Frequently Asked Questions – Star Stable 4

Q: I can’t start the game. What do I do?
A: Check that your computer fulfills the minimum system requirements. If it does, check that you have the latest drivers for your graphics card and that you have downloaded the latest updates of your operating system using Live Update. If you still have problems, please contact your PC supplier to see if there is something wrong with your computer.

Q: The game doesn’t play properly. I have lagging problems and/or crashes.
A: There are several things that can cause this. Check the list below:
Check that your computer meets the system requirements.
Check that you have updated your operating system and your graphic card drivers.
Close all programs running in the background.
Restart the computer and then run the game without running other programs in the background.
You may have some hardware problems. Contact your PC supplier.

Q: I have no sound.
A: Check to see if the sound is turned off or if the volume is turned down on your computer in the Start menu: Settings/Control Panel/Sounds and Audio Devices.

Q: Why can't I save my game?
A: You can only save the game at Save Points. Save Points are found at all stables and villages and in shelters across the world. They are marked with purple dots on the map and purple glitter in the world.

Q: Why can’t I feed/water/groom my horse?
A: You are probably using the wrong food/brush/bucket (or you might be mounted). You get a bucket used to water your horse and a brush to groom it in the first quest in the game. You can also buy new and better brushes in almost any shop. You recognize the brushes and buckets you can use on your own horse during the game by their blue color. Hint: Be sure your water bucket has water in it before watering your horse.

Q: How do I tell my player where to walk? And what do I have to do when someone asks me to do something for him or her?
A: Have another look at the tutorials. Here you will find answers to many questions concerning how to play the game, for example how to talk to others, what the colored dots on the map mean, and so on. The tutorial icons are at the bottom right of your playing screen. If you want to read a tutorial again, click on the question mark (?) on your screen.

Q: How can I end a game?
A: You can end your game any time by clicking the exit button on your toolbar. If you want to save, find a Save Point (purple on your map), go there and click on Save and Quit.

Q: How do I control my player?
A: You control your player character with the keyboard. These letters allow you to do the following tasks:

W: Move forward
S: Move backward
A: Turn left
D: Turn right
Space: Jump

You control the camera by moving the cursor to the edge of the screen.
TIP: If you want to move the camera quickly, press and hold the right mouse button and the camera will start moving as soon as you move the cursor.
TIP: You can also use the arrow keys!

Q: How do I change clothes?
A: You can buy new clothes at the different stable shops. To use the clothes, move them from the backpack to the character sheet. For instance, move new riding pants to the place for pants.

Q: How do I put things in my backpack?
A: If the slots in the bar at the lower right hand side of the screen are full, you can move the items to the backpack. Open the backpack by clicking on the backpack icon. Drag and drop the items from the bar to the backpack and drop them in an empty slot. This opens up space for new items on the bar!

Q: I can’t remember what to do? How do I find out?
A: Click on the book icon in the lower right hand side of the screen to open the Quest Log. Left click on the Quest you want to know more about.

Q: How do I find my way around?
A: Use the map located in the upper right hand corner of your screen to find your way in the game. You can zoom in and out and you will also see where there are available quests, quest items and quests that can be delivered (this is denoted by the dot’s color). You can find the meaning of each dot’s color in the map tutorial at the bottom right of your screen.

Q: It is completely dark and I can’t see anything. What should I do?
A: If it is dark, that means it is nighttime in the game, and you need to find somewhere to Save and Sleep. Go to a spot marked with a purple dot. Then choose Save and Sleep and you will get rest and wake up to a new morning.

