Keyboard Play Styles

There are two main Control Schemes. The default AWSD that everyone has fallen in on from most games default sets, and the more advanced arrow key + number pad keys. I use the later and would like to see a discussion on the pros and cons of both sets.


The Arrow + Number Keypad Style

I use the 6 key (INS/DEL) set + most of the num keys for combat macros. With the Function keys used for Semi Urgent Utility type actions. And lastly ALT - N* used for all other uses. I prefer this setup for many reasons. It has a lot of large buttons that are easy to home in on when in trouble. The keys in the right side of the keyboard also have a lot of landmarks so there are no chance of accidentally hitting the wrong key. When hands are over the arrow keys by default it is easy to use the shift and ctrl keys as modifiers and stretch your fingers out to hit most of the keys around them. And complete control of the mouse in addition to all these advantages.


The AWSD Key Style

This style is completely alien to me.


End Notes

From Quake to Half Life to The Battlefield series i depended solely on the right side of the keyboard to fight. Because of this I am biased on not using the left keyboard side. Overall I think control style is important to translating good decisions into quick actions and am eager to see you share what keys you use for combat macro/keys and utility macro/keys

I used to use RDFG, then moved to ESDF. But back when the original G15's came out I snagged one and have since been with the WASD crew since then my g keys are very close by. giving me access to a ton of key combinations.

But really if you think about it. With modifiers CTRL, SHIFT, and ALT and just using the first 5 buttons in each row. Well it would be 1-5, Q-T, A-G and Z-B you have access to 80 button combinations comfortably. You can do more with multiple modifiers.

I do find your layout interesting though.

The Braille Notch!!

Another advantage you left out that your style has is the braille like notch on the F key that lets you feel where "home" is. Which is one of the missing deal breaking features on a lot of the special hand sized keypads dedicated to gamers. It would be so cheap to implement strategically placed home notches on their products. Sometimes i think WTF!!! what there they thinking. I think one biggest hurdles anyone would have moving from style to style is learning new finger muscle memory.

Of topic, I know ....

Still, one a game that requires as little precision in movements as a MMO, why not free three fingers/keys and use your left thumb alone for direction, using for instance a Logitech G13 or a Belkin N52 ?

I've had so many next genration controlers and gagets i've early adopted over the years. For this reason I'm wary of adopting any other highly unorthodox keyboard until I hear lotsatons of genuine unbiased, non paid for reviews. Dont get me wrong. I'll never ever by a keyboard or mouse other than Logitec. Their stuff is #1.

This is all just your personal preference. From what you said you need very discernible keys so you are assured you are hitting what you want. I personally just need Alot of keys and there are more for the left hand than the right, which is usually on my mouse anyways so I am a QWEASD user.

I will chime in saying I like Logitech's hardware, alot of people do use those XPads though, I have just not figured out why yet :) (I do not need THAT many keys... yet?)

i move via mouse, and have q-y and a-h for my action bar (with shift modifiers as well). its pretty crazy but works fairly well.

I use a G13. When I am on another computer I use WASD. I am an old FPS player from way back my muscle memory prefers WASD. I could never use the NUM PAD I would have to shift the keyboard to the left and if I wanted to type I would have to shift it back or twist to the left. I need the keyboard straight in front of me I have grown to use to it.

To each their own heck I knew a girl that played Quake2 with a trackball and she kicked ass.

I played duke nukem 3d and quake2 a lot years ago, and got into using the mouse for movement.

I can't get used to the WASD style of play.

I use the 1 - = keys for my main abilities, with my most commonly used abilities on 1-4.
I hit the tab key for targeting with my pink, when I don't care who I'm going for - or use the mouse when i want a specific guy.

My healing is all on numeric keypad 1-6.
I have the bar above 1-= mapped to F1-F12 and have more rarely used abilities on there.

My hands move all over the shop, but it seems to work. To a certain extent the shaman suits my playstyle
(or maybe I play like this as it suits the shaman :) )
You have to stand to cast so I can switch the mouse to targetting if need be or triggering some ability or other.

I used to use my nostromo - the arrow dpad on that would also allow me to move - so I could switch seamlessly between mouse and thumb movement.

I've got a g13 now - but haven't set it up for my team yet. I like to get a setup that I know I can operate without additional hardware before I map it to the g13.

Apologies for the essay.

How many keys are on the G11 and the G13? Yup thats how many I use.

I am still trying to find what works for me and my team. But the g13 works well for movement and looting, mounting, and and my "Big Button"
I still have not figured out all my skills and buttons so I have skills through 1-0 on my g11. So yeah that is how I mash buttons. A mouse? yeah I fed that to the snake.

I used to be an arrow keys and numpad person however I switched to WASD due to the funcitonality with games becoming more and more complex (having more abilities, needing to use more keys and modifiers). I do like the fact that the WASD method has the notch/dot on the F key so I can feel for it when I have been moving my hand around for whatever reason. I do tend to move with my mouse though as well a lot, especially when swimming.