Keyboard Keybind Layout

Midnight · 07/14/07, 11:37 AM

While trying to figure the best way to do strafe shooting as opposed to jump shooting the way I´m used to do (I can parry and dodge attacks while strafing away from a melee class) I started wondering how other players layout their keybinds to be able to perform as many actions simultaniously as possible.

I´ll try to illustrate my problem.
My right hand is on my mouse using the left and right button to turn my toon or the camera respectivly. My left hand is on my keyboard using the a, s, d, and w keys to move my char. I put autorun on the e key where I can easily toggle it with my index finger. Now whenever I wanna use some instants I can switch to autorun and effectively free my left hand to use a bigger part of my keyboard. There´s only a very limited number of keys i can conveniently reach with my left hand if I want to keep moving without using autorun (e beeing one of them).

I figured two ways to adress this problem. Either I put the instants on my mousebuttons somehow though that serverly limits the number of spells I can use too. Or I can autostrafe the way I autorun. Problem with the latter is I know it´s possible to autostrafe or move into any other direction for that matter - I´ve started autostrafing by mistake several times already - but I don´t know how I did it.

So how do you solve this problem? Or more generally, how do you layout your keyboard?

StreetJustice · 07/14/07, 12:07 PM

I use my mouse in my left hand, so my right is on the keyboard. I have the original bindings for strafe/turn (q/e - strafe, a/d - turn). Most of my key bindings are 1-6 and ctrl1-6. What I do is use one finger for strafing (and my mouse to change direction), then with my remaining fingers I can reach over and hit the keys that the now strafing finger would use. I also use r, f, and t but those do not need a strafing finger. I am not sure if somebody who uses a right handed setup could do the same because putting my left hand on the keyboard just doesn't feel right in the first place.

To fix your problem, you might want to find a game pad that has a thumb operated joystick or D-pad. If you can set it up for forwards/backwards/strafe left/strafe right you will have 4 fingers free to use your keybindings. If not, and I don't see why not, you could at least get rid of the w/s (forwards/backwards) keybindings.

Daeus · 07/14/07, 12:40 PM

When I played my Hunter i believe all you really needed was 1 Arcane 2 Steady 3 Concussion 4 Scatter and I'm not quite sure how many mouse buttons that you have. But Q can be Ice trap Z frost trap etc just plant your button close to wasd Mouse wheel up for silencing shot etc.

I also use t for pet attack and t again for pet back off.

Easiest way strafe atleast for me is right click then A to strafe i never used the stafe button so i just unbound the strafe buttons right away

cabbage · 07/14/07, 1:28 PM

i use the standard WSAD movement keys, with A and D being strafe. all of my instants are bound to the keys that border D (my index finger).
E is wingclip, R is serpent, F is concussive, C is arcane.
i also have all of the above bound w/ +shift to do diff things. shift+E is hunters mark, shift+R is viper sting, shift+F is flare, shift+C is scatter shot.
now whenever im kiting someone i usually strafe to the left (A) so my index finger (D) is free to use my instants.

• Vulajin · 07/14/07, 1:53 PM

I have thought through these very same issues, myself. The solution I found was two-fold.

First, switch from WASD to ESDF, and throw in W and R for good measure. Set E to move forward, and D to move backward. Depending on your preference, set S and F to turn left/right or to strafe left/right (personally I have them set to turn). Then set W and R to strafe left/right or to turn left/right (whichever one you didn't use S and F for). I set my auto-run key to shift-E, to keep it conceptually linked to the action of moving forward, and to avoid wasting other nearby keys. The chief advantage of using ESDF is that it is most natural when you're typing to switch to movement, and vice versa, when using ESDF. Additionally, ESDF allows you to reach more keys on your keyboard (you should be able to reach at least 1-6, A-H, Z-N).

