Combat using only keyboard and mouse

BlitzGirl41

I have the game on PC, even though I am a console player at heart, and I find engaging in combat with the keyboard and mouse frustrating - I can either run around and dodge to my heart's desire, attacking back with my weapon, or I give up mobility to hit the number keys to use spells and other skills. I have never been good at multi-tasking that element of computer games. In Guild Wars 2, you right-click an enemy and you auto-attack with your weapon, which then frees up my mouse for me to click my skills in the action bar without me having to give up using WASD when appropriate.

So, assuming that I don't find a way to successfully use a game controller plugged into my laptop, and don't buy a fancy gaming keyboard (which would be silly since I have a laptop...), what are the best tips for effectively fighting with keyboard+mouse? I hate feeling like a stationary target while I use spells/skills, or limiting my spell/skill use in order to be more mobile.

DocFrost72

Play to your hand's strengths. I'm the same as you, I just "get" console controls. Though ESO is the only game I can't use a controller for, because of hoW long I've played with it.

Back on topic: I set my spammable dps skill to the 1 key, that way I can move right and up while angling my hand to mash the button, still retaining my mouse utility. While this is not ideal, it helps a ton. Now I can strafe, aim, and jabs without feeling like I'm playing twister.

wayfarerx

I have one of these and it's a huge help in ESO. I have all my skills, ultimate, potion, dodge roll, weapon swap, etc mapped to buttons on the mouse so that I never have to take my fingers of WASD in a fight. It takes awhile to get used to all the buttons on the side but now I can stay highly mobile while firing off skills as fast as anyone.

NordSwordnBoard

My (PS4) controller has the upside of being able to spam the trigger buttons while simultaneously moving/juking, but your other button skills are harder to spam due to taking your thumb away from the movement stick for a second. Console button mapping is limited to like 3 or 4 templates.

This causes me to set more difficult to aim skills on the triggers. You cant aim with your thumb, move off the stick to push the button (healing springs, open target area) back to stick to adjust aim if needed, then back to the button to execute.

I get frustrated when I go to switch weapons (Dpad left) and it lags or doesn't switch and I'm just standing around waiting to be killed because my thumbs dealing with that instead of moving around.

I would assume you can customize freely with a PC game controller, and get the best of both worlds?

DDemon

I use a gaming mouse with additional buttons, allowing me to put all my skills on the mouse buttons, freeing up my other hand for mobility using the keyboard.

phobossion

I second the Razer Naga! I works so well with ESO it's kind of a magical experience I even have my dodge roll and weapon swap bound to the mouse keys making combat movement a breeze, never having to reach out from WSAD

Van_0S

BlitzGirl41 wrote: »

I have the game on PC, even though I am a console player at heart, and I find engaging in combat with the keyboard and mouse frustrating - I can either run around and dodge to my heart's desire, attacking back with my weapon, or I give up mobility to hit the number keys to use spells and other skills. I have never been good at multi-tasking that element of computer games. In Guild Wars 2, you right-click an enemy and you auto-attack with your weapon, which then frees up my mouse for me to click my skills in the action bar without me having to give up using WASD when appropriate.

So, assuming that I don't find a way to successfully use a game controller plugged into my laptop, and don't buy a fancy gaming keyboard (which would be silly since I have a laptop...), what are the best tips for effectively fighting with keyboard+mouse? I hate feeling like a stationary target while I use spells/skills, or limiting my spell/skill use in order to be more mobile.

Use a gaming mouse.
Set your main damage bar skill on that mouse and use your keyboard for movement.
Lastly,
Keyboard and mouse > controller. ( ESO only)

Curragraigue

I know how you feel OP I am a console gamer and I played it on PC for over a year before it released on console. It took time to get sort of comfortable with K&M but I was never really very confident in it for trials or anything like that. Going to a controller has made things a lot more comfortable. I thought ZOS were going to be releasing it's console controller support for PC as well.

Duiwel

I only use my KB for:

Movement WASD & Numlock for autorun/walk & Dodge rolling
Typing in chat
Opening the map or logging off the game
Opening champion points tree, skill tree, mails, character info, inventory
Jumping Spacebar
Sneaking Ctrl
Running Shift

Everything combat related is mouse.

Van_0S

Curragraigue wrote: »

I know how you feel OP I am a console gamer and I played it on PC for over a year before it released on console. It took time to get sort of comfortable with K&M but I was never really very confident in it for trials or anything like that. Going to a controller has made things a lot more comfortable. I thought ZOS were going to be releasing it's console controller support for PC as well.

Even for me it was the same but when I bought the gaming mouse, my opinion changed!

Eoden13

I know plenty of people in guild that play on PC and use an Xbox controller. They enjoy it. I have been playing PC games for over 20 years now so I guess I am just used to smash WASD and 1-5 for abilities. it does take some getting used too. hell I still smash my ultimate button when I don't mean too. I use a logitech mouse with a few extra buttons and I fully take advantage of them to take away from some of the key smashing. play around until you get comfortable with a setup.

STEVIL

wayfarerx wrote: »

I have one of these and it's a huge help in ESO. I have all my skills, ultimate, potion, dodge roll, weapon swap, etc mapped to buttons on the mouse so that I never have to take my fingers of WASD in a fight. It takes awhile to get used to all the buttons on the side but now I can stay highly mobile while firing off skills as fast as anyone.

Agree

For half way nut imo easier the HEX has six side buttons. I have move forward, backward dodge jump all on the mouse side so my left hand is attacks only and my rt move and light/hvy.

Lot more mobile now.

greylox

At least there's only 5 skill slots, other mmos I've had keybinds for well over 10 skills. It's just getting used to it, I'd feel the same if I went controller in all honesty.

RedFireDisco

I use xbox controller for pc. I couldn't get use to the keys and now I don;t have to.

Jim_Pipp

A genuine bravo to zos for giving PC gamepad mode. Until they did I was using xpadder to play on gamepad.

For the OP, I play with an xbox pad on my laptop, and while it is not perfect it ticks all the boxes.

holosoul

You can also rebind your keys to more convenient places and use more than 1 finger at a time.

DeadlyRecluse

wayfarerx wrote: »

I have one of these and it's a huge help in ESO. I have all my skills, ultimate, potion, dodge roll, weapon swap, etc mapped to buttons on the mouse so that I never have to take my fingers of WASD in a fight. It takes awhile to get used to all the buttons on the side but now I can stay highly mobile while firing off skills as fast as anyone.

Agreed 100%. Going from number keys to thumb buttons makes a world of difference, makes animation cancelling easy, allows you to never stop tracking while fighting, etc.

BlitzGirl41

Is a PS4 controller compatible with an HP laptop? My controller is wireless, but it came with a USB charging cord.