Life as CAT

CATs are the physical manifestations of the Reds and Blues that can capture zones, tag enemies, shoot and be destroyed.
The Reds and Blues have the following basic properties:

In addition, every CAT has a shield, an Etherboard, two Crystal Sceptres, the Trident and the primary weapon that was selected while in Etherform.

Health

Players start with 75 health points. At least 25% health is needed to manifest as a CAT. Health is lost if a player takes more damage than the damage buffer can absorb. To regain health, players can either change back into Etherform and rest in a zone owned by their team or inflict damage on an enemy CAT. If you damage another CAT, 50% of the inflicted damage is returned to you first as health and then put into your damage buffer, possibly overflowing it.

Damage buffer

Players have a buffer that constantly re-/degenerates to 25 points. Damage first hits the damage buffer before affecting a player's health. The damage buffer can overflow if players inflict enough damage on enemies.
CAT with full damage buffer
CAT with empty damage buffer
CAT with overflowing
damage buffer

Energy

A CAT needs energy to power its shield, fire its weapons and use its Etherboard. The energy consumed when firing a shot from a weapon is restored if the shot hits an enemy.
CAT with full energy after hitting an enemy
CAT with almost no energy after
missing an enemy twice

Shield

Every CAT has a shield that can absorb up to 50% damage if the CAT has full energy. The damage absorbed by the shield decreases in a linear fashion with decreased energy.

Etherboard

By holding down the left control key, CATs can trade agility for speed by using the Etherboard to ride the ether. Using the Etherboard consumes energy.
Red CAT riding its Etherboard

Tagging

CATs are tagged when they take damage from an enemy. Tagged enemies appear on the HUD.
Two tagged enemies visible on the HUD

Returning to Etherform

By pressing TAB, players manifested as CAT can dissolve their physical bodies at any time.
Red CAT dissolving and
returning to Etherform

CAT Controls

W A S D Movement
Mouse X & Y axis Look
Mouse Z axis (wheel) Zoom
Left mouse button Fire equipped weapon
Middle mouse button Use Crystal Sceptre (Defensive)
Right mouse button Use Crystal Sceptre (Offensive)
Tab Return immediately to Etherform
Left shift Walk slowly
Left control Use Etherboard
1 Equip Trident
2 Equip primary weapon
q Toggle equipped weapon
r Zoom
y Show bigger minimap