Now that you have access to all these extra keys, use them. Throw away the built-in WoW keybinds and start binding stuff to T, G, B, 1, Q, A, and Z. I've found these are the easiest keys to hit while moving around (especially 1, Q, A, Z). Don't be stingy, though, use 2-4 and X-V as well. And of course, use modifiers with all of the above. This gives you a huge number of possible actions with a pretty small number of keys, all reachable with your left hand while the right remains on the mouse.

senior toasted bread · 07/14/07, 4:07 PM

The only problem i see with EDSF key bindings for movement is ctrl, and to a lesser degree shift, are harder to reach while keeping your fingers on the EDSF keys. with my ring finger on S i can't reach the ctrl key without moving my whole hand. How do you get around this?

Xei · 07/14/07, 5:10 PM

I still use the WASD keys for movement, and I bind my important keys to RFC.

R = Counterspell
F = Blink
C = Fire Blast or Ice Lance (depending on spec)

Then I use Shift with other keys.

Shift+D = Fireball or Frostbolt
Shift+W = Dragons Breath or CoC
Shift+F = F-Nova or pets F-Nova
Shift+Q = Pet attack

I have remove lesser curse bound to '1' and thats pretty much all I use for bindings. I have my focus macros for poly/CS near the top of my screen but I do click those - should really set aside a binding for that but I primarily PvE so its not a huge must for me. I am not sure I could use anymore bindings either - I am kind of out of keys in close/fast reach but you are right, I definitely should try.

I remember how foreign it felt when I first moved to keybindings instead of clicking all those years ago. It started as just binding Blink so I could get away from rogues, then added CS to nab those heals and just went on from there.

Calantus · 07/14/07, 5:18 PM

For me I bind autorun to the thumb button on my mouse. I originally did it for convenience because during long play sessions I'm often playing with 1 hand, the other eating or drinking. When I've sat down and looked at what I do when I play I actually use autorun a LOT. I'll move seamlessly through holding both buttons to move when I need my left hand free to clicking autorun when I need my mouse pointer free, etc. It actually gives me a lot more flexibility than having autorun bound on my keyboard (which I also have bound there). For my movement keys I bound over Q and E because I find RClick-A/D easy enough that I don't need specific strafe keys. The only problem I have is that I'm very dependant on holding down Rclick when I'm moving about and sometimes this causes problems with spells getting stuck on my pointer and me not removing them quickly, but I'm working on that and have cut it down quite a lot.

For abilities I bind like this:

q  e  z  x  c  r  f  v  t  g  b  y -  Main action bar
Q  E  Z  X  C  R  F  V  T  G  B  Y -  Bottom left bar
1  2  3  4  5  6  s1 s2 s3 s4 s5 s6 -  Bottom right bar

Ctrl is ventrilo and alt is both my selfcast key and my "alternate function" key for macros. [h] is my attack key, and [n] is my pet attack key. My scroll wheel is still tied to my camera because I like to move it in and out as needed quite a lot. I really should get a mouse with more buttons but for now it only has the 1 side button.

Some of those key combos are basically impossible to hit while also using the movement keys which is why I rely on my mouse a lot. Everything that can be selfcast is moved to early on the main action bar or the left bottom bar for easy access, and my most commonly used spells are moved likewise. 2 recent examples are shadow fiend and fear ward. Shadow fiend used to be Shift-3, but I moved it to [f] because I found I really needed to be able to cast it without thinking in the heat of battle. Fear ward had also been on a stupid keybind, s6 (which made casting it on myself Shift+Alt+6), from way before arenas so it was much more situationally used. In arenas I use it all the damn time naturally so I moved it to [v].

For strafing specifically, I have my most used instant casts in spots that are easy to hit while holding down [a] or [d] so I just hit autorun, hold down Rclick, hold down the direction I want to strafe and then hit keys as needed. It works out pretty well.

Yes · 07/14/07, 10:28 PM

For strafing you can hold down a or d and the right mouse to control the angle. That leaves (for me) shift ctrl 12345werfxcvbgt open.

Eyago · 07/15/07, 5:09 AM

I've realized that finger placement has had a huge impact on how I keybind abilities. It starts with the WASD keys and the fact that I use my pinky, ring, middle fingers of my left hand to move/strafe, leaving my index finger fairly empty of purpose. So, I started binding stuff to R, F, G, then moved on to V, C, X, Z. Then I started doing Shift combos of those letters. I've tried using my ring, middle, index fingers for movement and at this point, it just feels wrong. I've wanted to switch to ESDF for a long time, ever since watching Sarrow Hill 5 where Otherguy mentions it opening up QAZ as binding possibilities, but I'm too scared to really dedicate myself to it when this is working so well for me as-is.

