Commands are the main way to act in Southland. Type /help after entering a character to open the command reference. Start with a category when you want to browse, or use Search commands… when you know the task but not its command name.

Find the right command

You can use the same help information in several ways:

  • /help opens the category and search dialogs.
  • /help search <words> searches command names, aliases, categories, descriptions, syntax, and documented command actions. Use two or more characters; multiple words must all match.
  • /help <command> opens one command directly. A registered alias also leads to its canonical command.
  • /help chat lists categories in chat. /help chat <category> [page] shows a bounded category page, while /help chat /<command> [page] shows one command and its actions. The slash before the command distinguishes it from a category.

Search and category results are paginated rather than sending every command at once. They show only the commands and command actions allowed by your staff entitlement. They are not filtered by your character’s job, organization role, current location, or carried items. Those gameplay requirements are checked when you try to use the command, so seeing a command in help does not guarantee that it can be used in your current situation.

Some dialog and chat-help presentation still awaits a real-client readability review. If a dialog is awkward to read on your setup, use the bounded /help chat view or open the command directly instead of assuming an entry is unavailable.

Read syntax without memorizing it

The live command reference owns command names, syntax, descriptions, aliases, permissions, and action help. Use it instead of relying on an old list or trying to memorize an exhaustive manual.

In syntax shown by help:

  • <value> means that value is required.
  • [value] means it is optional.
  • a|b means choose one of the shown forms.
  • A command with several actions may open an action list. Select the action to see its complete form and any current choices or limits supplied by that feature.

Placeholders describe the kind of value, not text to type literally. For example, replace <player> with the intended player’s visible name or player ID. If a command needs a role, location, nearby object, vehicle, property, or item, satisfy that prerequisite first and then retry; player-level help access does not bypass it.

Follow prompts and visible references

When the game presents an offer or confirmation prompt, follow the keys or buttons named on that prompt. Read the accompanying chat line as well: it repeats important choices such as accepting with Y or declining with N.

Required textdraw and keybind tasks also have command paths. Use /accept or /decline for a pending offer, /skinchoice previous|next|confirm during character creation, /payphone <number> and /hangup for a payphone, and /blinkers or /v blinkers for vehicle indicators. These reach the same operation as the visual control or shortcut.

Lists may label choices with short references such as #1. Use the reference from your own most recently opened list for that command family. These references are contextual and expire or change when the list is refreshed, filtered, paged, or left unused. If one is stale or missing, reopen the list and use the newly displayed reference. For inventory and other domain-specific references, copy the form shown by that feature’s current list or command help rather than guessing an internal ID.

Recover from a failed command

  1. Read the response: failures should name the blocked condition or the next useful action.
  2. Run /help <command> and compare your input with the current placeholders and action syntax.
  3. Check situational requirements: are you in character, at the right place, in the right role, near the intended target, or carrying the required item?
  4. Reopen the relevant list if you used a numbered reference.
  5. Retry only after correcting the input or situation. A cooldown response tells you how long to wait; a reply that only shows the command’s usage does not start one.

An unknown command may offer one conservative Did you mean /name? suggestion. The game does not run the suggestion automatically; check it and enter the intended command yourself. If no clear match exists, return to /help or search by task words.

For questions about roleplay channels and writing actions, see Roleplay and chat. For a safe recovery sequence after interrupted or unclear state, see Common troubleshooting. Use /help to inspect the current gameplay-help, player-reporting, and bug-reporting routes before choosing one.