> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/SnowyMouse/chimera/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Chat

> Stable replacement for the broken Keystone chat system

Chimera replaces Halo PC's crashy and broken Keystone chat with a completely custom, highly configurable chat system.

## Why Replace the Chat?

<Warning>
  **The Keystone chat is crashy and broken.**

  Halo PC's original chat system has numerous issues:

  * Frequent crashes
  * Memory leaks
  * Poor rendering
  * Limited customization
  * Inconsistent behavior
</Warning>

Chimera's custom chat is:

* **Stable** - No crashes or memory leaks
* **Customizable** - Extensive configuration options
* **Feature-rich** - Color support, timestamps, filtering
* **Performant** - Efficient rendering and scrolling

## Always Enabled

<Info>
  The custom chat is **always enabled** as a passive feature. The original Keystone chat is completely replaced.
</Info>

## Core Features

### Color Support

Full RGB color support for chat messages.

**Usage**: Use color codes in messages:

```bash theme={null}
chimera_chat_color_help  # Show available colors
```

**Team Colors**:

* Free-for-all messages: Green tint
* Red team messages: Red tint
* Blue team messages: Blue tint
* Server messages: Blue tint

### Message Types

Three distinct message categories:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Chat Messages">
    Player-to-player communication:

    * All chat (everyone sees)
    * Team chat (team only)
    * Vehicle chat (vehicle occupants)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Server Messages">
    Messages from the server:

    * Admin broadcasts
    * Game events
    * Server notifications
    * RCON responses
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Console Messages">
    Optional console integration for RCON:

    ```ini theme={null}
    [custom_chat]
    server_message_allow_unsolicted_rcon_messages=1
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Scrollback Support

Optional scrollback for console history:

```ini theme={null}
[custom_console]
enable_scrollback=1  ; Enable page up/down scrolling
```

<Note>
  Custom console and custom chat are separate but related features. Both improve upon the original implementations.
</Note>

## Extensive Customization

Chimera's chat is **highly customizable** through `chimera.ini`.

### Server Messages

Configure server message appearance:

```ini theme={null}
[custom_chat]

; Color (RGBA, 0-1 intensity)
server_message_color_a=0.5
server_message_color_r=0.45
server_message_color_g=0.72
server_message_color_b=1.0

; Position (HUD pixels)
server_message_x=360
server_message_y=60

; Dimensions (HUD pixels)
server_message_w=350
server_message_h=380
server_message_h_chat_open=160

; Anchor point
server_message_anchor=top_right  ; top_left, top_right, center, bottom_left, bottom_right

; Font
server_message_font=small  ; smaller, small, large, console, system

; Timing (seconds)
server_slide_time_length=0    ; Animation time
server_time_up=5.0            ; Display duration
server_fade_out_time=1.0      ; Fade out duration

; Line spacing
server_line_height=1.1

; Hide when console visible
server_message_hide_on_console=0
```

### Chat Messages

Configure player chat appearance:

```ini theme={null}
[custom_chat]

; Free-for-all color (RGBA, 0-1 intensity)
chat_message_color_ffa_a=0.85
chat_message_color_ffa_r=0.85
chat_message_color_ffa_g=1.0
chat_message_color_ffa_b=0.85

; Red team color
chat_message_color_red_a=0.85
chat_message_color_red_r=1.0
chat_message_color_red_g=0.85
chat_message_color_red_b=0.85

; Blue team color
chat_message_color_blue_a=0.85
chat_message_color_blue_r=0.85
chat_message_color_blue_g=0.85
chat_message_color_blue_b=1.0

; Position (HUD pixels)
chat_message_x=8
chat_message_y=38

; Dimensions (HUD pixels)  
chat_message_w=612
chat_message_h=300
chat_message_h_chat_open=300

; Anchor point
chat_message_anchor=top_left

; Font
chat_message_font=small

; Timing (seconds)
chat_slide_time_length=0.25   ; Animation time
chat_time_up=5.0              ; Display duration
chat_fade_out_time=1.0        ; Fade out duration

; Line spacing
chat_line_height=1.1

; Hide when console visible
chat_message_hide_on_console=1
```

### Chat Input

Customize the chat input box:

```ini theme={null}
[custom_chat]

; Input color (RGBA, 0-1 intensity)
chat_input_color_a=1.0
chat_input_color_r=1.0
chat_input_color_g=1.0
chat_input_color_b=1.0

; Position (HUD pixels)
chat_input_x=8
chat_input_y=338

; Width (HUD pixels)
chat_input_w=612

; Anchor point
chat_input_anchor=top_left

; Font
chat_input_font=small
```

## Console Commands

Chat-related console commands:

### Block Server IPs

Hide server IPs from chat (useful for streamers):

```bash theme={null}
chimera_chat_block_ips true
```

<Tip>
  **Streamers**: Enable this to prevent viewers from seeing which server you're on.
</Tip>

### Block Server Messages

Block all messages from the server:

```bash theme={null}
chimera_chat_block_server_messages true
```

<Warning>
  RCON responses will still appear in console, not chat.
</Warning>

### Send Chat Message

Programmatically send chat messages:

```bash theme={null}
chimera_send_chat_message <channel> <message>
```

**Channels**:

* `0` - All chat
* `1` - Team chat
* `2` - Vehicle chat
* Other channels may be used by mods

**Examples**:

```bash theme={null}
# Send to all chat
chimera_send_chat_message 0 "Hello everyone!"

# Send to team chat
chimera_send_chat_message 1 "Attack the base!"

# Send to vehicle chat
chimera_send_chat_message 2 "I'm driving"
```

### Color Help

Display available chat colors:

```bash theme={null}
chimera_chat_color_help
```

Shows all color codes and examples.

