Where hotkeys live in BAR, how grid keys work, and how to find and change your unit key bindings.
BAR uses two parallel hotkey systems. Grid keys assign commands by their position on the build screen. That means the slot location determines the key. Legacy keys map directly to specific unit types and commands through a separate configuration file.
The legacy hotkeys file sits at luaui/configs/hotkeys/legacy_keys.txt in the Beyond All Reason repository. That file controls which key triggers a specific unit or command regardless of where it appears on the build panel.
Grid hotkeys follow build menu position. Change the build order and your grid keys point to different units. This makes grid keys flexible for players who rearrange their build panel constantly, but it means the key-to-unit relationship shifts every time the panel gets reorganized.
Players coming from similar RTS engines often expect grid keys to behave like fixed unit shortcuts. They don't. The grid system maps screen slots, not unit IDs.
The repository structure separates hotkey configs into distinct folders. Legacy bindings live in their own dedicated file while grid behavior comes from the build menu position system. Finding the right file saves time when debugging a key that stopped triggering the expected command after a game update.
Custom hotkey setups require editing the legacy keys file and dropping it into the local LuaUI/Configs/hotkeys/ directory. The game reads the modified file on launch. Grid keys require modifying the build order definition instead. Both approaches work, but the legacy system gives more predictable results for players who want specific keys permanently tied to specific units.
Creed of Champions attracts players who care about improving their game in a group that values clear communication over ego. Clean hotkey setups are part of that mindset.
[Crd] The removal of toxicity, the goal of fun and learning, makes for a refreshing spot to play and spend time. It has also made a game with plenty of complexity a bit less daunting to dive into.