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Holdfast: Nations at War is a competitive multiplayer game, set in the Napoleonic War era. Here you will be introduced to a few game modes and maps the game has to offer.
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Beginner’s Guide • Gameplay}}
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{{ContentTemplateModernInline
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| welcome          = [[File:Forum Logo.png|link=|left|alt=Beginners Guide]]
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| blurb            = A technical manual for new recruits. Master the cross-platform controls, class roles, and directional combat mechanics of the Napoleonic and Great War eras.
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| sections_title  = On this page
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| sections_content =
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* [[#Game Types|Game Types]]
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** [[#Game Eras|Game Eras]]
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* [[#Universal Controls|Universal Controls]]
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* [[#Class System|Class System]]
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** [[#Command|Command]]
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** [[#Rank & File|Rank & File]]
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** [[#Skirmisher|Skirmisher]]
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** [[#Support|Support]]
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* [[#Combat Mechanics|Combat Mechanics]]
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** [[#Aiming & Ballistics|Aiming & Ballistics]]
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** [[#Melee System|Melee System]]
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* [[#Naval Operations|Naval Operations]]
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** [[#Damage & Repair|Damage & Repair]]
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* [[#Pro Tips|Pro Tips]]
  
==Game Modes==
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| featured_title  = Beginner’s Guide • Gameplay
===Army Battlefield===
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| featured_content =
  
Army Battlefield is a Team Deathmatch. Players can select between two different nations and fight to the death. You can win by either having more kills as a team or have the enemy team run out of respawn tickets and subsequently killing all remaining enemies.
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== Game Types ==
===Army Siege===
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Holdfast, features two distinct historical theaters. While the core movement remains the same, weapon handling varies significantly:
  
Army Siege is attackers vs defenders style game mode. It adds in capture points that start off captured by the defending team. You can win by either waiting for the round timer to end while holding at least one capture point as the defenders or capturing all the capture points as the attackers.
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=== Nations At War ===
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The original Napoleonic-era setting for Holdfast. Players fight as 18th–19th century armies and navies using muskets, bayonets, cannons, and sailing ships. Nations At War features classic line battles, sieges, naval engagements, and conquest modes.
  
===Army Conquest===
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=== Frontlines WW1 ===
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A World War I–themed experience within Holdfast. Players take on the role of early 20th-century soldiers with bolt-action rifles, pistols, machine guns, and artillery. The gameplay emphasizes trench warfare, attrition, and combined arms tactics.
  
Army Conquest is a capture the points style game mode. It adds in capture points that will increase your teams score over the period of the match. The more points you control, the faster your teams' score will increase. When the round timer ends the team with the most points wins.
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== Universal Controls ==
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<table class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;">
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  <tr>
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    <th>Action</th>
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    <th>PC Input</th>
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    <th>Console (Xbox/PS)</th>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Movement'''</td>
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    <td>W, A, S, D</td>
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    <td>Left Thumbstick</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Aim / Block'''</td>
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    <td>Right Click (Hold)</td>
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    <td>LT / L2 (Hold)</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Fire / Attack'''</td>
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    <td>Left Click</td>
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    <td>RT / R2</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Melee Toggle'''</td>
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    <td>X</td>
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    <td>D-Pad Right</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Reload / Interact'''</td>
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    <td>R / E</td>
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    <td>X / Square</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Command Radial'''</td>
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    <td>Q / V</td>
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    <td>RB / R1 (Hold)</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''View HUD / Scores'''</td>
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    <td>Tab</td>
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    <td>View / Touchpad</td>
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  </tr>
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  <tr>
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    <td>'''Crouch'''</td>
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    <td>C</td>
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    <td>B / Circle</td>
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  </tr>
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</table>
  
==Class System==
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== Class System ==
  
Each team has a wide range of different classes you can pick from. Some classes receive different gear and special abilities that will help them or their team. For example Medics can heal players while holding the “E” key.
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=== Command ===
Every class serves a specific purpose, so it is important to have an understanding of them. Some Classes can be very essential in taking over Enemy territory, while others are designed to protect other Players and keep them from dying.
 
  
===Command===
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'''Army Officer:''' Coordinates the "Line of Battle." Issues orders (''Fire, Charge, Form Line'') that provide accuracy and damage resistance buffs to nearby Rank & File.
====Army Infantry Officer====
 
The infantry officers govern the course of battles on land. They are able to issue Orders to gather their troops into firing lines, and provide bonuses to men who follow them.
 
  
====Naval Captain====
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'''Naval Captain:''' The soul of the ship. Manages sail height and heading. Can toggle between first-person (precision steering) and third-person (situational awareness).
The captain rules the soggier side of the battlefield, commanding a ship and her crew to do his bidding. They have priority over steering ships.
 
===Rank & File===
 
====Line Infantry====
 
The stalwart line infantryman. Armed with a musket and bayonet, he is motivated by the orders of the Officers.
 
  
====Guards====
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=== Rank & File ===
The guards are the elite infantry of the ranks. Their primary job is to guard the command, helping them survive where the common man may fall. Their additional training makes them unparalleled combatants in melee.
 
  
====Grenadiers====
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'''Line Infantry:''' The versatile backbone. Gains significant reload and accuracy bonuses when standing near a Musician or Officer.
The grenadiers are the largest of the soldiers, able to take far more punishment in melee than their fellow men. As a result, they are also highly proficient in melee combat.  
 