## Custom Console

Related feature - custom console with improvements:

```ini theme={null}
[custom_console]

; Enable custom console
enabled=1

; Enable scrollback with page up/down
enable_scrollback=1

; Buffer size (lines)
buffer_size=10000
buffer_size_soft=256  ; Soft limit before cleanup

; Appearance
line_height=1.1
x_margin=10

; Fade timing (seconds)
fade_start=3.0
fade_time=0.75
```

### Console Prompt Color

Customize console input color:

```bash theme={null}
chimera_console_prompt_color <red> <green> <blue>
```

**Example**:

```bash theme={null}
# Green prompt
chimera_console_prompt_color 0 1 0

# Cyan prompt  
chimera_console_prompt_color 0 1 1
```

## Font Customization

Chat can use any of Chimera's fonts:

**Available fonts**:

* `smaller` - Smallest font
* `small` - Default small font
* `large` - Large font
* `console` - Monospace console font (Hack Bold)
* `system` - System font (Interstate Bold)

**Font override** in `chimera.ini`:

```ini theme={null}
[font_override]
enabled=1

; Customize each font size/family
small_font_family=Interstate-Bold
small_font_size=15
small_font_weight=400
```

<Note>
  See the Font Override section for complete font customization options.
</Note>

## Animation and Timing

Control how messages appear and disappear:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Slide Animation">
    Messages can slide in when appearing:

    ```ini theme={null}
    chat_slide_time_length=0.25  ; 0.25 second slide-in
    server_slide_time_length=0   ; No animation (instant)
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Display Duration">
    How long messages stay visible:

    ```ini theme={null}
    chat_time_up=5.0        ; 5 seconds visible
    server_time_up=5.0      ; 5 seconds visible
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Fade Out">
    Fade out duration before disappearing:

    ```ini theme={null}
    chat_fade_out_time=1.0    ; 1 second fade
    server_fade_out_time=1.0  ; 1 second fade
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Layout Examples

### Default Layout

```
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│  Chat messages (top-left)       │
│                                  │
│                                  │
│                                  │
│                                  │
│                Server messages ──┤ (top-right)
│                                  │
│                                  │
│                                  │
│                                  │
│                                  │
│  Chat input (bottom)             │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Custom Layout

You can position elements anywhere:

```ini theme={null}
; Bottom-left chat
chat_message_anchor=bottom_left
chat_message_x=10
chat_message_y=100

; Top-center server messages
server_message_anchor=center
server_message_x=0  ; Centered
server_message_y=10
```

## HUD Pixel Coordinates

Coordinates are in **HUD pixels**:

* Standard: 640x480 HUD space
* Scales automatically to your resolution
* Anchor point determines coordinate origin

**Anchor points**:

* `top_left` - (0,0) is top-left corner
* `top_right` - (0,0) is top-right corner
* `center` - (0,0) is center of screen
* `bottom_left` - (0,0) is bottom-left corner
* `bottom_right` - (0,0) is bottom-right corner

## Technical Implementation

**Location**: `src/chimera/halo_data/chat.cpp`

```cpp theme={null}
extern "C" void chat_out_asm(int channel, const wchar_t *message);

void chat_out(int channel, const wchar_t *message) {
    if(!message) {
        return;
    }
    chat_out_asm(channel, message);
}
```

Supports both wide-character and UTF-8 input:

```cpp theme={null}
void chat_out(int channel, const char *message) {
    wchar_t message_to_send[256] = {};
    MultiByteToWideChar(CP_UTF8, 0, message, -1, 
                        message_to_send, sizeof(message_to_send));
    chat_out_asm(channel, message_to_send);
}
```

## Best Practices

<Tip>
  **For competitive play**: Keep chat minimal and positioned away from crosshair.

  **For streaming**: Enable `chimera_chat_block_ips true` to hide server IPs.

  **For recording**: Customize colors to match your overlay/theme.
</Tip>

## Related Features

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Font Override" icon="font" href="/configuration/fonts">
    Customize chat fonts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Console Commands" icon="terminal" href="/commands/chat">
    Chat-related commands
  </Card>

  <Card title="Hotkeys" icon="keyboard" href="/configuration/hotkeys">
    Bind chat commands to keys
  </Card>

  <Card title="Widescreen Fix" icon="tv" href="/commands/widescreen-fix">
    Ensure chat scales on widescreen
  </Card>
</CardGroup>