UI Setup

	"UI Setup" is a work in progress.
	The information below may be incomplete and/or inaccurate!

The Shadowbane user interface is highly customizable. Every element of it may be moved, tweaked, or destroyed. There are even a bunch of supplementary windows you can add from the menu. The whole UI can be as basic or as complex as you like.

The Basics

Before you begin moving things to your liking, there is a setting you'll want to modify first. It's called Snap-To Grid, and it will keep everything lined up nicely.

• Enable the Snap-to-Grid: Press "Escape", click "Settings", click "Preferences". Move the Snap-To Grid slider at the bottom to adjust the size of the grid. A few pixels to from the left should be enough for most people.
• Move a UI Element: Shift + Click and drag
• Tweak a UI Element: Ctrl + Click
  • Adjust transparency, key binds, or delete with the menu that appears.

Alternative Windows

In this section, you will explore two menu options: Windows and Character Info. Each has togglable extra or replacement windows for you to use.

Windows

Access the Windows menu from the default game menu (Escape).

The Windows menu contains the following options:

• Minimize All: Hide your entire UI. This is very useful for when you want to take screenshots (Ctrl+PrtScr).
• Hot Bar*: The Hot Bar is a table with 12 slots for powers for a quick way to switch your function key bindings
• Quick Keys*: Houses some often used game functions in button form. This guide recommends not using it.
• Status Bar: A compact status indicator with useful buttons. The bars may be dragged onto the UI. Very useful!
• Chat Window*: You may open as many chat windows as you wish. For more on chat customization, visit Chat Filter.
• Local Map*: Have this open always to keep oriented and to move your character over longer distances.
• World Map: Bound to the M key by default.
• Selection*: This window displays your target's name, rank, health, and guild affiliation.
• Selection (Small): A smaller version of the above.
• Health Border*: Stylized health indicator with some extra buttons. This guide recommends not using it.
• Mana Border*: Stylized mana indicator with some extra buttons. This guide recommends not using it.
• Load Layout: When you save your layout, you may re-load it on other characters to save time.

(* open by default)

Dragging Minor Elements

Many windows will allow you to drag smaller elements out to become independant items. Try this with buttons, power cameos, status bars, and even things like emotes.

Keybinding

Keybinding means using hotkeys to accomplish this instead of moving your mouse to click. Tedious as it may sound, this can be your greatest area for improvment if you are a "clicker".

Why Keybind?

Moving your mouse to click things takes longer than hitting a button on your keyboard. The average character has 15+ abilities, not counting targeting. It may seem like a negligible amount of time to locate and click an ability, but Shadowbane is a very fast-paced game where seconds, or even miliseconds could cost you a fight. Having things at your fingertips when you need them will give you an edge, and make your playing expierene that much better.

What to Keybind

Eventually, you will want every ability you need for fighting bound.

If you are brand new to this play style or are in the process of re-learning, just begin with a few important abilities first. Give priority to time-sensitive abilities such as heals or dispells. After you master those, expand outward. Utilize your shift, control, and alt key modifiers to conserve valuable keyboard space.

Default Keybinds

Before you even begin, the game has bound some of your keys for you.

Shadowbane Guides
The Basics Getting Started | Character Creation | UI Setup | Vocabulary | Troubleshooting Leveling Newbie Isle (Levels 1-35) | 30 to 40 | 40 to 50 | 50 to 60 | 60 to 75 Advanced Game Guides | Character Builds | Do Not Train These Spells