Q: What do the different colors on the map mean?
A: The dots represent people, items and checkpoints. This is what the dots mean:

Yellow dot: Character with a quest to give.
Gray dot: Character with a quest that hasn’t been completed yet.
Green dot: Character with a quest for which the conditions are fulfilled.
Blue dot: Character with a repeatable quest.
Orange dot: Quest item
White dot: Check point in a quest
Purple dot: Here you can save your game.
Red dot: Quest item for the Quest currently selected in the Quest Log

Q: Why can’t I groom/feed/water my horse?
A: Stand close to the horse to feed/groom/water. To groom, take the brush and move the mouse cursor to the horse’s midsection. When the cursor gets a green frame you can perform the task. If the cursor doesn’t become green you are either too far away from the horse or at an awkward angle. Try moving to a new position. For feeding, choose food to give the horse and move the cursor to the horse’s mouth. For watering, you first need to have a full bucket (filled at shelters or in wells) and then move the cursor with the filled bucket to the horse’s mouth.

Q: Why can’t my horse get up to full speed?
A: How fast a horse can go depends on how good it feels and the particular horse. You must make sure that the bars at the lower left hand corner of your screen are always as full as possible. You do this by grooming, feeding and giving your horse water. The yellow bar shows the overall condition of the horse in terms of these four factors:
Thirst: if the horse needs water (blue bar)
Hunger: if the horse needs food (green bar)
Exhaustion: if the horse needs rest or reduced speed (red bar)
Cleanliness: if the horse needs grooming (brown bar)

Q: What can I do if I can’t move forward or the horse rears all the time?
A: If it feels like you’re stuck with your horse, you might be in a spot too narrow or steep for the horse to pass through. Try to make the horse go backwards, rear and turn at the same time. You press S to back up and X to rear. If your horse is too scared to move, you will have to quit and start from your last Saved Point.

Q: How do I change horses?
A: If you want to buy a horse, visit a stable and click on one of the horses. You will then see information about the horse, including the price. Click on the OK button to change horses, but make sure that you have enough Stable Points and that you have reached a high enough level to buy the horse. Your horse will then switch to your new choice.

Q: I bought a new horse but I can’t mount it. What should I do?
A: When you have chosen a new horse and bought it, it trades places with your old horse. You will find your new horse where you left your old horse!

Q: I have a new horse and it stops all the time. What am I doing wrong?
A: Some horses need to be more actively ridden than others. To make the horse go faster, push it using W or the Forward Arrow. Also remember to keep an eye on the walk bar, which starts to blink red when the horse is about to slow down!

How to Play – Star Stable 2

As you play the game, there are times when in-game help will be activated. Left-click on the exclamation point (!) to read the help text. These help text boxes give you hints on how to play and are shown below, and are also found by clicking on the Question mark button on the bar at the bottom of the screen.

Walk/Run/Camera

You control your player with these keyboard buttons:

W: Move forward
S: Move backward
A: Turn left
D: Turn right
Space: Jump

Character Interaction

People you can talk to are marked with an exclamation point. Move the cursor over them until it turns into a balloon with an exclamation point (if it is grayed out you are too far away – move closer!). Then press the left mouse button.
This will open the Quest Selection window, where you can choose which Quest you want to talk to that person about. At the end of the dialogue you will be asked whether or not to accept the quest. Accepting the quest adds it to your Quest Log, and refusing leaves it there to be taken another time.

Exclamation points and quest names are colored differently depending on what the person has to offer:

Yellow: Character with a quest to give.
Gray: Character with a quest that hasn’t been completed yet.
Green: Character with a quest for which the conditions are fulfilled – that quest can be completed by selecting it in the Quest Selection window.
Blue: Character with a repeatable quest.

The Access Bar

In the lower part of the screen you see a bar with numerous icons that you can click on:

Medal: Access your Trophy cabinet
Book: Access your Quest Log
Backpack: Access your Inventory
Question Mark: Access the In-game Help Menu
Character: Access your Character Sheet
Horse: Access your Horse’s Character Sheet
Arrow: Exit to the Main Menu.

The Map

In the middle of the horseshoe in the upper right hand corner of the screen is a map. Click on the map to enlarge it. Click on it again to close. You can also click on the + and – to zoom in and zoom out. On the map you will see dots that represent characters, items, checkpoints and save points. You can also open/close the map by pressing M.

