button:
Step 1: Add a sound command where you say 'stop'.
Step 2: Open the dialog for adding a key command. Click the 'Hold and Repeat' button.
Step 3: Select the type 'Release'.
Step 4: Name it 'stop'.
Step 5: Select the key command that should be released. In this case all key commands should be stopped when you say 'stop'. Select 'All Key Commands' from the list.
Step 6: Press the OK button.
Congratulations! Your are now able to hold the key W and release it with your voice.