Xkeys vs. Razer Naga.

[Frostt]

I am considering these both as another hardware option for my multi-boxing and single boxing needs.

Has anyone used either for lotro and/or wow?

Currently I use a G15, n52te, and a Razer Lachesis. I am considering the xkeys stick or the naga. (I Suppose eventually I will have both, but right now only one to get one.) So, which one do you guys suggest? I am considering the naga because 12 buttons on a mouse sounds great, i am concerned there will be very little programmable functions for other games than wow. Can you configure multi-function macros on the Naga? Lets use tanking for example, Press 1 to taunt, wait 500 mili seconds, press 2 for bash or whatever?

As for the xkeys stick, how powerful is the macro software? Most games are cool with using hardware macros as long as you are at the keyboard and not using the hardware to allow the game to play while you are not there. So I am thinking if I can press a button for example to switch out of bear form, heal, switch into bear form then feral charge a runner down, that would be acceptable. I think I could do this with any of my current devices. However, i am looking for another option for more programmable buttons. I have not seen much info in regards to the Naga and programmability.

At any rate, let me know what ya guys think. I tend to use isboxer with LOTRO when I do play lotro since I enjoy 3 boxing, so that might give you a better ability to determine which tool to purchase in regards to the game/play style I am used to.

Thanks.

[Slimjim19]

1 key = 1 action in wow.

setting up hardware macros that set off multiple timed actions is a violation of ToS and can get you banned.

Not sure one LotRO

[Frostt]

thanks, I haven't played wow in a while so wasn't sure on that. I typically used the in game macro system with custom keybinds using n52te and its repeatable macro system, typically so I can just hold a key to repeat a key stroke every so often. I'm not looking to break the TOS, so with that in mind which piece would be the most functional and universal across most games? I suppose that is my question, more than which has "more" capabilities.

Thanks.

[Gramzngunz]

How can blizzard even detect if you're running hardware side macros? Not that I want to do it, I'm just wondering how they would even know. Would they look at ability logs and be like "he does this cast sequence in the exact same time frame, every time!" or something?

[Slimjim19]

If your abilities always happen at exactly the same interval, that would be a clue. if someone were spamming a key, it could be close, but it wouldnt be the same every time.

[HPAVC]

The HID interface (that Logitech and Razer both use) exposes the looping to the application, WoW does take advantage of this. Wow seems to glitch this activity intentionally as well, likely as a 'i see you' soft warning.

If you mean hardware side macros, like an old gateway2000 macro keyboard, that would record keystrokes, bind them to a key, and then replay them on keypress. Possibly still, depending on how the events are shoved into the various buffers / event streams. I can imagine where someone would use the warden to look at the buffer and see four stacked 'A' keys or four separate insertions and use that. (word versus character buffering, making words more suspicious)

[Khatovar]

repeatable macro system, typically so I can just hold a key to repeat a key stroke every so often.

Every action must be an individual and manual event, you cannot use any sort of predetermined timing. Allowing hardware or software to decide when an action takes place {"Press 1 to taunt, wait 500 mili seconds, press 2 for bash", "hold a key to repeat a key stroke every so often"} would violate WoW's ToS. Turbine might allow it, since their stance is more against Unattended Combat Macros, but on the flip side, they could state that the actions you are taking by using external delays now means you are not controlling the characters.

Generally, if a game does not include an internal means of timing {such as EQ and Aion, who's internal macro systems do allow the creation of macros with wait commands}, I would steer clear of using delay or repeat functions. Barring that, go for what provides you with the most effective means of button access.

[Frostt]

thanks for the kind responses. I do not want to break the TOS or any other rules set in place for wow that might get me banned. The only reason I considered "repeatable" key presses with a single key stroke is because of my tendonitis/ris, it just begins to hurt after an hour or less of play. However, like I said I'm not looking to break their rules so with that in mind which, xkeys or naga, would eliminate or reduce wrist/forearm strain without breaking the rules set in place for wow. I'm thinking naga would be the best, assuming I can bind the buttons as mb1,mb2 (mouse button1...) or f1,f2 etc. I read that the nagas preset keys are the numpad buttons...is this right? I'm assuming that can be changed to just about anything? I use bartender so rebinding keys/buttons in game is easy too.

Thanks,

[Poyzon]

I read that the nagas preset keys are the numpad buttons...is this right? I'm assuming that can be changed to just about anything? I use bartender so rebinding keys/buttons in game is easy too.

The latest Naga driver supports binding the buttons to any keystroke, so you are you not limited to just the NumPad/NumKey row.

[alcattle]

Think about a footpad, three buttons do a lot of your common key presses.

[Khatovar]

Unless you sit cross-legged like me :p

[alcattle]

of course, I remember Vyndree said she sat on her feet when playing. She also used Xkeys, N52, mouse and keyboard.

[Frostt]

Thanks for all the responses, I think after considering what yall have told me I am going to go for the naga for now. I've been thinking about practical uses for it without breaking the rules. It would provide me with plenty of buttons for my mouse hand in addition to my n52, it would bing more accessibility to those ctrl+# combination's as well as the numpad for additional in game macros.

Thanks.