Merchant of the Skies for Mac: Detailed Operation Guide

After launching the game, click “New Game” in the main menu. The system will generate a random floating island world. You can name your merchant, then click “Start” to enter the game. The game saves automatically, so there is no need to manage save files manually.

1. Movement and Camera Controls:
   • Use WASD or the arrow keys to pan the map.
   • Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom the view.
   • Click and drag any area of the map directly to pan.
2. Selecting and Controlling Aircraft: Left-click your aircraft with the mouse to select it. Once selected, you can:
   • Right-click any island or empty area to order the aircraft to move there.
   • Or hold the right mouse button and drag to set a flight path.
3. Making Your First Trade:
   • Pilot your aircraft close to a floating island.
   • Select the aircraft, then click the “Trade” button that appears in the panel at the bottom right corner, or directly right-click the island and select “Trade”.
   • After the trade window opens, the left and right sides display your aircraft’s inventory and the island shop’s inventory, respectively.
   • Click on item icons to buy or sell. Pay attention to price trends (indicated by arrows).

In the early game, you need to choose an island as your permanent base.

1. Find an island of suitable size in a central location.
2. Fly the airship close to the island, select the airship, and click the “Establish Home” button in the panel at the bottom right. This costs a small amount of gold coins.
3. After establishing your home, you can construct buildings on this island: select the island, click the “Build” button, and choose a building from the list to place.
   • Basic buildings: Warehouse (increases storage), Factory (processes raw materials into advanced goods), Greenhouse (grows crops).

1. Supply raw materials to factories: Factories do not automatically take goods from the warehouse. You need to do this manually:
   • Open the home island’s Inventory Panel (I).
   • Drag raw materials (such as wheat and ore) from the warehouse into the factory’s input slot.
   • The factory will automatically begin production, and finished goods will be stored in its output slot or the island warehouse.
2. Connect airships for transport: Dock the airship at your home island, open the trade panel, load the goods produced by the factory onto the airship, and transport them to other islands to sell.

1. Upgrade airships: Research larger airships in the Tech Tree (T), or purchase new airships at the Shipyard on specific islands. Larger airships have higher cargo capacity and durability.
2. Research & Technology: Earn research points by completing tasks and trading. Press T to open the tech tree, and click to unlock new buildings, airships, and profit-boosting effects.
3. Establish Trading Outposts: On key islands, you can build Trading Posts, which automatically buy and sell goods for you, creating an automated trade network.

The game has no strict endpoint, but the core goal is to complete the series of contracts (tasks) offered by the “Merchants’ Guild.” These tasks will guide you to explore the world, build production lines, accumulate wealth, and ultimately become a commercial giant in the skies. Press Q at any time to view the task log.