Help me not to loathe this game's controls so much. [rage!!111]

aldeera_terab16_ESO · June 2014

Well met fellow adventurers,

I find myself having a quite essential problem: I just can't work those controls in a way that doesn't utterly frustrate me.

For one, I'm not a WASD user, and never have been, despite myself being an old fart and having played vidya games since around 1990 (well, earlier, really, but chess and old amber screen DOS stuff doesn't count). I've just never needed to use WASD and prefer my keyboard's arrow keys instead.
Anyway, most games utilize the right mouse button to move in a varying degree of speed, depending on how close to your character you press it.
ESO, however, has this annoying combination of relying on movement keys and, at the same time, rejecting the simultaneous pressure of multiple keys, which makes it a "hit key, hit key, hit key, hit key, hit key" experience - especially in a battle.
Two thirds of the time it will not accept my pressing a movement key and hitting an ability key at the same time. It will simply not react as I try to control my poor character. Most of the time, hitting an ability/skill key while simultaneously attempting to move will result in the desired action not firing off. This applies to skills as well as chugging potions.
I've tried several custom controls options such as assigning "move forward" to my right mouse button, or assigning abilites to mouse button 3 and 4 - which actually kinda works, since the limitations of "don't press two keys at once" don't seem to apply to the mouse which makes it much more effective to use the mouse buttons than keys.

And it's still driving me insane. There are simply too many keys to press! Attack, block, interrupt, you need those in a fight. And you can't bind keys using a combination thereof, such as SHIFT+LMB or what have you, which is a major problem for me, especially since the game simply refuses to react to key presses half of the time.

How on earth do you guys solve this problem? I feel like I am simply missing something there. Should I use a controller? A joystick, even? Or should I simply accept the fact that I'm too old for this sh!t and call it quits, since it's annoying me more than it should. I simply can't control this stupid game in a way that makes me feel I am IN CONTROL, and I do not appreciate the lack of keyboard response or key bindings.

Argh. Help?

Wintersage · June 2014

Solved it by mapping to a controller. Hell with keyboard/mouse. Admittedly, I'm all fringe and whatnot.

Munku · June 2014

No. Get over it or don't.

Tannakaobi · June 2014

I'm not a wasd player either, so maybe my set up could help:

L mouse - forward
R Mouse - block

1-6 - skills, (I use 4 as attack)
F4 - Ultimate
F3 - target player
F2 - Free camera
F1 - change weapon
F5 - potion

Tab - stealth
ctrl - Sprint
T - put weapon away

I also have two side mouse buttons that I set as:

front - interact
back - move back

Works well for me.

Edit: Middle mouse press - auto run
(num) / - walk

aldeera_terab16_ESO · June 2014

A very interesting setup, but how do you attack/charge attack?

This game requires the use of way too many keys/buttons at once. And, at the same time, it can't even process simple SHIFT+key mappings or handle two keys being pressed at the same time.

My own setup, btw:

LMB - attack
RMB - block
MMB - Ultimate
MB3 - sheathe/unsheathe
MB4 - jump
NUM 0 - interact

NUM 1-5 - skills (I can, in theory, easily navigate my char using the arrow keys and hit a NUM key at the same time. However, the game will usually not register half of what I'm doing because I tend to somewhat hold down a movement key while also trying to, you know, use a skill which is a bad no no. How DARE I attempting to move my character in a fight!)

CTRL - stealth
SHIFT - run
SPACE - synergy (another thing you need, but I'm all out of keys at this point)

One of the most obvious changes to my setup was to use MB3 and MB4 for more battle-relevant things, and it turns out that this works WAY better than hitting the keyboard trying to execute an attack, because the crazy "can't press two keys at once" thing doesn't apply here. Except then I have to find yet ANOTHER key to map sheathe/unsheathe and jump to, and frankly, there are only so many keys I can comfortably reach and I'm getting sick of ESO's way of being reliant on so many different action keys at once.

I think I'm gonna look into a controller. Definitely gonna try that before I ragequit. How many keys do these people expect me to be able to press at the same time, and WHY DOES PRESSING THEM AT THE SAME TIME not actually WORK?!

Armianlee · June 2014

Tannakaobi wrote: »

I'm not a wasd player either, so maybe my set up could help:

L mouse - forward
R Mouse - block
<snip>

Nice layout. I've had a friend quit because he couldn't find a layout he liked. Think this may get him back.

Pele · June 2014

A controller.

aldeera_terab16_ESO · June 2014

Nice layout. I've had a friend quit because he couldn't find a layout he liked. Think this may get him back.

