The vehicle you control in the world of Avara is a Hostile Environment Combat and Transport Operations Remote unit, affectionately known as the H.E.C.T.O.R. The HECTOR stands two meters high and is equipped with an array of weapons, a scout, and a video camera so that you can see things from the scout’s point of view.
HECTORs come in three hull types, Light, Medium, and Heavy. A heavier hull is better shielded and can carry more weapons, but it moves more slowly and can not jump as high. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and some missions or playing styles may favor a particular configuration. You can change the hull type and weapon configuration of your HECTOR before you load each mission.
Your HECTOR is protected by shields. If you are hit by an opponent’s fire, your shields will be depleted. If the strength of your shields is reduced to zero, your HECTOR is destroyed. Damaged shields can be recharged and the HECTOR does this automatically, but recharging takes time, so it is wise to keep track of your shields!
The HECTOR carries a store of energy that it uses to power your plasma cannons and to recharge your shields. The rate at which your shields and cannons are recharged depends on how much energy you have in your store. The HECTOR can generate energy to replace what it uses, but it does this slowly. Conserving energy is an important part of playing Avara well.
Movement
The HECTOR moves a bit like an ostrich. It can walk forward or backward, turn in place, turn while walking, crouch down, and jump. The head, or “pod”, moves independently of the rest of the HECTOR and can swivel left, right, up, or down.
Use the “Forward”, “Reverse”, “Left”, and “Right”, keys to walk around. Holding down the Jump key will cause your HECTOR to crouch, and to jump up when the key is released. The “Vertical Motion” key lets you raise or lower the stance of your HECTOR. Moving the mouse while holding this key down allows you to change the height at which your HECTOR stands. When you release the “Vertical Motion” key, your HECTOR stays at the height you set. Keep in mind that, as HECTORs go, lower is slower. It’s hard to walk when crouched down!
Movement of the head is always controlled with the mouse. You can turn the head to look up, down, left or right. To either side, the head can turn approximately 100 degrees from center. Vertically, the head can move about 60 degrees from center. When you move the mouse, your head will move and your view will change in the Game window. The free movement of the head means that the direction you are looking isn’t always the direction you are facing. The black “V” on your display is used to indicate where “forward” is, and this is the direction you will move when you walk forward.
Your View from the HECTOR
Controlling what you see is a critical part of Avara. In addition to using the mouse, you also have keyboard controls that allow you to glance left or right, to zoom in on a distant object, or to aim forward.
With the “Glance Left” and “Glance Right” keys you can make the camera in the pod of your HECTOR swing to the left or right without moving the mouse. As long as the key is held down, the camera stays turned to the side. When you release the key, the camera swings back to its normal position in the pod.
You are also able to zoom your view in and out by using the “Zoom In” and “Zoom Out” keys. This allows you to inspect objects that are far away. While you are zoomed in, your view will be very sensitive to mouse movements.
If you become disoriented and lose your sense of which way is forward, use the “Aim Forward” key. This will bring the head of your HECTOR back to its natural center.
The “View Range” key allows you to control how Avara handles the viewing of distant objects. On a slower Macintosh, it may help to have Avara not draw objects that are very far away. The “View Range” key will toggle Avara between Short View range and Long View range. In Short View range, distant objects are “clipped” from your view. Avara sends a message to the console of your Instrument window when you change your View Range.
The Scout
Your HECTOR comes equipped with a scout. The scout has a camera mounted in it and can serve as your “eye in the sky” as you check out the lay of the land.
When you start a mission, the scout is tucked away in your HECTOR. The “Scout Control” key is used to release or recall your Scout. When your scout is released, it hovers behind you. As you move, the scout will follow. You can use the “Scout View” key to switch between your view from the HECTOR and the scout view.
For more information on the scout, see Chapter 8, Denizens of Avara.
Weaponry
Your HECTOR is armed with plasma cannons, guided missiles, grenades, and energy boosters. There is a limit to how much each hull type can carry, and some missions may limit your weapon load. Keep in mind that carrying more weapons means increasing the total weight of your HECTOR. A lighter HECTOR can move faster and jump higher, so be sure to arm your HECTOR efficiently.
Your current stock of weapons is displayed in the Instrument window, with each band of blue representing one missile, one booster, or two grenades.
 
Some missions have weapon “power-ups” in them that allow you to replenish the store of weapons in your HECTOR.
Plasma Cannons
Two plasma cannons come standard with your HECTOR. They are fixed to the pod of your HECTOR and are aimed by moving the head. The green brackets on your display show you the aiming points of your cannons. Your plasma cannons are fired by pressing the mouse button or by using the “Fire Weapon” key on the keyboard.
When you fire your plasma cannons, their charge is depleted. Your HECTOR uses its energy store to recharge them, and there is a minimum charge necessary before they will fire again. Keep in mind that the damage a plasma blast will do is related to the charge on the weapon when it is fired. You can use the Instrument window to keep track of the charge on your plasma cannons.
Guided Missiles
There are three steps to using Guided Missiles: arming, aiming, and firing. When you press the “Arm Guided Missile” key, your HECTOR takes a missile from its store and mounts it in firing position. When a missile is mounted, your plasma cannon sight changes to a missile sight. To lock a missile onto a target, move the sight over the target. When a missile is locked on, a small red “X” will appear on the target. To fire the missile, press the mouse button or use the “Fire Weapon” key.
If you decide not to fire the missile, press the “Arm Guided Missile” key again and your HECTOR will unmount the missile and return it to your store.
Grenades
The process of firing a grenade is similar to that of the guided missile. When you press the “Arm Grenade” key, your HECTOR takes a grenade from its store and mounts it in firing position. When a grenade is mounted, your plasma cannon sight changes to a grenade sight. The sight indicates where the grenade will fall, so use the mouse to move the sight onto your target. To fire the grenade, press the mouse button or use the “Fire Weapon” key.
If you decide not to fire the grenade, press the “Arm Grenade” key again and your HECTOR will unmount the grenade and return it to your store.
For more information, see Chapter 12, Tips, Tactics, and Strategy.
Energy Boosters
Energy Boosters are very handy in a tough battle. A Booster will quickly recharge your energy, shields and plasma cannons. Although your HECTOR recharges your shields and cannons automatically, you may find yourself in a position where you need them recharged quickly. In these situations, pressing the “Energy Boost” key will put your HECTOR back in top fighting form.
