mouse-keyboard - control basics

[unbdm]

I’ve been looking into UIs lately, but first want to refine a few things. I fully expect that the way I’m operating is the worst way possible… but that’s why I’m asking….

While running around in general I usually have one hand on mouse, and the other hand on the W-S-A-D keys, and able to get to the # buttons (1-9) for spells ect…

When I get into close combat I usually move my right hand to the arrow keys, then my left is used for pressing # buttons (1-9) to initiate attacks, heals, etc…

Most custom UIs look like they depend on the mouse to select them instead of using the # keys. Is this how most folk play?

Any tips would be appreciated.

I don’t want to start spending time on the interface until I get a core method down, and develop some reflexes.

Thanks for any comments,
Barry

[inkmva]

I've bound everything I need in battle to a key on my keyboard that I press.

Mouse is for cameracontrol in my case and to a certain point, movement. Everything else is hotkeyed :).

[Cerberus]

Some buttons can be clicked, but you mostly want to use your left hand for it. The ones you use the most often in combat at least.

Remember that you can bind keys yourself as well. I have 1-9 mapped:
1=1, 2=2, 3=Q, 4=E, 5=3, 6=4, 7=F, 8=shift+Q, 9=shift+E, 10=shift+1, 11=shift+2 and 12=shift+3.
This puts all these skills easily within reach of my left hand. I also use shift+C (usually racials), shift+4 (mount) and shift+F ("power-up" effects; trinkets, divine intervention, NS etc).
Not sure if this is more than most people use. The opposite of this would be a "clicker", a person clicking all talents (reducing reactions greatly).

The keybindings menu us in the basic game menu (esc). Scroll down to find the name of the bars. You can enable extra bars in the interface options menu. If you are using some kind of addon for actionbars, this will most likely include its own options for this (check readme or help options on the specific addon).

I use some addons for actionbars, but the core element is keybindings.

GL :)

[inkmva]

I love clickers.

Those are the players who still stand still after I mess up a stunlock or something that really shouldnt miss, miss.

[Morail]

I prefer to have a complete circle around my "qweasd" keys I use for movement. That way I don't have to stretch to 5-9 or do anything uncomfortable. I have character sheet on shift C and other normal buttons on shift combos.

§234rfvcxz< are my main skill keys, and mouse is for looking and targeting.

[brandondash]

1=1, 2=2, 3=3, 4=4, 5=mouse5, 6=mouse3, 7=mouse4, 8=q, 9=e, 10=f

mousewheel down/up switch hotbar

[unbdm]

Thanks for all the help. I just took a stab at it and went into a BG... I need to work on it still, but it's a start.

I think I'm pretty slow anyway, it really shows in pvp... I need every edge I can get.

Thanks again,
Barry

[det]

I am using this keyboard

http://www.ideazon.com/de/products/mercgamingkeyboard.asp

and this flexbar UI

So here is my UI as I see it normally...

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1241/interface1jj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

..and these are the mouseover areas. usually hidden, only pop up when I need to craft, summon and what-not. My curses are usually hidden as you can see...but they are also bound to keys..so I don't need to see them..

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5633/interface2vv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

All these buttons can be assigned with keys, so technically no clicking is necessary. I have bound all my important spells and curses to buttons 1-12 and STRG 1-12 and play 75% of the time with my left hand in the left "pad" area of the keyboard.

[kcma]

looks alot like mine ;) welcome to widescreen :D

[Herald of Doom]

looks alot like mine ;) welcome to widescreen :D

Don't you love it :thumbsup:

Personally I use wasd , 1-5, a-e-r-f buttons and my buttons on my mouse.Basically, the same setup I use for shooters :)

HoD

[det]

Well...I am totally crap at the WASD thingy. My fat fingers just mash every key around them. That's why I was so bad at Deathmatches I guess :grin:

Anyhow..with the keyboard in my link, I have this nice area with movement keys (red ones, too...so you even see them from the corner of the eye) and the 2 x 6 buttons above are easy to reach.

And indeed I love my Widescreen. Dell 2005 something, 19". 1680 x 1050 pixels...luvvy

[Aerath]

Have hotkeyed the important stuff.

Need to click less important stuff.

Can stretch my hand just fine to hit a (left) alt+8 or so, so don't care too much about remapping all that stuff.

I -have- remapped my formswitching to mouse buttons (5 button mouse ftw...). Just haven't remapped the sealion form...
Same with the Warrior, have remapped the different stances to the mouse buttons.

[cdalman]

Have hotkeyed the important stuff.

Need to click less important stuff.

Can stretch my hand just fine to hit a (left) alt+8 or so, so don't care too much about remapping all that stuff.

I -have- remapped my formswitching to mouse buttons (5 button mouse ftw...). Just haven't remapped the sealion form...
Same with the Warrior, have remapped the different stances to the mouse buttons.

The 5 button mouse was the biggest improvement to my battle reaction time!! Most mice are 3 button, but with the extra two (one on each side) it gives you essentially 2 more hotkeys. When playing my lock, it is so much easier as I have the left side button to send the pet attacking, and the right side button to use my wand which frees up a few more spaces.

I know this next bit is hard, but you will be much better off . . . if you learn to move with your mouse and not the keyboard. You can control the camera, which way you are facing and even start running and circling just by using the mouse. If you are turning with your keyboard and I with my mouse . . . i will get away or behind you every time!

[amgyn]

do you guys not like to strafe? (q and e buttons) .. i love it but messes me up while playing CS :(

i was thinking about remapping my sit/take out weapon buttons as those seem very useless...

question.. what happens when you map something like shift+1 button? can you do that? (i know it switchs panes by default)

[kcma]

i mapped my hotkeys to numpad. betwee, ctrl, alt, and numpad i have access to all my buttons.

[det]

do you guys not like to strafe? (q and e buttons) .. i love it but messes me up while playing CS :(

i was thinking about remapping my sit/take out weapon buttons as those seem very useless...

question.. what happens when you map something like shift+1 button? can you do that? (i know it switchs panes by default)

Yup, I guess we strafe. Well..I do. Especially at LoS fights like Chromaggus, Vael or the Instructor. Okay..so Vael in LoS but running while casting.

Look under "ESC" ----> Keybindings.

You can bind actions to any key and it's combinations of Alt, CTRL etc...

[LionEyez]

I have to agree that learning to move with just your mouse will help you alot, most people i know that have switched seemed to do significantlly better when getting used to it, this is my personal set up if you are interested

123456 <-------- these are my first 6 abilities in tool bar one
qwe <-------- action bar slots 789
asdf <-------- -= and then 1 and 2 in bottom left action bar

i also use R for auto run

I believe this is an easy setup for those who are used to using wasd for movement because your hand is already used to being there most of the time, you can re arrange what keys do what actions so that it is easiest for you to memorize, im getting a 5 button mouse so that i can add strafe into the mix, but for now i just zig zag since it seems to work.

LionEyez