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Playing with arthritis, tendinitis, and other challenges that doesn't allow for quick hand movements

Crown
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I have a few old (and elder) friends who play ESO, and they very much enjoy PvP. The challenge that they have is in quick finger and hand movements, and the pain that this causes after a relatively short period of time (15-20 minutes in the worst of cases).

These are the relevant conditions for the scenario:
  • Low hand/finger movement due to pain
  • Slow reaction times by the player
  • Happy to contribute as they can
  • Enjoy being social in voice chat
  • Don't care about dying, to be expected due inability to move as well as a 12 year old (in mind or body)

I'm looking for a reasonable option that would allow them to play in PvP groups without being a burden on the group.

The simplest scenario would be a purge build. While they could use a macro that hits purge or cleanse every 2 seconds, this is against the TOS, so I'm looking for more suggestions from the community, and/or input from @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom @ZOS_BrianWheeler and other team members regarding what these players can do while staying within the bounds of the TOS.

EDIT: Spelling

UPDATE: One individual (missing most of his left hand due to an IED) has ordered https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/accessories/controllers/xbox-adaptive-controller and https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/gamepads/adaptive-gaming-kit-accessories.943-000318.html and we'll be working out something that fits his scenario. For those with arthritis such as @bugmom (thanks for your input), if you find something that works well for you, please let us know!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, and @IxSTALKERxI for the set suggestions that don't require much more than one's presence.
Edited by Crown on May 3, 2020 4:51PM
Crown | AD NB | First AD/NA Grand Overlord (2015/12/26)
PvP Guides @ DarkElves.com
  • FrancisCrawford
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    Point of semantics: You didn't really mean "low" reaction times. :)
  • Alucardo
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    While I'm familiar with the likes of arthritis, I'm not sure how it affects gameplay and devices. Would controllers be more comfortable for them? Also, I wonder if ESO supports the Xbox Adaptive Controller - https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/accessories/controllers/xbox-adaptive-controller
    It's designed especially for those with limited mobility, so it might be something they'd be interested in if they haven't already heard of it.
  • FrancisCrawford
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    As for substance -- how do these people play in PvE? Can they use a standard 1-skill-per-gcd rotation? (I'm guessing that even if they can they can't weave as well.) Can they use rotations that make things a little easier via channeled skills? (Puncturing Sweeps, Snipe, whatever?) If they get in trouble in PvE, can they hit heals, or do they just fall over and die?

    Anyhow, my first idea is to have them run a bunch of magplars cross-healing each other. Or maybe pet sorcerers, who can do some damage without hitting any skills at all, who are strong at healing, and who have a class shield skill with unusually high duration.
  • bugmom
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    I'm one such person. Severe rheumatoid disease and completely disabled in RL. Permanent joint damage in my hands. I found ESO shortly after launch and started playing for pain management. But, as my condition has worsened I have more and more trouble playing. I don't do trials anymore at all because a 10 minute, dps based boss fight where you're pressing your rotation keys over and over leaves me in pain and swollen. When I found PvP it was such a blessing! You fight some you ride some. Except for a few epic cases, battles used to be of shorter duration and the play is much more varied. But as the game has changed and performance in Cyrodiil has deteriorated it's getting so much harder for me there. When you have to press the same key numerous times because skills aren't going off, it's frustrating for everyone. For people like me it's also a source of increased pain.

    I use a razer orb weaver and razer multi-button mouse and have made numerous key mapping changes to align with my fingers abilities. However, I haven't taken advantage of what the razer synapse macros could do for me because I don't want to violate TOS. In my condition, I've made many changes to my build and have no illusions about my ever deteriorating level of play but I don't want to stop playing at all. I've often wondered if the right macros could help me can't try them under current TOS. On the other hand, I also get why opening the door to macros would open a pandora's box for people wanting to cheat.
  • Crown
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    Point of semantics: You didn't really mean "low" reaction times. :)

    You are correct! The letter S in slow magically disappeared between my brain and my fingers.. Fixed in original post.
    Crown | AD NB | First AD/NA Grand Overlord (2015/12/26)
    PvP Guides @ DarkElves.com
  • idk
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    First of all, PvP in any game that is not turn-based would be a strain on someone who health with painful movement issuers like arthritis and such.

    The first thing would be finding a device that worked for them. If they are mostly playing off a keyboard on a PC and only use a mouse for camera movement then an MMORPG mouse might help since it has buttons on the side that are activated with the thumb. Many of us use those to fire off our skills. A controller might also work. It comes down to what is comfortable to them but will take time to get used to.

    In the end, it will be a challenge for someone that is essentially movement impaired like that. Good luck to them finding a solution.
  • ZOS_Volpe
    ZOS_Volpe
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  • out51d3r
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    As a 43 year old, I'll give them the same advice I give everybody else: git gud.