  
===Skirmisher===
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'''Guards & Grenadiers:''' Elite shock troops. Guards provide a "Bodyguard" buff to Officers, while Grenadiers possess the highest natural melee resistance in the game.
====Light Infantry====
 
The light infantry classes move at a greater speed than the rest of the player classes, able to outpace lines to reach tactical positions.
 
  
====Rifleman====
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=== Skirmisher ===
The Rifleman class is the sharpshooter of the game, demonstrating deadly accuracy compared to their musket wielding peers.
 
  
====Customs====
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'''Rifleman:''' Equipped with rifled barrels. They lack the reload speed of Line Infantry but offer superior lethality at long ranges (200m+).
Customs are the light infantry of the sea, able to swim and run at a greater pace to reach an optimum position to take shots at the enemy.  
 
===Support===
 
===Artillery===
 
===Cavalry===
 
===Crewman===
 
  
==Aiming==
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'''Light Infantry:''' High-mobility units capable of "Skirmishing" (firing from crouched or unconventional positions) without the movement penalties of heavier classes.
  
In general using the bottom of the reticle will help you better find your range. At short range you should aim for center mass with the bottom of the reticle at about knee height. At longer distances you will have to progressively move the bottom of the reticle up higher. At 100 meters you aim with the bottom of the reticle at head height. This won't help with bullet spread from left to right since it is an inaccurate weapon.
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=== Support ===
  
==Melee==
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'''Artilleryman:''' Operates cannons, mortars, and rocket launchers. Must master the "Sighting Notch" for long-distance trajectory.
===Attacking===
 
  
*Pressing the 'X' key switches you into melee mode.
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'''Carpenter / Sapper:''' The "Lifeblood" of defense. Carpenters repair ship hulls to prevent sinking; Sappers construct earthworks and swivel gun emplacements.
  
*Left clicking will start an attack.
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== Combat Mechanics ==
  
*The direction you move your mouse when you left click determines the direction you attack. ( For example if you move your mouse up when you click, your character will strike from above.)
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=== Aiming & Ballistics ===
  
*The attack animation can be canceled early by blocking, letting you attack faster. (Once you hear the resulting 'whoosh' sound effect half way through your animation you can cancel the animation.)
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'''Projectile Drop:''' Smoothbore muskets are subject to heavy gravity and "bloom." At 50m, aim at the chest; at 100m+, aim slightly above the head.
  
===Blocking===
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'''Vulnerability:''' Any player caught reloading or aiming is in a "Vulnerable State"—they will be killed by a single melee strike regardless of their health pool.
  
*You can only block in melee mode.
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=== Melee System ===
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Holdfast utilizes a 4-Directional Combat System (Up, Down, Left, Right).
  
*Hold down the right mouse button to block.  
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'''Blocking:''' You must match the direction of your opponent's strike. Moving the Mouse or Right Stick '''Down''' while holding Block will counter a downward bayonet thrust.
  
*The direction you move your mouse determines the direction you block (For example if an enemy melee attacks from above you have to hold your right mouse button while moving your mouse up.)
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'''Feinting:''' Start an attack, then quickly tap Block to cancel it. This baits your opponent into a defensive stance, leaving them open to a follow-up strike.
==Tips==
 
  
*Holding the 'Y' key will enable your mic in voice chat. (You can also change the key bind in your settings.)
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'''Drags:''' Moving your camera during the "Thrust" phase can alter the strike's path, though excessive "dragging" reduces damage dealt.
  
*Pressing the 'P' key will open the menu to mute player in voice chat. If someone is annoying you just press the 'p' key, search for their name, and click on the sound icon to mute that person.
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== Naval Operations ==
  
*Pressing the 'Tab' key while in text chat cycles you through the various text channels in game. (General, Recruitment, Team, ect.)
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'''Sailing:''' Wind direction is indicated on the HUD compass. Sailing "Into the Wind" (against the arrow) will stall the vessel.
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'''Gunnery:''' Use Round Shot for hulls, Chain Shot for masts (crippling speed), and Grapeshot for clearing enemy decks.
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'''Survival:''' If a ship is foundering, deploy the Rowboat (Capacity: 7). It is the only way to retain your "Life" ticket if the mother ship sinks.
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=== Damage & Repair ===
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'''Hull Damage:''' Causes leaks. Only Carpenters can repair these using their specialized hammers.
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'''Sinking:''' If a ship reaches critical water levels, it becomes "Foundering." Use Rowboats (Capacity: 7) to evacuate.
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== Pro Tips ==
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'''Musicians:''' Standing near a Musician playing a song provides a reload speed buff to all nearby infantry.
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'''Surgeons:''' Always protect your Surgeon; they are the only class that can replenish the team's health without respawning.
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'''HUD Toggle:''' For cinematic gameplay, hold "H" (PC) or the '''Menu/Options''' button (Console) to hide the UI. 
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| image_content  =
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<!-- Optional: add a right-side image/thumb here or leave blank to hide the aside -->
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<!-- Example:
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<div class="thumb tright">
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  [[File:Holdfast_Banner.png|400px|alt=Holdfast banner]]
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  <div class="thumbcaption">Community spotlight</div>
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</div>
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-->
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| layout          = auto
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| left_width      = 320px
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| aside_width    = 320px
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| gap            = 0.5rem
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| show_toc        = no
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| show_section_edit = yes
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}}

Latest revision as of 05:53, 21 January 2026


Beginners Guide

A technical manual for new recruits. Master the cross-platform controls, class roles, and directional combat mechanics of the Napoleonic and Great War eras.

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