20 replies to this topic

[Reverse Ghost]

The majority of people use WASD in some capacity, but you often run into people touting the advantages of ESDF or some other configuration.

So here you can answer the poll and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of what you use. There have been several of these kinda keybind topics before. Hopefully adding a poll will justify this one's existence.

I use WASD for everything but I have been considering switching to something like QWE or WER for MMOs and eliminating my use of a backpeddle key.

I use WASD probably because that's the first one I learned way back in the day and it feels very comfortable now. I do remember it being awkward when I first started, though, which makes me not too concerned about the idea of switching to something else since I know that I would eventually get used to it.

I briefly checked out ESDF but I found it made it too difficult for me to hit Ctrl and Alt, which I tend to bind as either crouch, aim, or modifier keys. Or in the case of GW2 I like how they show names so I stuck with that.

So what do you use and why? MMOs are notorious for requiring a large number of binds, but Guild Wars 2 is a bit different. I mean yeah I personally still have 25 ability keys I can press but there is some overlap so it isn't so bad.

But this topic is for all games. We're on a GW2 forum so the conversation will likely skew that way, but I would assume at least the WASD / ESDF part would be the same for a single player across all games that use 4 movement keys.

---

As for the actual bindings, this is my current setup for GW2, but I set up most games similarly:

The use of a modifier key isn't necessarily ideal, but at the very least for my Elite skill I much prefer to not be able to accidentally hit it, so a modifier key sorta "protects" it.

I was struggling with the Dodge key for a long time until I set it to mouse wheel click, which just feels amazing for me.

Also the V key that I use for F4 is a bit of a stretch for my hand, but I don't really play any characters that need to use it anyway, so I haven't had to work on rebinding it.

Edited by Reverse Ghost, 17 January 2013 - 09:15 PM.

[Waar Kijk Je Naar]

Hurray for WASD + default settings for everything. Goes for basically any game I play.

Reasons:

• Default settings work perfectly.
  
• No reason to change anything.

[licho]

I like WSAD + sometimes every key nearby.
Im very thankful to gw2 to show how wonderful and useful  key is a `  ;-)

[MisterB]

I'm very far out on the other category for this topic for this game. Option # 3 is closest to what I use. I found turn left and right to be pretty useless, so my binds are WQES. I only use strafe, and turn the camera instead of keyboard turn. However, I don't play GW2 with a mouse or keyboard, and use only 2 fingers and my thumb from each hand to play with a Sony DualShock 2.

http://upload.wikime...-DualShock2.png

I've posted my controls in another topic here, but I have since changed them (again).

Edited by MisterB, 17 January 2013 - 09:11 PM.

[Reverse Ghost]

MisterB, on 17 January 2013 - 09:05 PM, said:

I'm very far out on the other category for this topic for this game. Option # 3 is closest to what I use. I found turn left and right to be pretty useless, so my binds are WQES. I only use strafe, and turn the camera instead of keyboard turn. However, I don't play GW2 with a mouse or keyboard, and use only 2 fingers and my thumb from each hand to play with a Sony DualShock 2.

http://upload.wikime...-DualShock2.png

I've posted my controls in another topic here, but I have since changed them (again).

Ah yes, how could I forget that option in the poll? I even mentioned thinking about using it myself! OK well I updated the poll if you wish to vote now

[God Pain]

please add a ''arrow keys'' option I'm left handed and use them in all  games i play. I consider myself a good player and never felt behind for using them.

[MisterB]

I've changed my vote. I'd expect the number of players in my category to be very low, since controller input is not supported.

God Pain, on 17 January 2013 - 09:23 PM, said:

please add a ''arrow keys'' option I'm left handed and use them in all  games i play. I consider myself a good player and never felt behind for using them.

That is a poll option. Other (inverted T shape i.e. Arrow Keys)

Edited by MisterB, 17 January 2013 - 09:29 PM.

[Kinniku]

I started using ESDF in aion when it launched, and have been using it ever since in whatever MMO I'm playing.