    I don't use my age as an excuse to cheat(macros). I've been developing arthritis in my hands for the last 5 or so years. I'd never even entertain the thought of trying to play under different rules than my opponents. To do so would lower me as a competitor.

    If you're starting to hurt, take a break. If you feel you aren't cutting it mechanically, out think your opponents. Never allow the excuse of age enter your mind. Age is something you will NOT beat, so the moment you start blaming your losses on it, you have accepted that you will continue to lose and there's nothing you can do about it(aside from cheat, apparently).

    For the record, I'm severely out of practice in ESO(just returned after around 1.5 years). But I still experience success in other competitive games. Most notably, I cracked the top 0.5% ranking in NA solo queue in PUBG in roughly 2-3 months at 41 years old.

    Other than git gud, try out different control devices/input schemes. I've been experimenting with mice, keyboards, gamepads, joysticks, hitboxes, etc for decades. Including building customs of my own. Some are definitely more comfortable and easier on the hands than others. MMO mice are uncomfortable garbage that put enormous strain on the mouse hand in ESO. If you want to not beat your hands up, you most definitely want to be light attacking with one hand, and executing abilities with the other. You also want to give thought to how you'll be comboing your abilities, which abilities you will be executing while moving vs the ones you have to stand still for, etc. If it hurts, you're probably doing it wrong. Don't buy into the "meta" keybindings, they aren't necessarily the best. You want to minimize movement, but if certain movements hurt, you shouldn't be doing them, even if they are the most efficient.



  • zyk
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    In games where macros are allowed, they basically become an artform of automation. There are good reasons why they are against the rules.

    Unfortunately, our bodies wear down. I can't play any game as much as I used to, but I don't want any of them changed to facilitate me. When I can't play games to my satisfaction anymore, I'll move on. We all should do that. We shouldn't constantly try to change existing things to better suit us, individually, as we change.
    Edited by zyk on May 1, 2020 11:57PM
  • InaMoonlight
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    Thank you OP, same issues here, even if only 38 years old, I kinda, just gave up and solo everything that is and some times isn't possible my own way to not get in others, I'll be following :)

    Doesn't help if you already have social anxiety - To get ridiculed and cussed out even at a WB, despite putting 8 years of playing's knowledge to use, cause you don't weave.
    Edit = Typos ... as usual. <;D
  • Sanctum74
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    Do macros even work in lag? I often have to press a button multiple times to use a skill or even run, with a macro only half your rotation would go off if anything at all. Ive personally dealt with nerve damage, arthritis, etc the only thing i can recommend is play an easier class like warden or templar where a combo is not as important.
  • zyk
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    Sanctum74 wrote: »
    Do macros even work in lag? I often have to press a button multiple times to use a skill or even run, with a macro only half your rotation would go off if anything at all. Ive personally dealt with nerve damage, arthritis, etc the only thing i can recommend is play an easier class like warden or templar where a combo is not as important.

    Macros work in lag as effectively as a player can.

    A macro may be as simple as something that merely replays keystrokes and as complex as a full pledged scripting language like python that can read IO and utilize logic.

    So while a very basic macro may be inflexible and could cause problems in some scenarios, a well-programmed script can compensate for conditions such as lag in various ways.
  • IxSTALKERxI
    IxSTALKERxI
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    NA | PC | Aldmeri Dominion
    Laser Eyes AR 26 Arcanist | Stalker V AR 41 Warden | I Stalker I AR 42 NB | Stalkersaurus AR 31 Templar | Stalker Ill AR 31 Sorc | Nigel the Great of Blackwater
    Former Emperor x11 campaign cycles
    Venatus Officer | RIP RÁGE | YouTube Channel
  • Wizunas
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    zyk wrote: »
    Sanctum74 wrote: »
    Do macros even work in lag? I often have to press a button multiple times to use a skill or even run, with a macro only half your rotation would go off if anything at all. Ive personally dealt with nerve damage, arthritis, etc the only thing i can recommend is play an easier class like warden or templar where a combo is not as important.

    Macros work in lag as effectively as a player can.

    A macro may be as simple as something that merely replays keystrokes and as complex as a full pledged scripting language like python that can read IO and utilize logic.

    So while a very basic macro may be inflexible and could cause problems in some scenarios, a well-programmed script can compensate for conditions such as lag in various ways.

    Oh yes indeed right u are. There's plenty of macroers specially those 1-2 to 5-6 small man farmer groups. So visible on screen too. Just wait around them if u die and u can see the speed they maneuver weapon and change bars. Specially the 2h weapon players Very noticeable.
  • out51d3r
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    Alucardo wrote: »
    Also, I wonder if ESO supports the Xbox Adaptive Controller - https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/accessories/controllers/xbox-adaptive-controller

    Wow, huge respect for Microsoft there. There isn't any reason it shouldn't work for ESO. Most likely the system would view it the same as any other xbox controller.

