Source: Love Mac | Software download link: We Are The Dwarves for Mac

We Are The Dwarves is a tactical space dwarf adventure game running on the Mac platform, blending real-time tactics, stealth, and physics puzzle elements. Players will command three dwarf explorers with different abilities to explore and survive in an alien world full of the unknown and danger. This guide will provide a detailed breakdown of its interface, complete workflow, and operational essentials.

Note: This article is intended to provide core operations and tips for the software, and does not include software downloads, installation or cracking steps, or recommendations for external learning resources.

I. Detailed Breakdown of the Core Interface and Workspace

The main game interface is an immersive tactical operation environment, mainly divided into the following areas:

1. 3D Main View (Scene Area): Located in the center of the screen, it displays the current three-dimensional scene where the dwarves are located in real time. This is the main area for movement, interaction, and combat. The camera can be freely rotated and zoomed using the mouse.
2. Dwarf Portraits and Status Bars (Upper Left): Displays the portraits of the three dwarves (Forcer, Smider, Shadow) side by side. The green health bar represents health points, and the blue energy bar below represents the energy reserve for their special abilities. Clicking a portrait allows you to quickly switch the currently controlled dwarf.
3. Skill and Item Wheel (bottom right): When a dwarf is selected, this area displays their unique special skill icons (such as Forcer’s charge, Smider’s grappling hook, etc.) and carried consumables (such as flares, medkits). Use them quickly via number keys 1–4 or by clicking with the mouse.
4. Tactical Pause and Command Panel (bottom center / full screen when paused): This is where the game’s core mechanic lies.
- Real-time mode: The bottom displays the currently selected dwarf’s basic action command icons (move, attack, interact).
- Tactical pause mode (press spacebar): Time stops completely, the screen dims, and a detailed command panel pops up. In this mode, players can precisely plan a series of movement paths, attack targets, skill usage, and interaction actions for each dwarf.
5. Minimap and Objective Indicators (top right): Displays the terrain of explored areas, the direction of important objectives, enemy positions (if scouted), and ally positions.

II. Complete Operation Walkthrough: From Launch to Clearing

Phase One: Project Start——Launch and Loading

Steps:

Launch the game: Find and click the We Are The Dwarves icon in the “Applications” folder or Launchpad.
Main Menu Operations: Use mouse clicks or the arrow keys combined with the Return key to select.
- “New Game”: Start a new campaign.
- “Load Game”: Select a save point from the save list to continue. The game provides multiple autosave and manual save slots.
- “Options”: Adjust graphics, sound effects, and key bindings.
Select Difficulty and Begin: After choosing a suitable difficulty (such as Explorer, Adventurer, Survivor), the game loads the first level.

Phase Two: Core Gameplay Loop——Tactical Planning and Execution

The game’s basic loop is: Observe -> Pause to Plan -> Execute -> Observe Again.

Operation Steps:

Explore and Scout:
- Use the left mouse button to click on the ground, commanding the currently selected character to move to that position.
- Press the ‘C’ key to switch to stealth mode (Shadow only), reducing the chance of being detected by enemies.
- Rotate the camera (hold the right mouse button and drag) to observe the environment and discover enemies, resources, and traps.
Enter Tactical Pause (Core): When encountering enemies or complex terrain, immediately press the Spacebar (Space). Time stops and you enter full-board planning mode.
Issue precise commands:
- Movement path: On the pause screen, click on a clan member’s portrait, then click continuously in the scene to set their movement path points. The path line will be displayed.

Skills and interactions: Select a skill from the command panel (e.g., “Place Light Bomb”), then click on the location in the scene where you want to use it. Or click on an interactable object (such as a mechanism or resource) and select “Use”.

Execution and fine-tuning:
- After planning the action sequences for all clan members, press the Spacebar again or click the “Play” button, and time will resume flowing as the clan members automatically execute their commands.
- You can press the Spacebar again at any time to pause, cancel, or add new commands to respond to unexpected situations.
Switching control characters: In real-time mode, besides clicking the portrait in the upper left corner, the fastest way is to use shortcut keys:
- F1: Select clan member Forcer (Warrior)

F3: Select clan member Shadow (Scout)

Phase 3: Resource Management and Progress Saving

Steps:

Collect resources: Move your commander to glowing crystals or ore, and click to collect when the interaction prompt appears, which is used to upgrade skills.
Use items: Press the corresponding number keys 1–4 to quickly use items from the selected commander’s item bar, or precisely select the use position in pause mode.
Manual save: In a relatively safe area, press the Esc key to bring up the game menu, select “Save Game”, and choose an empty save slot or overwrite an old save. The game will also autosave at key checkpoints.