Yellow dot: Character with a quest to give.
Gray dot: Character with a quest that hasn’t been completed yet.
Green dot: Character with a quest for which the conditions are fulfilled.
Blue dot: Character with a repeatable quest.
Orange dot: Quest item.
White dot: Checkpoint.
Purple dot: Save point.
Red dot: Quest item for the Quest currently selected in the Quest Log.

Item Interaction

If you can pick up an item or an object, or interact with it, the cursor turns into a hand (items used in an active quest glitter to indicate that they can be interacted with). Click on the left mouse button to pick up/interact. Clicking on it will start a progress bar. When the progress bar is full, the action has been completed, and if it was an item it will have been added to your inventory.

Quest Log

Your Quest Log contains information on your current quests. Left-click on the quest name in the upper part of the quest log to display detailed information about the quest. The quest names are yellow for quests that are in progress and green for quests where the only condition left is to deliver it.

Riding

If the cursor turns into a saddle when moved over a horse, you can interact with that horse. Click on the left mouse button to mount the horse while on the ground, or dismount if seated in the saddle.

W: Increase speed
S: Decrease speed
A: Turn left
D: Turn right
X: Stop

IMPORTANT! A horse will sometimes change its speed without your input. Stay alert and be quick to act so that it maintains the gait you want! When the arrow on the speedometer starts blinking it means that the horse is about to change its gait. Press W once to maintain the gait you are currently in.
IMPORTANT! You cannot mount your horse unless you have appropriate attire. Regulation helmet is a must!
IMPORTANT! It might seem hard to control your horse at first, but as you become a better rider and increase your skills, it will become easier and the horse will respond better to your commands.
IMPORTANT! You can also choose the alternative controls which are:

Arrow Up or Mouse Wheel Up: Increase speed
Arrow Down or Mouse Wheel Down: Decrease speed
Arrow Right: Turn Right
Arrow Left: Turn Left
Number Pad 0: Jump
Number Pad 1: Stop
Left+right mouse = Stop
Mouse wheel up = Speed up
Mouse wheel down = Slow down
Keypad 0 = Jump
Keypad 1 = Stop

Grooming

To groom your horse you use a brush. Left-click on the brush in your inventory to turn it into the cursor. Then move the brush to the horse’s side. Remember that you need to be close to the horse to interact with it. When the icon turns green click again and you will start grooming. This starts an action bar. When the action bar is full, you are done cleaning and the cleanliness of the horse will increase, but it is not certain that the horse is completely clean. If a horse is really dirty you might have to groom it several times!

Feeding

To feed your horse you use food (like hay, different kinds of grass, carrots or other things horses love). Left-click on the food in your inventory to turn it into the cursor. Then move the cursor to the horse’s mouth. Remember that you need to be close to the horse to interact with it. When the icon turns green, click again and you will start feeding the horse. This starts an action bar. When the action bar is full, you have fed the horse.
If a horse is really hungry, you might need to feed it several times before it is full!

Watering

To water your horse, use a bucket to get water from the well. Left-click on the bucket in your inventory to turn it into the cursor. Then move the cursor to the horse’s mouth. Remember that you need to be close to the horse to interact with it. When the icon turns green click again and you will start watering the horse. This starts an action bar. When the action bar is full, you have watered the horse.
If a horse is really thirsty, you might need to water it several times before it is satisfied!

Mucking Out

To muck out you use a shovel. A shovel can usually be found in a stable. Left-click on the shovel in your inventory to turn it into the cursor. Then move the cursor to the manure in the stable. Remember that you need to be close to the manure to interact with it. When the icon turns green click again and you will start mucking out. This starts an action bar. When the action bar is full, you have finished mucking out. In a stable there is often a lot of manure that needs to be removed before you have finished mucking out!

Shopping

To shop, click on the counter next to the shopkeeper. This will open the shop. In order to buy an item you simply click on the item you want and drag it to your inventory. This will display the price of the item in Stable Points. Answer Yes to add the item to your inventory. To sell items drag them from your inventory to the Sell slot in the shop.

Buying a Horse

To change to a new horse, just visit a stable and click on one of the horses in that stable. A window appears with information about the horse. If you click on the OK button you will change from your current horse to the horse you selected.