[Heart Collector]

I use good old WASD. I use A and D to strafe and mouse to camera turn, and have turn left/right bound to the arrow keys (which I use when I feel too lazy to use the mouse - which is usually when I'm simply going from one place to the other). I've bound Q,E,R,F to my most used abilities (weapon 1,2,3,4), and as I'm using a Naga, I've bound weapon 5 to #1, heal + utilities +ultimate to #2 - 6, F1 is rebound to shift + space (as I'm maining a Thief I find it useful this way), F2 to shift + 1, F3 to shift + 2, F4 to shift + 3. I tend to double tap to dodge but I also have it on C, and I still use X to weapon swap. Oh, and I've bound the auto-run to middle mouse click.

[Trei]

Dodging with Kinect is really fun!

[MazingerZ]

ESDF.  Makes sense, really,.

[Shadow209]

WASD, well, I'm using a G13, with the layout posted in this thred, but basically it's WASD for movement, QEF for utilities, R for Deathshroud (i play a necro main). I'm still changing things, because I've just changed my layout, before I was using the default movement keys, but I changed it, since having Q, E, A and D for strafing/turning is too redundant.

Healing, elite and looting are on my mouse (Deathadder).

Not even sure, if I'll be using my keyboard or G13 in the future, though I wouldn't classify the G13 as a controller, so I voted for WASD.

[Ovi Bell]

I use wasd but with many macro keyson my g510 and my ttesports theron mouse for utility skills and what now. Even my guild spams for recrutiing are macro'd with logitechs macro setter.

[Corsair]

I go WASD and rebind keys around as desired. Anything else is too much effort for me to bother.

[I've got your kisses]

MazingerZ, on 18 January 2013 - 12:30 PM, said:

ESDF.  Makes sense, really,.

+1. It is the home position on the keyboard and gives you access to more keys with the pinky.

[Baradaki]

Corsair, on 22 January 2013 - 04:04 AM, said:

I go WASD and rebind keys around as desired. Anything else is too much effort for me to bother.

Pretty much this. I don't see how people can play games on the default controls.

[Heart Collector]

I, on 22 January 2013 - 04:10 AM, said:

+1. It is the home position on the keyboard and gives you access to more keys with the pinky.

I don't like ESDF... It does give you access to more buttons so I guess it's objectively better but it doesn't feel comfortable to me, hence I don't use it. And besides, it's not like all those extra keys are needed for GW2 - especially if one is already using a Naga (which I am). It would be better for SWTOR or WoW though.

Edited by Heart Collector, 23 January 2013 - 01:02 PM.

[MazingerZ]

Heart Collector, on 23 January 2013 - 01:02 PM, said:

I don't like ESDF... It does give you access to more buttons so I guess it's objectively better but it doesn't feel comfortable to me, hence I don't use it. And besides, it's not like all those extra keys are needed for GW2 - especially if one is already using a Naga (which I am). It would be better for SWTOR or WoW though.

There's an adjustment period.  I couldn't get into using a naga.  My thumb is too big.

[Kuskah]

My basic layout:
WASD = Movement
1-5 = weapon skills
~ = weapon swap
Q = Utility 1
R = Utility 3
E = Heal
Mouse 3 (wheel press) = Utility 2 // Running a regular mouse with 3 buttons, no fancy stuff
C = Elite Skill

The rest is default as I don't use it that often.

[Heart Collector]

MazingerZ, on 23 January 2013 - 05:08 PM, said:

There's an adjustment period.  I couldn't get into using a naga.  My thumb is too big.

Well, I adjusted from arrow keys + spacebar shooting in Doom to WASD + mouse aiming in Quake so I guess this wouldn't be that much of a stretch As I said though, GW2 has so few keybinds that unless my Naga breaks down I won't be needing it personally.

[KQ]

Backpedalling is useless in a MMO game, so I just use WER (and mouse) for movement. Weapon skills are Q2345, heal 1, utilities SDF, elite G, profession functions ACVZ, interact T, swap ~, targeting TAB (next), Shift (previous), Mouse Button 3 (call), and Mouse Button 4 (take), and Caps Lock is dodge, and Mouse Button 5 is stow/draw weapons for self-interrupt.

In an FPS game, I use ESDF though.

Edited by KQ, 25 January 2013 - 02:30 PM.