Phase 4: Level Completion and Export (Progress Advancement)

The game progresses in level-based form, with no traditional “file export.” Completing level objectives is the progress export.

Steps:

Achieve objectives: Follow the level prompts (usually displayed at the screen edge or in the task log), such as “Activate all three ancient devices” or “Reach the escape pod.”
Enter the next level: When the final objective (such as the escape pod door) is activated, you usually need to command all surviving commanders to enter a specific area. After the transition animation plays, the game automatically loads the next level.
Skill Upgrade Screen: Between cards, you will enter the skill upgrade screen. Use the resources you have collected to unlock or upgrade each warrior’s special abilities, then click “Continue” to proceed to the next adventure.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

1. Coordinated Attack Chain: Use tactical pause to set up consecutive strikes for all three warriors. For example, first have Shadow sneak behind the enemy and throw a flying knife (causing stun), then have Forcer charge and slam, and finally have Smider finish them off with a ranged weapon. Plan it out and execute it all at once for a seamless instant kill.
2. Path Luring: Set one warrior to move to the edge of the enemy’s field of view and then retreat, luring the enemy to an ambush point (such as another warrior’s field of fire or a trap).
3. Environmental Exploitation: Explosives in combat scenes (such as gas canisters) can deal area damage. Smider’s grappling hook can move certain objects to block passages or smash enemies.
4. Split Operations: Make good use of pause and character switching to have your warriors perform different tasks. For example, send Shadow to disable jammers while having Forcer and Smider hold a junction, maximizing efficiency.
5. Quick Retry: After a combat defeat, there is no need to return to the main menu. Simply use the game over screen or press Esc to bring up the menu, select “Load Game”, and quickly load your most recent save point.

IV. Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: Game stuttering or low frame rate.
- Solution: Press Esc to enter the menu, select “Options” -> “Graphics”. Try lowering advanced settings such as “Resolution,” “Shadow Quality,” and “Post-Processing.” Make sure your Mac system is up to date and close other applications that heavily use the GPU.
Issue 2: Misoperation or tactical failure, want to undo a command.
- Solution: In tactical pause mode, move the mouse over a set waypoint or command icon, and an “X” or delete option will usually appear. Click it to remove that step. For the entire sequence, you can select the operative and use the “Clear All Commands” function in the command panel.
Issue 3: Unable to find mission objectives or getting lost.
- Solution: Pay close attention to the minimap in the upper right corner of the screen; yellow markers usually indicate the direction of primary objectives. Press the Tab key (or check your key binding settings) to toggle the full-screen mission objective list and area map.
Issue 4: Operatives are always spotted by enemies, stealth fails.
- Solution: Make sure you have pressed ‘C’ to enter stealth mode when controlling Shadow (a closed-eye icon will appear next to their portrait). Be careful to avoid enemy frontal vision cones (displayed on screen), and use terrain shadows and cover to move. Other non-stealth-focused operatives should stay as far away from enemy detection ranges as possible.

Issue 5: The game crashes or fails to launch.

Solution: Verify the integrity of the game files (if purchased through a platform such as Steam). Try switching to a different graphics API (e.g., OpenGL) in “Options.” Check whether your Mac meets the game’s minimum system requirements, especially the graphics card and operating system version.

V. Summary of Mac Shortcuts

Function Category	Shortcut	Description
Game Controls	`Spacebar (Space)`	Enable/disable tactical pause (core key)
Character Selection	`F1`	Select the Forcer
`F2`	Select the Smider
`F3`	Select the Shadow
Camera Controls	`Hold right mouse button and drag`	Rotate the scene camera
Movement & Interaction	`Left mouse click`	Move to a location/interact with objects/attack a target (under the corresponding command)
Stealth Mode	`C`	Toggle the stealth state of the selected character (primarily Shadow)
Quick Skills/Items	`1`, `2`, `3`, `4`	Use the corresponding skill or item in the currently selected character’s skill bar
Game Menu	`Esc`	Open the main menu (for saving, loading, and settings)
Map/Quests	`Tab`	Toggle between the quest log and the map (in some versions; refer to the in-game settings)
Quick Camera Focus	`Double-click a character portrait` or `shortcut key (e.g., press F1-F3 twice)`	Quickly focus the camera on the specified character