    While I personally have the electronics skills to build my own customs, the people that truly need a custom the most are often unable to do so. It's fantastic that Microsoft has decided to support those people.
  • out51d3r
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    I'm also going to use this opportunity to point out Brolylegs. He's a disabled Street Fighter player that plays near the top level(grand master in SFV, top ranked Chun Li in SF4). He can't play with his hands. So he uses his face, on a standard Xbox 360 controller. He doesn't ask to be an exception to the rules. He's not begging people to let him use macros. He just does his best to overcome his limitations within the same ruleset that applies to everybody else.

    If Brolylegs can compete at the top level of a much more mechanically demanding game with his face, I think your friends can manage to find a way to play ESO without macros.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=s1MYSgy4QMw
  • zyk
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    For the record, I just want to say that I didn't mean to imply macros enable players to do things that can't be done without them. I think that intuitive macros would benefit the least skilled players the most and the best players the least.

    I think they could make mediocre players seem decent in eso pvp in some scenarios. For example, gank combos and LA weaves. A slow, inattentive player could benefit from a script that executes a burst heal if their health drops below a certain point. They could be used for automatically dodging and blocking specific high damage attacks. The key is that automation software can react to screen output.

    I just wanted to point out that automation in gaming can be much more sophisticated than the software that comes with mice and keyboards.
    Edited by zyk on May 3, 2020 12:58AM
  • out51d3r
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    zyk wrote: »
    I just wanted to point out that automation in gaming can be much more sophisticated than the software that comes with mice and keyboards.

    No doubt. I could probably write a program to play the game for me, if I wanted to. Not sure if I could do it undetected, but I suspect if I put the effort in, I could fly it under the radar.

    I just don't see the point. A victory gained via cheating isn't a victory at all.
  • Crown
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    UPDATE: One individual (missing most of his left hand due to an IED) has ordered https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/accessories/controllers/xbox-adaptive-controller and https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/gamepads/adaptive-gaming-kit-accessories.943-000318.html and we'll be working out something that fits his scenario. For those with arthritis such as @bugmom (thanks for your input), and if you find something that works well for you, please let us know!

    Thank you everyone for your suggestions, and @IxSTALKERxI for the set suggestions that don't require much more than one's presence.

    I also ordered a https://www.razer.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-tartarus-v2 to see how playing one-handed would work.

    More thoughts and suggestions are welcome!
    Edited by Crown on May 3, 2020 4:52PM
    Crown | AD NB | First AD/NA Grand Overlord (2015/12/26)
    PvP Guides @ DarkElves.com
  • Ahtu
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    The gamepad makes this game playable for me. Without it, I would not be able to play due to my disability. The game actually feels better on it than a mouse and keyboard and you can change the camera sensitivity to maximum.
  • aetherial_heavenn
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    This suggestion will help the rsi and arthritis sufferers. More profound disabilities will require proper accessories and mods but it seems you have a handle on that side already. My respect for seeking help for the people affected.

    There are/were effective one bar HA builds that can get 30k* dps on 6 mill dummy without LA weaving. Maybe also look at these and message some of the theory crafters and streamers for help on even simpler static rotations. It would be a great challenge for them, I think, and most of them are actually very helpful people who share their knowledge routinely. You could tag or IM some of them in the forums or ask in their twitch streams.
    *BTW 30k will get you into anything except recent vet trials. And will suffice for some of those with a good team.

    Movement and reactions to mechanics is a more difficult problem to overcome. But, with the exception of some RNG one shot mechanics the choreography can be learned. On PC, Code's combat alerts and the Raid notifier add ons also help as they frequently identify the attack well before it is executed. Perhaps these LUA developers could be interested in this challenge too.

    The GCD means ESO doesn't HAVE to be twitchy.

    @ZOS_GinaBruno Perhaps ZoS could sponsor a competition along these lines: the players could provide the solution for a section of the community that is ever growing and ZoS could make it happen. Good PR inside and outside the gaming media is worth it's weight in crown store sales and one off DLC purchases. As the game gets older, these specialist markets (to put it cynically) are a ripe area for exploring.


    Edited by aetherial_heavenn on May 3, 2020 5:22AM
    Quoted for truth
    "In my experience, the elite ones have not been very toxic, and the toxic ones not very elite." WrathOfInnos
  • Crown
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    One of the challenges we're running into for PvP is roll dodging in different directions.

    By default, the roll command bound to a key (per the controls setting in game) rolls you backwards. In order to roll to the side or to the front, one has to double tap a direction key, or hold movement key in that direction while hitting the default roll button.

    To help address the challenge of a person's finger not being able to double-tap fast enough for the roll to happen, does anyone have any ideas on how to have a one-button press for roll front, roll left, and roll right without creating a macro along the lines of "hit W, wait 0.1s, hit W" ? Again noting that macros are against the TOS, just using that to ensure understanding of what we're looking for!

