Un-packing

If you obtained the Vengeance Flight Assist device in un-packaged form it will be in a folder named Vengeance Flight Assist plus a version number, with a couple notecards and a texture. The device itself is named Flight Assist, plus a version number. The Vengeance Studio info center delivers the device in un-packaged form. You don't have to un-pack it.

If you obtained the device as a package, you must first un-pack it. SLExchange and OnRez deliver the packaged version. If you wear the package it appears as a box labeled Vengeance Flight Assist, attached to your hand. It will not function this way, and isn't very attractive. You must instead rez the package in-world by dragging it from your inventory to the ground, and then touch the package to open it. You'll then be given the option to copy the device to your inventory. Once you've done so you can delete the package that is rezzed in-world by right-clicking it and selecting "More" and then "Delete" from the pie menu. You'll still have a copy in your inventory, and you'll also have the un-packed version in a folder named Vengeance Flight Assist plus a version number.

Note that you can not un-pack the device, or any other package you buy, in a location where you do not have permission to rez items. You'll receive a pop-up dialog that says you can not create objects there. You must do this in a location where you are allowed to create objects. If you can think of no other place to try, go to a public sandbox. There is one near the Ahern welcome center.

Attachment

Before you use the Vengeance Flight Assist device it must be attached either to your Heads Up Display (HUD) or your avatar. It comes with the attachment point set for your HUD lower right. If you simply wear the device, this is where it will attach itself, replacing anything you might already have there. If you already have something attached to your HUD lower right, you can attach the device to another location, or to your avatar.

What is a HUD?

Your Heads Up Display is essentially your screen. Second Life allows you to attach objects there, much the same way it allows you to attach objects to your avatar. Just like avatar attachments, HUD attachments can look like anything. Perhaps you've purchased a vehicle that has a speedometer or altimeter that looks like it became part of your Second Life screen, or perhaps you remember the testing display that attached to the upper left corner of your screen during orientation when you first joined Second Life. Those controls are HUD controls.

Some HUD controls hide themselves. That is, after you attach them you don't see anything. The Vengeance Flight Assist device hides itself when attached to your HUD because there are normally no controls you need to see. If you attach it to one of the lower HUD locations, however, it will show you your current speed when you are flying. When you aren't flying you will not see the device.

To attach the device to its default HUD location, simply wear it. Locate it in your inventory and either drag it to your avatar or right-click it and select "Wear" from the popup menu. It will attach to your HUD's lower-right corner.

To attach the device to a different HUD location, locate it in your inventory, right-click it, select the "Attach to HUD" submenu, and select an attachment location from the HUD submenu. It is intended to be attached to one of the bottom HUD locations. If you attach it to one of the top locations you will not see the speed readout, but it will otherwise work properly. If you attach it to the center it will appear as a pink square in the middle of your screen. It is not intended to be attached to the HUD center.

If you rez the Vengeance Flight Assist device in-world (by dragging it to the ground) it will appear as a small, pink cube. It will not function while rezzed on the ground.

Though the device is intended to attach to your HUD, it will work properly while attached to your avatar. You will not see a speed readout and you may have to hide it by burying it in your avatar, incorporating it into another attachment, reducing its size, or making it invisible.

Once you've attached the Vengeance Flight Assist device, either to your HUD or your avatar, your inventory will show where you've attached it. Locate the device in your inventory and you will see that the location appears next to the device's name, e.g.

• Flight Assist v01.06 (worn on bottom right)

If you lose track of where the device is attached, which is easy to do because it is small and hides itself on your HUD, look for it in your inventory to find its worn location. An easy way to find all the items you are wearing is to type "worn" (without quotes) into the search box at the top of your inventory dialog. To return the inventory list to showing all items, delete the word "worn" from the search box.

Another visual clue that it has been attached is the "Release Keys" button that appears at the bottom of your Second Life viewer screen. This button tells you that a device has taken over your movement controls. While you are landed, the flight assist does not interfere with normal avatar movement, though this button is still present. If you press the button, the device detaches itself from your HUD or your avatar. Another way to detach the device is to locate it in your inventory, right click it and select "Detach from Yourself" from the popup menu.

Note that if you wear two or more flight assist devices you may get unpredictable results. It may be best to detach other flight devices before using this one.

Also note that when you drag a folder full of clothing and attachments on top of your avatar, those items replace the clothing and attachments you are currently wearing, including the flight assist device. If the folder does not contain a flight assist device, you will no longer have one attached. If on the other hand the folder does contain a flight assist device, it will replace the one you have attached. You can copy the flight assist device into multiple folders by right-clicking it in your inventory and selecting "Copy" from the popup menu, then right-click the destination folder and select "Paste" from the popup menu.

You can also replace all your clothing and attachments with those in a folder by right-clicking the folder and selecting "Replace Outfit" from the popup menu. Alternatively, you can instead add the items by selecting "Add to Outfit" from the popup menu, and that won't cause already worn attachments to be detached, unless the folder contains replacements.

Language Selection

The first time you use the flight assist you will be asked for your prefered language. You have a choice of English, Japanese or German. Menus and other text will be presented in the language you select. You can later change your preference by invoking the menu and pressing the Language button. Invoke the menu by typing the following into open chat:

• /31 menu

Startup

When you first attach the Vengeance Flight Assist device, and when you sign into Second Life with it already attached, it will give you a status report in text chat, which will look something like this:

• [16:44] Flight Assist v01.06: Vengeance Flight Assist is ON
• [16:44] Flight Assist v01.06: Flight Assist device is attached to your HUD (38)
• [16:44] Flight Assist v01.06: Speed Boost enabled, level 3.000000
• [16:44] Flight Assist v01.06: Momentum Arrest disabled
• [16:44] Flight Assist v01.06: type '/31 menu' (without quotes) for flight assist menu or '/31 help' for command summary

You communicate with the device through text chat. You can issue commands, described later, by typing into the text chat box, and it will respond in text chat. Only you will see its text responses. The status message you get when you attach the device tells you where it is attached and which features have been enabled. See the section of this page titled "Commands" to learn how to enable and disable features using chat commands.

New to version 1.06 is an interactive menu. Once invoked you can enable and disable features, view the web document and check for updates using the menu, but you must invoke the menu using a chat command: '/31 menu'.

Flying

For the most part, flying with flight assist works just like flying without. You start flying by pressing the Fly button at the bottom of your screen, by pressing the f-key or Home key on your keyboard, or by holding the Page Up key, and you stop flying by pressing the Stop Flying button, the f-key or the Home key, or by holding the Page Down key until you have landed. You move while in flight using the w, s, a and d keys or the arrow keys, and the Page Up and Page Down keys. While flying, if you release the flight control keys you will hover. As is always the case, none of the movement keys move your avatar while you are working with the inventory dialog, or search, or chat, or any other dialog.

If you have the flight assist device attached to one of the lower positions on your HUD (bottom, bottom left, bottom right) you will see a display of your current speed in meters per second while you are moving. This appears as a small, red number on your screen. The displayed speed is only an approximation, and will not display speed above 250 m/s. Nothing at all will display while you are not flying and while you are hovering.

Note that the speed boost increases at higher altitudes, so you will fly faster at higher altitudes.