Setting Up Your Mouse For Gaming
SaltzBad
Join Date: 2004-02-23 Member: 26833Members
Join Date: 2004-02-23 Member: 26833Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Add your own tips/tricks/hax</div> Okay, if this thread has been made anywhere already, I apologize. I just skimmed through the stickys in the Gen Disc and New Players forum, and have been unable to find something to that extent. This thread is in no way supposed to be authorative on the subject of optimal mousing, but merely a reasonable guideline for players new or pretty crappy at First Person Shooters (like me) to optimize their mouse.
<b>How big a difference does a mousing setup make?</b>
Believe it or not, mousing setup is literally everything. How smoothly your mouse moves, and how tailored to your needs it is will determine how easy your gaming experience becomes. With an ideal setup, you'll find yourself barely thinking as you follow a target through complex motions - with a clumsy setup, you'll have to focus most of your time in the field on predicting a moment you'll be able to make crosshair and target intersect.
<b>How do I know if my mouse needs help?</b>
Lets put it simply : If you haven't opened this thread knowing in the back of your head that you're well aware of all the common tweaks, then you'll need this for certain.
<b>Step 1 : Software configuration</b>
Make sure <b>Mouse acceleration</b> (Control Panel, Mouse propertys) is set to <b>off</b>. <b>Enhanced pointer precision</b> needs to be off too. As should be anything else that changes mouse handling according to orientation - everything <b>off</b>.
In-game, when your Natural-Selection is launched, go into <i>Controls</i> and make sure <b>Mouse Filter</b> is off (or enter <i>m_filter 0</i> in console).
If you have WinXP (or on rare occasions 2k, although I don't have a link handy for that), install this : <a href='http://www.gotfrag.com/portal/files/82/' target='_blank'>http://www.gotfrag.com/portal/files/82/</a>
Above link is a fix for mouse acceleration for WinXP. Extremely helpful.
<b>Step 2 : Hardware configuartion</b>
I don't care what your excuse is, if you play videogames on any not completely dated system you're able to afford ~15-25 dollars for a good mouse too. They make as large a difference in your performance and comfort as any video card.
<i>Types of mice to avoid</i> :
- Ball-mice : I mean come on, its 2004.
- Trackballs : Go use a Mac, weirdo
- Wireless : Regardless of the whole battery and weight issue, they tend to have a slight latency. Most long-term wireless users don't notice anymore, but anyone going from wired to wireless will be able to tell you about it immediately.
<i>Recommended mouse models</i> :
- Intellimouse Explorer ~20 USD (Affordable and very light, moves faster over most surfaces)
- MX500/510 ~35 USD (Nice ergonomic shape, a bit large and weighted)
- MX 300/310 ~15 USD (Small, weighted and cheap mouse)
<b>Step 3 : Surface tweaking</b>
The surface you're mousing on will strongly effect how smooth your mouse runs, how long you can comftorable mouse, how far you can turn without having to set it down and wether your mouse skips. Avoid sticky surfaces, bare desktops, wood - pretty much anything except a mousepad or an improv equivalent, even for optical mice.
Commercial mousepads are a good idea, if you want to spend the money. Depending on what you have available and how much you play, it might be your type of thing. Generally you don't have to be afraid of "not liking it that much anyway" - no mouse I've ever encountered doesn't run well across a pad with a set of teflon feet. And I'm talking really well.
Recommended pads :
- RatPadzGS and a can of pledge (Google "RatPadz Maintenance" for an explanation)
- fUncpad (Good small pad, extremely durable and pretty much un-ruinable)
- X-Ray Thunder 8 (Functionally the same as funcpads, but larger)
- Steelpads (Expensive and usually rather small, haven't tried one myself)
- improv-pad. Any really good surface you find, like hard black plastic, a bunch of tape to stick it to your desk and some commercial teflon tape for the mousefeet.
<b>Step 4 : Butt-ware configuration</b>
This is really a just a footnote, but be sure to experiment with the height of your chair and what you feel more comftorable handling your controls with. Sometimes you'll not want to swing your arm much from a low position, or it'll feel too awkward from a high one.