Don't count on it. ESO needs to add the ability to map key combinations, something that's so very basic that it really should be expected. Or we all need to upgrade to gaming devices with 10 easily available buttons

Or maybe a controller. Gonna buy one tomorrow. And if that doesn't work out ... well, there are other games to play...

poodlemasterb16_ESO · June 2014

ASDLeftAlt is the original Doom set of movement keys. WASD is just dumb, but anything you get used to is what you are used to.

I use ASDLeftAlt without any thought at all. It's burned in.

I have 3 extra buttons on my trackball, 3 weapons there. I use SHIFT for another often used weapon and Z for my least used one, A pet as a sorc, for example. I can fight with it too, it's just not as convenient as the rest. C is my ULT.

I can use this setup on all my 7 chars quite well. It's all useable as I move and I can fight very well.

My latest 'exploit' is spamming the Vampire Drain, I have it on SHIFT for my Pale Witch and she wanders around in the trash, almost always a few levels above her, as a Stage 4 Vampire and fights hordes of mobs very well. You have to keep track of who you drained but I can keep her pretty well full health while wacking stacks of mobs. It's tricky, get anything wrong and you die but just hilarious fun.

Tannakaobi · June 2014

Armianlee wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

I'm not a wasd player either, so maybe my set up could help:

L mouse - forward
R Mouse - block
<snip>

Nice layout. I've had a friend quit because he couldn't find a layout he liked. Think this may get him back.

Sweet, works well for me. I'm sad to admit it, but I'm to use to wow and other such games to go to the wasd set up. Always played my TES games on an xbox pad in the past.

The important thing in ESO is to be able to block/dodge and interrupt. This set up still allows for the double click dodge and both mouse buttons to interrupt. Block is the same.

aldeera_terab16_ESO wrote: »

Nice layout. I've had a friend quit because he couldn't find a layout he liked. Think this may get him back.

Don't count on it. ESO needs to add the ability to map key combinations, something that's so very basic that it really should be expected. Or we all need to upgrade to gaming devices with 10 easily available buttons

Or maybe a controller. Gonna buy one tomorrow. And if that doesn't work out ... well, there are other games to play...

I find ESO pretty easy, much less to think about than other mmo's I have played. The one think I would like to change is the silly pad type potion thing. That's silly.

aldeera_terab16_ESO wrote: »

A very interesting setup, but how do you attack/charge attack?

This game requires the use of way too many keys/buttons at once. And, at the same time, it can't even process simple SHIFT+key mappings or handle two keys being pressed at the same time.

I'm not sure I understand.(edit) Attack for me is 4, charge? Heavy maybe, is hold 4. What buttons do you need to press at the same time?

Anyway I hope the pad works out for you.

Edit: Ah, I see... Yeah, looks like the arrow movement keys are messing with the actions keys (that is poor). My set up allows all movement, but left and right strafing to come through the mouse including block, interrupt and dodge. Leaving my left hand free to do all my skills with.

born2beagator · June 2014

Been using a 360 controller, and would not play this game without a controller. So much more relaxing and easier on my hands

Goibot · June 2014

@aldeera_terab16_ESO
I'm an old fart as well and I never did get into the wasd thing either. However, I did solve my problem with another type of keyboard. Take a look at this:
steelseries.com/products/keyboards/steelseries-merc-stealth

TheTycoon · June 2014

Gaming mouse.

I use a Logitech G602.

IrishGirlGamer · June 2014

Seriously, gaming mouse. I sympathize, and to a degree, empathize with what you wrote. For any MMO, I would encourage looking at and testing a good gaming mouse.

Most of my combat controls are on the mouse; my targeting and movement controls are on the keyboard. The transition is fairly seamless. It does take some getting used to, but after a few days you won't look back.

Evergnar · June 2014

TheTycoon wrote: »

Gaming mouse.

I use a Logitech G602.

^This. Gaming mouse. Problem solved.

Phantorang · June 2014

A remap of the keyboard is what you got to do, and a gaming mouse with a few extra buttons.

I got strafe left and right on my mouse
Forward: R
Back: V
Abilities: 1-5
Ultimate: T

I never use WASD, and I dont have to move my hand at all, F1-F5 is different potions.

kieso · June 2014

being a left handed player this is my setup with a gaming mouse

sensei steelseries mouse

L click = attack
mid click = bash
R click = block

lower right button = sprint
upper left button = target
lower left button = mount/dismount

arrow keys = movement

numpad keys 1-6 = skills + ultimate
0 = synergy
period on numpad = jump

7 on numpad = potion

+ on numpad = secondary interaction/environment interaction

- on numpad = primary interaction/char interaction

dannymcgr81b14_ESO · June 2014

Old fart...1990. Ha! Sorry but I couldn't resist.