Tiiki · 07/15/07, 9:45 AM

Do it, it only took me a week or two to adapt.

I use ESDF for movement, have stuff bound to QAZ\, WR, TGVC, BN, 123456 and shift combos with some of those (usually via a modifier: shift macro - now you can have the icon and tool tip change dynamically). I also have shift-mousewheel up bound to blind focus - the changes to focus targeting macros in the next patch hurt me though. Then I have a further two mouse buttons bound.

My rule is to bind stuff you can and want to do on the move most carefully, since, for example, even though W and R seem like prime keys, you cant hit them whilst having all fingers on the movement keys...

To this end, on my rogue I have mutilate and gouge on the two side mouse buttons, and on my mage I have blink and fireblast/CoC.

Cromfel · 07/15/07, 10:13 AM

Do people still use A and D arrows as defaulted for turning char? I find those keys completely irrelevant due mouse turning, so I use them as strafe keys. WHile releasing Q and E for other important spells.

• Vulajin · 07/15/07, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by senior toasted bread

The only problem i see with EDSF key bindings for movement is ctrl, and to a lesser degree shift, are harder to reach while keeping your fingers on the EDSF keys. with my ring finger on S i can't reach the ctrl key without moving my whole hand. How do you get around this?

I can reach control just fine from ESDF, as well as shift, although it's possible my keyboard is shaped differently from yours. Granted, something like control-1 is going to be hard to press while using ESDF, but control-B, I don't find so difficult. It really depends on whether you do most of your movement using the keys or the mouse. If I'm moving with the mouse, I don't really need to worry about whether my hand is shifting to hit control.

Tiiki · 07/15/07, 12:41 PM

When you hold RMB the turn keys become strafe keys anyway... so it's same diff

Oino · 07/15/07, 5:28 PM

If you find you are running out of keys you can rebind your Caps Lock key to an extra control key using KeyTweak (the main site appears to be down at the moment, but the tucows mirror is still up). This makes it much easier to use a control modifier for actions you need to perform quickly. (I also have my scroll lock key rebound to Caps Lock in case I ever actually need Caps Lock).

Kasi · 07/15/07, 5:43 PM

Well for one I use clique for healing. So that frees up some keys on my shaman. I also click for totems, although I've thought of binding grounding totem to a key, but really just that one.

E,S,D,F are my movement, and I also use W.R for strafing. I turn generally with my mouse and keys combined. Auto run is ctrl and a button on my mouse. Most of my attack abilites are bound to V and G. T and C have some stuff as well, as does 3. Vent is bound to 2. Shift V,G,T,C give me more options as well. Also two little buttons on my mouse along with shift of those two little buttons. (for stuff like pvp trinket, stance changes on my warrior, NS, EM)

Sometimes I get a bit confused about it all, but I think alot of it has to do with me playing 2 characters and switching a lot between them.

• Encross · 07/15/07, 6:10 PM

I only move via keyboard with QWE (Q/E being strafes respectively). It kind of throws me out of my FPS norm', but I can't see 1-6 being fluid while strafing or hamstring kiting without it.

I also played a hunter, and found it a lot easier to bind his ranged stuff to the right of the E key. Example, I latched my steady shot to r, multi shot to t, arcane shot to 5. It gives you a lot more lax while keeping hotkeys the way they should be - out of your mind and purely reflex.

If you still have the default A/D turn keys bound, I would suggest putting something more useful in their place. On my warrior they are my Defensive/Battle stances respectively, but you could also take the route of binding those to strafes instead and freeing up Q/E for the same results. Just a matter of preferance, I guess.

Calantus · 07/15/07, 9:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cromfel

Do people still use A and D arrows as defaulted for turning char? I find those keys completely irrelevant due mouse turning, so I use them as strafe keys. WHile releasing Q and E for other important spells.