<b>Step 5 : Sensitivity configuration</b>
<i>Rule of thumb : Start with a low sensitivity and work your way up</i>. Give a relatively low sensitivity (~75% of a turn once across a small pad for example) a good try beforehand, try to learn to move your arm as well - alot of people become alot more accurate this way. Over time you'll settle into your own balance with which you're most effective, but the most common error as far as sensitivitys go is having a too high one in Natural-Selection. Also, for all you low-FPSers, low sensitivitys will let you avoid the loss of air control midair by overstepping the maximum turnrate.
Finally, theres the <i>m_pitch</i> setting that you might want to experiment with. Try setting it to values between 0.022 and 0.035, to change the speed of your vertical aiming. Seeing as how NS involves combat in all 3 dimensions, yet your mousepad isn't equally expandable in all 3, this can be very helpful.
Phew, I'm done for now. If anyone wants to add something to this, or critique what you see as bogus advice, feel free to <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>How big a difference does a mousing setup make?</b>
Believe it or not, mousing setup is literally everything. How smoothly your mouse moves, and how tailored to your needs it is will determine how easy your gaming experience becomes. With an ideal setup, you'll find yourself barely thinking as you follow a target through complex motions - with a clumsy setup, you'll have to focus most of your time in the field on predicting a moment you'll be able to make crosshair and target intersect.
<b>How do I know if my mouse needs help?</b>
Lets put it simply : If you haven't opened this thread knowing in the back of your head that you're well aware of all the common tweaks, then you'll need this for certain.
<b>Step 1 : Software configuration</b>
Make sure <b>Mouse acceleration</b> (Control Panel, Mouse propertys) is set to <b>off</b>. <b>Enhanced pointer precision</b> needs to be off too. As should be anything else that changes mouse handling according to orientation - everything <b>off</b>.
In-game, when your Natural-Selection is launched, go into <i>Controls</i> and make sure <b>Mouse Filter</b> is off (or enter <i>m_filter 0</i> in console).
If you have WinXP (or on rare occasions 2k, although I don't have a link handy for that), install this : <a href='http://www.gotfrag.com/portal/files/82/' target='_blank'>http://www.gotfrag.com/portal/files/82/</a>
Above link is a fix for mouse acceleration for WinXP. Extremely helpful.
<b>Step 2 : Hardware configuartion</b>
I don't care what your excuse is, if you play videogames on any not completely dated system you're able to afford ~15-25 dollars for a good mouse too. They make as large a difference in your performance and comfort as any video card.
<i>Types of mice to avoid</i> :
- Ball-mice : I mean come on, its 2004.
- Trackballs : Go use a Mac, weirdo
- Wireless : Regardless of the whole battery and weight issue, they tend to have a slight latency. Most long-term wireless users don't notice anymore, but anyone going from wired to wireless will be able to tell you about it immediately.
<i>Recommended mouse models</i> :
- Intellimouse Explorer ~20 USD (Affordable and very light, moves faster over most surfaces)
- MX500/510 ~35 USD (Nice ergonomic shape, a bit large and weighted)
- MX 300/310 ~15 USD (Small, weighted and cheap mouse)
<b>Step 3 : Surface tweaking</b>
The surface you're mousing on will strongly effect how smooth your mouse runs, how long you can comftorable mouse, how far you can turn without having to set it down and wether your mouse skips. Avoid sticky surfaces, bare desktops, wood - pretty much anything except a mousepad or an improv equivalent, even for optical mice.
Commercial mousepads are a good idea, if you want to spend the money. Depending on what you have available and how much you play, it might be your type of thing. Generally you don't have to be afraid of "not liking it that much anyway" - no mouse I've ever encountered doesn't run well across a pad with a set of teflon feet. And I'm talking really well.
Recommended pads :
- RatPadzGS and a can of pledge (Google "RatPadz Maintenance" for an explanation)
- fUncpad (Good small pad, extremely durable and pretty much un-ruinable)
- X-Ray Thunder 8 (Functionally the same as funcpads, but larger)
- Steelpads (Expensive and usually rather small, haven't tried one myself)
- improv-pad. Any really good surface you find, like hard black plastic, a bunch of tape to stick it to your desk and some commercial teflon tape for the mousefeet.
