States of Power Controls
Complete keyboard and mouse control reference for States of Power: hotkeys, unit commands, and interface navigation.
Mouse Controls
Mouse input is the primary interaction method in States of Power. Understanding the full range of mouse actions is essential for efficient gameplay.
Left-click on a province to select it and display its information panel. Left-click and drag on the map to pan the camera. Right-click on a province to issue a movement or attack order to the selected division. Shift+right-click to add a waypoint to an existing movement order. Scroll wheel zooms the camera in and out.
Double-left-click on a province to centre the camera and select all divisions in that province. Right-click on empty map space cancels the current order of the selected division. Hovering over any province displays a tooltip with key statistics.
Keyboard Shortcuts
The most important hotkeys to learn immediately are A for the attack command, M for move, S for stop, and H for hold position. These four keys handle 90 percent of unit management needs.
Press Tab to cycle through selected divisions when multiple units are selected. Press Space to centre the camera on the currently selected division. Press Escape to close any open panel or cancel the current action.
The L key toggles the logistics overlay, which displays supply routes and highlights broken supply lines in red. This is one of the most frequently used keys during active combat.
Press Ctrl plus a number key (1 through 9) to assign the currently selected division to that control group. Press the number key alone to instantly select that control group. Control groups let you manage multiple divisions simultaneously without manually selecting each one.
Interface Navigation
The interface is organised into collapsible panels. The left panel contains military management: division recruitment, template editing, and active unit listings. The top panel displays economic data and national statistics. The right panel provides diplomatic actions and intelligence reports on other nations.
Press F1 to F4 to toggle these major panels on and off. Pressing F5 opens the scenario browser during a game. The technology research panel is accessed by pressing T.
Advanced Commands
Press B to build a supply depot in the selected province. This is essential for forward logistics operations during rapid offensives. Press Z to disband the selected division and recover a portion of its equipment.
The shortcut Ctrl+R opens the production queue, letting you manage factory output without navigating through multiple menus. The shortcut Ctrl+D opens the diplomacy panel directly.
For quick save during a session, press F5. The game also supports save-anywhere functionality, meaning you can interrupt a session and resume exactly where you left off.
Multiplayer Controls
In multiplayer sessions, additional controls manage diplomatic communications. Ctrl+Enter opens the quick message panel to send brief diplomatic notes to other players. The full diplomatic interface, including private messaging and treaty proposals, is accessed through the diplomatic panel (Ctrl+D).
Map Zoom and Rotation
Scroll wheel controls zoom level. Holding Ctrl while scrolling adjusts the camera angle for better terrain visibility. This is particularly useful in mountain provinces where the default camera angle can obscure key terrain features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about States of Power.
How do I deselect a division?
Pressing Escape deselects the currently selected division and closes any open information panel. Clicking on empty map space also deselects. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+number removes a division from a control group.
Can I change the hotkey bindings?
Key bindings are not currently customisable in the options menu. This is a common feature request in the community, and the developer has indicated it may be added in a future patch.
What does the Shift+right-click waypoint system do?
Shift+right-click adds intermediate waypoints to a division's movement order. This lets you route divisions through specific provinces before reaching their final destination. For example, you might route through a supply depot to pick up additional equipment before proceeding to the front line.