I did the exact opposite of what you're doing; I kept the turn keys and got rid of the strafe keys. The reason I did is because the turn keys become strafe keys when holding down Rclick whereas the strafe buttons are always just strafe.

Tiiki · 07/15/07, 9:56 PM

Originally Posted by Kasi

Well for one I use clique for healing. So that frees up some keys on my shaman. I also click for totems, although I've thought of binding grounding totem to a key, but really just that one.

E,S,D,F are my movement, and I also use W.R for strafing. I turn generally with my mouse and keys combined. Auto run is ctrl and a button on my mouse. Most of my attack abilites are bound to V and G. T and C have some stuff as well, as does 3. Vent is bound to 2. Shift V,G,T,C give me more options as well. Also two little buttons on my mouse along with shift of those two little buttons. (for stuff like pvp trinket, stance changes on my warrior, NS, EM)

Sometimes I get a bit confused about it all, but I think alot of it has to do with me playing 2 characters and switching a lot between them.

I know my shaman uses a castsequence macro something like: /castsequence [reset=15] Grounding Totem, Windfury Totem.

He spams this during fights so that grounding is down when available, and WF in between to keep the 10s (or 8?) weapon buff on our warrior's weapon...

Elendril · 07/16/07, 2:48 AM

I cannot recommend an 8 button mouse enough - i have so many skills bound to mouse buttons, and modifer-mouse button, and they're all incredibly convenient to press any time. i use `-5 and alt/cntl modifers of those with wasd movement, with binds to tgv, but at least half of my commonly used skills are on my mouse.

panny · 07/16/07, 2:54 AM

Originally Posted by Tiiki

When you hold RMB the turn keys become strafe keys anyway... so it's same diff

Not really, requiring your RMB held to strafe means you cant look around you while strafing.

Hausnfranz · 07/16/07, 3:11 AM

I use the typical asdw for movement.

Q E, R are all bound to spells, plus each one is bound respectively to SHIFT and CTRL.

I then use 3-5, (plus their SHIFT and CTRL binds) for frequent spells. 1,2,6 are bound as well, but are not used during FPS mega-action-running-moments.

I always strafe left, thus I have my pointer finger open for 3-5, etc while strafing.

There are a lot of options there. You could also bind the asdw keys with SHIFT or CTRL if you dont need those actions during running.

Zamaar · 07/16/07, 7:19 AM

Maybe as a tank I never found the need to strafe fast and accurately, I just bound < and > as strafe left / right, all my other moving needs are done with the mouse + arrow keys, I like the keyboard for skills.

For the tanks out there, how is your key binding looking when tanking a boss? i.e. in situations where all you use is shield block, revenge, heroic strike, shield slam and devastate (And the occasional TC / DS if others are slacking)?

I'm currently using 1,2,3 where 1 is revenge + SB, 2 is Sunder / Devastate (sunder if shift is down else devastate), 3 shield slam + shield block (I have a mental problem I guess, I am unable to pay attention and click shield block in time while maintaining same TPS if I didn't have to pay attention so I just added it to the normal abilities I use anyway, works fine most of the time unless I am rage starved), and 4 is heroic strike, I use one hand on pressing revenge, shield slam then dev,dev untill revenge up again, and the other hand is pressing down heroic strike every 2 secs or so, would like to hear how others are handling it.

Gah, didn't notice I clicked PVP subforum and not PVE, so I guess it's irrelevant what I wrote, but question still stands!

Syvertsen · 07/16/07, 7:59 AM

I found it very comfortable to use positional abilities such as backstab, mutilate and blink at mousebutton4, as I'm using keybindings for movement and mouse for camera movement.

Gozul · 07/16/07, 9:22 AM

My movement keys are R D F G. This gives me a lot of binds on the left side of the keyboard and the Alt key is really close to my little finger ( on Z most of the time ) so i can also do a lot of alt-binds without struggling much.

I play a warlock and almost every spell is binded tom y keyboard or mouse ( MX 500 ftw )

My most usefull spells are placed on Z S E T Y H B N ( and Alt equivalents ) and space. I don't use 4 5 6 or 7 very often because it really mess my movements ( i have to raise my hand a little bit to reach those binds ).