<b>Step 4 : Butt-ware configuration</b>
This is really a just a footnote, but be sure to experiment with the height of your chair and what you feel more comftorable handling your controls with. Sometimes you'll not want to swing your arm much from a low position, or it'll feel too awkward from a high one.
<b>Step 5 : Sensitivity configuration</b>
<i>Rule of thumb : Start with a low sensitivity and work your way up</i>. Give a relatively low sensitivity (~75% of a turn once across a small pad for example) a good try beforehand, try to learn to move your arm as well - alot of people become alot more accurate this way. Over time you'll settle into your own balance with which you're most effective, but the most common error as far as sensitivitys go is having a too high one in Natural-Selection. Also, for all you low-FPSers, low sensitivitys will let you avoid the loss of air control midair by overstepping the maximum turnrate.
Finally, theres the <i>m_pitch</i> setting that you might want to experiment with. Try setting it to values between 0.022 and 0.035, to change the speed of your vertical aiming. Seeing as how NS involves combat in all 3 dimensions, yet your mousepad isn't equally expandable in all 3, this can be very helpful.
Phew, I'm done for now. If anyone wants to add something to this, or critique what you see as bogus advice, feel free to <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Comments
Yeah, a good important guide. Mouse control is everything in any game; but Ns especially. It's easy enough to aim in the X axis, everyone who's come from CS etc manages it well. However, the Y axis is a whole new idea.
Additionally, in other games, once you're shot/hit once in the back you're probably not going to survive. However, in NS, being able to spin round and fire a shotty blast point blank into the top of a skulk chewing on your ankles can, and will, save your life.
It's this necessesity to be able to easily do a 180deg turn that leads me to the one quibble I have with your guide Saltzbad;
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
Rule of thumb : Start with a low sensitivity and work your way up. Give a relatively low sensitivity
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I would recommend the reverse. Start up, work down. Only reduce it if you're ABSOLUTELY SURE you can not cope with anything that high.
Also, moving your mouse from its restposition to the extreme edge of the mouse mat should be a 180 turn IMO, not a 75% turn.
Edit: Grrr ICE. Getting in there first. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
if you cant move naturally with your sensitivity increase it
this is what he means by "starting low"
this however doesnt help new players who generally will struggle to move in game and change view angle at the same time :S
I have to disagree. Let's say there's a skulk behind you. You turn and move your mouse left to the edge of the pad, and blast the **** out of it. Then, there's another one to your left. You can't make the turn, because your mouse would be off of the pad!
Then again, different people have different prefrences (sp?)...
Saltz, you need to write more articles <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
And btw, this may sound sad but a laser mouse for marines is godlike for me. I can aim better than with a ball mouse, which i use for aliens.
I use 2 mice for NS.. go me..
<a href='http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak1475.aspx' target='_blank'>http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak1475.aspx</a>
This is another way of installing the tweak, through the registry.. use caution when using it and dont flame or complain tome if it screws your PC. Not my fault <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
However, I have been using the MX-700, and can happily say the lag is imperceptable - and I never die because of cable snag or getting tangled up.
If your budget can't stretch to it - get another member of the Logitech MX series. Logitech's 'fast RF' technology does seem to work. They are simply the best gaming mice I've come across, an the new Intellimouse explorer, while competent just can't compare (or even to the origianl Explorer).
Now, I'm just off to turn all my mouse smoothing options off.
Left Mouse button: Fire
Right Mouse button: Menu
Button 3 (holding down mousewheel): Voice chat
Button 4 (Directly under the thumb): Slot 2 (for pulling out the pistol in a hurry)
Button 5 (In front of the thumb): Slot 1 (For pulling out my primary gun again)
Mousewheel up: Slot 3 (for knifing)
Mousewheel down: Slot 4 to cycle through equipment.
This way any weapon slot can be selected in an instant, and I can acess the menu without taking my eyes off the screen.
Very smooth and fast when set at about 75% mouse speed.
But yea as said before, use all the buttons on it.
Mouse wheel up and down as well as pushing it in are often forgotton for use as quick and handy key binds.