Inventory

You keep all your items in your inventory. If your inventory is full and you still want to add new items, get rid of items by throwing them in the trash can. Left-clicking on an item in your inventory makes that item the cursor. If the cursor turns purple when you move over a character, a horse or an area, it means that that item can be used to interact with that character, horse or area. Left-click to interact.

Player Character Sheet

You have four different skills: Jumping, Riding, Command and Caring. Jumping makes you better at clearing obstacles, Riding makes you able to push your horse faster and longer, Command allows you to control your horse better and Caring makes you faster and better at cleaning, watering and feeding your horse. The maximum for any skill is 100 and the minimum is 0. You can increase your skills when you increase your level. This is done by completing quests that give you experience. Your current level and experience as well as experience required for the next level are displayed in the character sheet.
In the character sheet you also keep supplies. Move items from your inventory to the correct position on the character sheet to store them. You will see the change immediately!

Horse Character Sheet

In your horse’s character sheet you see your horse’s Strength, Endurance, Speed and Well-being. The Strength determines how much your horse (and thus you) can carry in your inventory. The Endurance determines how long it can maintain high speeds. The Speed determines how fast it can run. These three attributes have a start value when you get your horse, but can be increased by training. They can, however, never be increased above their maximum.
Well-being is actually made up of four different things that determine how well your horse is feeling, and that you need to look after carefully. It is the horse’s thirst (how thirsty it is, restored by watering it), its hunger (how hungry it is, restored by feeding it), its exhaustion (how tired it is, restored by resting or shifting to a slower walk) and its cleanliness (how dirty it is, restored by grooming it). If the horse’s Well-being is low it will perform poorly, for instance it might not be able to keep a high speed or a specific walk.
In the character sheet you also equip your horse. Move items from your inventory to the correct position on the horse’s character sheet to equip them. You will see the change immediately!

Level Up

You can increase your level and choose which skills to increase. Open the character sheet and increase the skills you want to become more proficient in by left-clicking on + next to that skill.

Day and Night

When night falls you can still continue playing, but since all the characters have gone to bed you will have to wait to get new quests or deliver fulfilled quests the next morning. If you don’t want to play at night, find a Save Point and select Save and Sleep.

Race

You race by clearing the Checkpoints indicated by the Arrows. As soon as you’ve cleared one arrow it is time to move to the next. Win the race by making it down the entire trail by clearing all Checkpoints in the right order within the time limit!

Jumping

You jump by pressing Space while trotting or moving at a higher speed gait. In a Jumping exercise clear the jumps (that serve as Checkpoints) in the correct order as indicated by the arrows and beat the time limit to win.

Cross-Country

In the Cross-Country race you must clear all obstacles (that serve as Checkpoints) from the right direction, with the black flag on your right and the white flag on your left. The next obstacle is indicated by the arrows. Clear all obstacles and cross the finish line within the time limit to win!

Endurance

Endurance is a classic discipline within Eventing. It is a tough long distance race across rough terrain. It is similar to an ordinary race in that you clear Checkpoints indicated by the Arrows. As soon as you’ve cleared one arrow it is time to move to the next. Win the Endurance race by making it down the entire trail by clearing all Checkpoints in the right order within the time limit.

Picking Food

Every time you have completed a quest where you pick up food for your or other people’s horses, you will be able to pick that type of food wherever you find it. Remember that it is good to take food for your horse, in case it gets hungry!

Stable Points

Stable Points are the currency in Star Stable. You gain Stable Points by successfully completing a quest as well as when you sell items to the shops.
Loading and saving the game
You can always save the game by exiting to the main menu and selecting Yes when the game asks you if you want to save your progress. To load a saved game, select Load Game from the main menu, select the saved game you want to load (they are marked with the name of the character you're playing and the date you last saved). Then click on Load Selected.

Saving your game can be done at your home in Jorvik Stables, sometimes in villages and other places (like shelters in the wild). This saves your current progress and allows you to resume your game by loading it from the main menu.