But seriously, this is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Naga-2014-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00E8CF268 I have my attacks all bound to the side buttons so my left hand concentrates on moving and my right on fighting.

death_ofgodsb14_ESO · June 2014

I bound mine so it plays more like wow/swtor. I use a regular keyboard and a 5 button mouse.

left mouse = forward
right mouse = back
mouse scroll button = autorun
strafe right/left on the 2 side buttons
dodge = spacebar
C = jump

`(button left of 1) = basic attack
w = block

I left all the other combat keybinds alone

also I rebound R to D for all the non ultimate functions

In short, I move with my right hand and fight with my left.

SFBryan18 · June 2014

You should try my xpadder settings with a ps3 controller. It's awesome.

aldeera_terab16_ESO · June 2014

Thanks everyone for their comments! I had toyed with the idea of buying a gaming keyboard or a Naga before, to be honest, except I've always found more imminent and important stuff to spend my money on, so I never actually did. ;-) I realise this would probably make things waaay easier for me, so maybe I will at some point in the future! I'm going to try a controller first, and maybe yet another couple of remaps.

Thank you everyone for your input!

Hilgara · June 2014

All abilities on 6 button mouse. Movement on number pad (left handed)

isengrimb16_ESO · June 2014

I move with the arrow keys, and have my attacks mapped to 1-5 on my number pad. Weapon swap is 0-insert, E is the numpad return carriage, R is the plus sign. Ultimate is pg dn, potions are End and sheathe weapon is Delete. It's easier for my left hand to do all this while steering and basic-attacking/blocking with the mouse (it's the mouse steering that bugs me!) Roll Dodge is my one little extra button on the side of my cheapie mouse.

However, I do find it hard to attack and move at the same time if I don't do roll dodge; I'm thinking of getting a gaming mouse soon, but I'm not sure if I can train my right thumb to do all that work.

SamWale · June 2014

I solved this problem by getting a Razer Naga mouse and mapping it's keypad to trigger skills and various other controls. I only use the keyboard for movement now, so much easier.

Lunerdog · June 2014

SamWale wrote: »

I solved this problem by getting a Razer Naga mouse and mapping it's keypad to trigger skills and various other controls. I only use the keyboard for movement now, so much easier.

Me too, just bought a Razer Naga Hex and with my abilities and weapon sheathe on the six side keys and weapon swap on the scroll press I'm finding things a lot easier.

Mainly because this way I can keep my digits on the WASD keys and stay very mobile while scrapping.

Hiply · June 2014

Razer Naga and a Nostromo n52e, a little time to get used to them and develop a little muscle memory, and smile.

sevcik.miroslaveb17_ESO · June 2014

Since my cataclysm mouse is broken thanks to my stupidity of updaring to windows 8.1 I am stuck with my old logitech g7. Not bad mouse, but not good at all for MMOs. :-( how I miss my 15 buttons and huge mouse for my hand :-)

Adramelach · June 2014

I use Razer stuff, and have everything remapped to my keypad (http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-orbweaver) and mouse (http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-mice/razer-naga)

I only touch my keyboard to enter text or commands in chat. The default bindings are horrid for me, and I can't really play the game well if I'm not on my rig.

Bhakura · June 2014

i would break several fingers trying to get em out of the knot they ended up in using some of these key mappings

Erlindur · June 2014

My good old logitech G600. I don't think I could play this game without it.

Anrik · June 2014

I have never played with a WASD set up. The way the keys lie is just way too annoying for me. Instead I use the 10-key and a Logitech Trackball M570

Character Movement: 8,4,6,2
Skills: Enter,7,9,5,3
Autorun: /
Synergy: 1
Mount: 0
Environment Interaction/Primary Action/Accept: +
Secondary Action: F
Sprint: .
Quickslot: *
Ultimate: Middle Mouse
Attack: Left click
Block: Right click
Jump: Mouse Button 5
Weapon Swap: Mouse Button 4

I have crouch put on my keyboard as "A" but I almost never use it for my playstyle. What I really like about the 10-key is every button is in a vertical line. Fingers naturally rest on 8,4,6, & Enter and it's just move them straight up or straight down unlike the WASD where everything is up/down + an angle.