Very smooth and fast when set at about 75% mouse speed.
But yea as said before, use all the buttons on it.
Mouse wheel up and down as well as pushing it in are often forgotton for use as quick and handy key binds. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I just use my desk as well. It glide VERY well. In two years with this mouse I have yet have a problem (Microsoft Intellipoint wired optical or something). My sens is set to 15 and I no problem making long snipe shots with the pistol, I think we disscussed Sensitivity before and decided that every computer's built in sensivity is different so everyone's HL sens is different.
Anyway, this should be stickied.
here is a snippet of my config, apparently MOUSE3 isn't bound...
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "+attack"
bind "MWHEELUP" "+attack"
bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
bind "MOUSE2" "+jump"
I should ->
bind "MOUSE3" "+showmap"
I like using the mwheel to spam +attack and pistol anything in the crosshairs. It also helps when you have no choice but to pull out your katana and attack that skulk. Katana = Knife. (My knife .mdl is a Katana ^_^)
Very smooth and fast when set at about 75% mouse speed.
But yea as said before, use all the buttons on it.
Mouse wheel up and down as well as pushing it in are often forgotton for use as quick and handy key binds. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I just use my desk as well. It glide VERY well. In two years with this mouse I have yet have a problem (Microsoft Intellipoint wired optical or something). <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
lol yea except for that time once a month or so when you are playing NS and suddenly you find yourself half paralysed b/c the mouse batteries died.
Then you do the mad cursing scramble to rummage around the desk/room trying to find where you stashed the spare pack of batteries. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The error towards too low sensitivity is in all cases alot easier to spot. The symptoms of your sensitivity being too low is the inability to manuever correctly as an Alien, or track fast enough as a marine (or turn). If you can't spot this, I'm amazed at how you turned your PC on.
Too high sensitivity is however subtle - your aim my "look" on target, but the time it spends over the model is insufficient, and you're not holding it stably enough to get the full use out of your LMG. Or you're BHopping and turn too hard by default due to a high sense. Or you simply can't feel how much more accurate you could be, and how much it helps.
However, if you go from the bottom up, you'll know all these things already, and won't get stuck accomodating yourself to too high a sensitivity. I'm not arguing that relatively high sensitivitys aren't workable - with good setups they definitely are. But do yourself a favor and make sure you don't do better with lower <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
sensitivity x
EDIT: where x is a number above 0
Most Half-Life people will know that. Remember there are times when the skulk walks up behind you and the only way you are going to live is to whip your mouse around and give the skulk a faceful of shottie lovin'
I recently purchased a MX510 because it looked so sexy. I only wish you could reprogram the cruise buttons and context button. I'd have a mouse with seven buttons then. :D
Anyway, the best mouse surface I've found is an unopened package of photographic matt board. It's smooth because it's wrapped in celophane, but the surface under the plastic has enough texture for the mouse to really register and pick up every twitch. It's also small enough to fit on my desk just fine.
By the way, you forgot headphones. How are you supposed to have audio wallhacks without headphones? Turn your speakers up? NS is a noisy game.
Also, don't forget stopsound. Lorf.
Nice guide though.
Do mods actually read this forum? :|
Thunder 8 Pad: <a href='http://www.xraypad.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.xraypad.com/</a> (Also check out the Thunder 9)
<a href='http://www.ampednews.com/?page=forums&tid=3257' target='_blank'>http://www.ampednews.com/?page=forums&tid=3257</a> for the mousepad sanding guide
Optical + wire = fine!
Then again, different people have different prefrences (sp?)...
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I really disagree with this, with a low sensitivty I can aim much better, lifting the mouse more often in awkwards situations is a minor discomfort.
PS/2 rates go as high as 200 Hz(you can change it with most mouse drivers, if you don't install a driver for your mouse and let windows choose you can use some registry tweak I think, but you'll have to google.). USB can only be used at 125 Hz in XP and 2000, 200 Hz looks as smooth as with the mouse filter(except there's no lag of course), USB doesn't look too smooth.
I'm not sure if it's because USB is handled differently or if cranking the refresh rate on the mouse really helps that much in itself but the difference is pretty big.