    This is quite the learning experience for me.. I'm sure that many (if not most) of us take for granted little things that people with disabilities go through every day..

    Edit: Spelling
    Edited by Crown on May 3, 2020 5:02PM
    Crown | AD NB | First AD/NA Grand Overlord (2015/12/26)
    PvP Guides @ DarkElves.com
  • Crown
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    One more interesting thought - to help with awareness and figuring things out, I'd like to propose a dueling competition where everyone has full use of their mouse hand, but is only allowed to use one finger on their keyboard hand.

    I am normally a horrible duelist, and have never run such a competition, so if any of you are inclined to do so, I'd be happy to help contribute to the prize.
    Crown | AD NB | First AD/NA Grand Overlord (2015/12/26)
    PvP Guides @ DarkElves.com
  • Alucardo
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    Crown wrote: »
    One of the challenges we're running into for PvP is roll dodging in different directions.

    By default, the roll command bound to a key (per the controls setting in game) rolls you backwards. In order to roll to the side or to the front, one has to double tap a direction key, or hold movement key in that direction while hitting the default roll button.

    To help address the challenge of a person's finger not being able to double-tap fast enough for the roll to happen, does anyone have any ideas on how to have a one-button press for roll front, roll left, and roll right without creating a macro of "hit W, wait 0.1s, hit W" ?

    This is quite the learning experience for me.. I'm sure that many (if not most) of us take for granted little things that people with disabilities go through every day..

    Whenever I reinstall ESO I always disable the double tap to roll dodge in the controls menu, because it's horrible and I always end up accidentally doing it. I rebind it to a button on my GT203 mouse.

    Edited by Alucardo on May 3, 2020 5:04PM
  • Crown
    Crown
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    Alucardo wrote: »
    Whenever I reinstall ESO I always disable the double tap to roll dodge in the controls menu, because it's horrible and I always end up accidentally doing it. I rebind it to a button on my GT203 mouse.

    I do the same, using a Razer with 12 buttons on the side, but that again only gives you the roll function (backwards if pressed alone). It would be nice to have a button for a roll in each direction without using a macro.
    Crown | AD NB | First AD/NA Grand Overlord (2015/12/26)
    PvP Guides @ DarkElves.com
  • IxSTALKERxI
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    Crown wrote: »
    Alucardo wrote: »
    Whenever I reinstall ESO I always disable the double tap to roll dodge in the controls menu, because it's horrible and I always end up accidentally doing it. I rebind it to a button on my GT203 mouse.

    I do the same, using a Razer with 12 buttons on the side, but that again only gives you the roll function (backwards if pressed alone). It would be nice to have a button for a roll in each direction without using a macro.

    I find the roll button combined with the directional button very intuitive. A roll button for each direction would be too many buttons for me to remember haha... I'm sure there is a way to press 2 buttons at once? like have 1 finger on each hand? or a nose and a foot or something?...
    NA | PC | Aldmeri Dominion
    Laser Eyes AR 26 Arcanist | Stalker V AR 41 Warden | I Stalker I AR 42 NB | Stalkersaurus AR 31 Templar | Stalker Ill AR 31 Sorc | Nigel the Great of Blackwater
    Former Emperor x11 campaign cycles
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  • Izanagi.Xiiib16_ESO
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    They should change roll to be based on your camera direction if pressed without direction key imo
    @Solar_Breeze
    NA ~ Izanerys: Dracarys (Videos | Dracast Podcast)
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  • Soul_Demon
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    Wizunas wrote: »
    zyk wrote: »
    Sanctum74 wrote: »
    Do macros even work in lag? I often have to press a button multiple times to use a skill or even run, with a macro only half your rotation would go off if anything at all. Ive personally dealt with nerve damage, arthritis, etc the only thing i can recommend is play an easier class like warden or templar where a combo is not as important.

    Macros work in lag as effectively as a player can.

    A macro may be as simple as something that merely replays keystrokes and as complex as a full pledged scripting language like python that can read IO and utilize logic.

    So while a very basic macro may be inflexible and could cause problems in some scenarios, a well-programmed script can compensate for conditions such as lag in various ways.

    Oh yes indeed right u are. There's plenty of macroers specially those 1-2 to 5-6 small man farmer groups. So visible on screen too. Just wait around them if u die and u can see the speed they maneuver weapon and change bars. Specially the 2h weapon players Very noticeable.

    Want a real eye opener, just check the skills you are hit with as a matter of routine with something breaking down the hits to the 100th of second. Then see how many are exactly the same sequence and done in the same 100th of a second- quite a number of people who move faster than nerve conduction in the hands moves. Is it lag? Input delay? Who knows, havent seen a "Z" out in cyro for at LEAST 5 years. If you never look for something, odds are you will not find it.
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