Hotkey in a game is a kind of shortcut that is one or more keyboard keys that are combined to shorten an instruction without having to use a mouse so that an instruction can be executed quickly while playing.For example in Age of Empires II (AOK-II or AOE-II) when villager will make a house or other buildings, player must click on the villager, then the mouse is directed to the bottom left corner to select an appropriate menu, and then directed to to the map to place that house or other buildings to be built. This can be alleviated by using a hotkey (B then E) or (V then E).
In the AOK-II or AOE-II, there are many default hotkeys, but the player can set any hotkey to suit the wishes of the option Hotkeys. Hotkeys settings can be done before the game starts or while it is playing (at the top right corner of menu).
If there are two players AOE-II with the same skill, it is definitely a player who mastered the fine hotkeys will win this game. Promise :) OK, below are some default hotkeys for Age of Empires II The Conquerors that can be used when playing.
| UNIT COMMANDS (After Clicking The Unit) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| T | Atack Ground | C | Convert |
| Delete | Delete Unit | B or V | Build |
| G | Garrison | E | Heal |
| P | Pack | R | Repair |
| I | Set Gather Point | S | Stop |
| L | Unload | U | Unpack |
| GAME COMMANDS | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| Ctrl+A | Got to Archery Range | Ctrl+B | Go to Barracks |
| Ctrl+S | Go to Blacksmith | Ctrl+V | Go to Castle |
| Ctrl+D | Go to Dock | Ctrl+Z | Go to Lumber Camp |
| Ctrl+M | Go to Market | Ctrl+I | Go to Mill |
| Ctrl+G | Go to Mining Camp | Y | Go to Monastery |
| , | Go to Idle Mllitary | . | Go to Idle Villager |
| Space | Go to Selected Object | H | Go to Town Center |
| Ctrl+K | Go to Siege Workshop | Ctrl+L | Go to Stable |
| Ctrl+U | Go to University | F3 | Pause The Game |
| Backspace | Go to Previous View | F12 | Save The Game |
| VILLAGER BUILD (After Selecting Villager and Pressing B or V) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| A | Build Archery Range | B | Build Barracks |
| S | Build Blacksmith | J | Build Bombard Tower |
| V | Build Castle | D | Build Dock |
| F | Build Farm | R | Build Fish Trap |
| / | Build Gate | Z | Build Lumber Camp |
| G | Build Mining Camp | W | Build Wall |
| Q | Build Outpost | T | Build Tower |
| E | Build House | M | Build Market |
| I | Build Mill | Y | Build Monastery |
| N | Build Poltside Wall | K | Build Siege Workshop |
| L | Build Stable | U | Build University |
| G | Build Mining Camp | W | Build Stone Wall |
| Q | Build Outpost | T | Build Tower |
| O | Build Wonder | N | Build Town Center |
| TOWN CENTER (After Pressing H) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| W | Go Back Work | B | Ring Town Bell |
| C | CreateVillager | ||
| CASTLE (After Pressing Ctrl+V) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| R | Build Trebuchet | T | Buils Unique Unit |
| P | Build Petard | ||
| DOCK (After Pressing Ctrl+D) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| G | Longboat | C | Canon Galleon |
| D | Demolition Ship or Heavy Demolition Ship | F | Fishing Ship |
| R | Fire Ship or Fast Fire Ship | T | Trade Cog |
| A | Galley, War Galley, or Galleon | P | Transport Ship |
| S | Turtle Ship or Elite Turtle Ship | ||
| BARRACKS (After Pressing Ctrl+B) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| G | Eagle Warrior or Elite Eagle Warrior | R | Huskarl or Elite Huskarl |
| S | Militia, Man-at-Arm, Champion, etc. | E | Spareman, Pikeman, or Helberdier |
| ARCHERY RANGE (After Pressing Ctrl+A) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| A | Archer, Crossbowman, or Arbalest | C | Cavalry Archer or Heavy Cavalry Archer |
| E | Hand Cannoneer | R | Skirmisher or Elite Skirmisher |
| STABLE (After Pressing Ctrl+L) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| C | Camel or Heavy Camel | N | Knight, Cavalier, or Paladin |
| T | Scout Cavalry, Light Cavalry, or Hussar | ||
| SIEGE WORKSHOP (After Pressing Ctrl+K) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| R | Battering Ram, Capped Ram, or Siege Ram | C | Bombard Cannon |
| A | Mangonel, Onager, or Siege Onager | N | Scorpion or Heavy Scorpion |
| MONASTERY (After Pressing Ctrl+Y) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| S | Missionary | T | Monk |
| MARKET (After Pressing Ctrl+M) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| T | Trade Cart | ||
| MILITARY UNITS (After Clicking Military Units) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| A | Agressive | W | Box |
| D | Defensive | F | Plank |
| C | Follow | X | Guard |
| Q | Line | O | No Attack |
| Z | Patrol | E | Staggered |
| N | Stand Ground | ||
| MILL (After Pressing Ctrl+I) | |||
| Hotkeys | Functions | Hotkeys | Functions |
| F | Reseed Farm | ||
See you in the game and have a nice game!