ive used the arrow keys as my movement keys from every single computer game ive ever played, from DOOM and wolfenstein all the way up til present times. i have tried wasd layout, but when you have played one specific scheme your whole life, it is almost impossible to adjust. EVERY single game i play i make the keys generically the same.
I switched to an ESDF layout for WoW (or .OEU if you're Dvorak) and rather enjoyed it. For tips on how to do it, I don't have any special recommendations, just practice. WoW is a different game though, with different key uses. I tried also transfering that back to hl games, but ran afoul of Dvorak support there. Interestingly enough, Steam supports Dvorak key layouts, but the as far as I can tell the original half-life does not. Fortunately, NS does support Dvorak, so I can play.
What little bit I did try of playing FPS games with ESDF instead of WASD was quite frustrating. At the time I was using number keys for weapon binds, and having weapon slot 1 bound to number 2, slot 2 to number 3, etc. was immensly distracting.
I guess try to make use of the new keys you've opened up immediately. Having an ability in better to position to be used may help you keep from getting despondent while you learn your new system.
I'm an ESDF-man myself; a few more buttons available on the left side. My mother has fybromyalgia and found AWER closest to rest position for her hands.
Sarisel.::' ( O ) ';:-. .-.:;' ( O ) '::.Join Date: 2003-07-30Member: 18557Members, Constellation
edited June 2007
TFGH for movement, RYHJDE for slots
Oh - how to do it? Play against whichbots (with cheats to keep their damage to zero, but you HAVE to challenge yourself) for 24 hours - either straight or in 2 hour sessions. Then switch to skulk bhop around maps for a little while, switching to use leap helps to get used to it faster.
up/down arrows: forward/back left/right arrows: turn (or strafe depending the game and how many keys are use) KP_4 strafe left, KP_5 strafe right KP_2 Jump, KP_3 crouch KP_1 is usually some kind of secondary attack KP_0 is reload KP_9 (page up) is flashlight because if you hold it in, it pulses really fast <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> kp_8 is menu kp_7 is misc stuff, usually some script i'm using mouse 1 shoot, mouse 2 change weapon, mousewheel weapon fwd/reverse mouse 4 drop weapon, mouse 5 chat
You control your forward/back with your pinky, strafe with your middle and index finger, reload with thumb
<!--quoteo(post=1633684:date=Jun 15 2007, 03:07 PM:name=Drfuzzy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drfuzzy @ Jun 15 2007, 03:07 PM) [snapback]1633684[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Heres mine, i never used wasd keys, i use:
up/down arrows: forward/back left/right arrows: turn (or strafe depending the game and how many keys are use) KP_4 strafe left, KP_5 strafe right KP_2 Jump, KP_3 crouch KP_1 is usually some kind of secondary attack KP_0 is reload KP_9 (page up) is flashlight because if you hold it in, it pulses really fast <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> kp_8 is menu kp_7 is misc stuff, usually some script i'm using mouse 1 shoot, mouse 2 change weapon, mousewheel weapon fwd/reverse mouse 4 drop weapon, mouse 5 chat
You control your forward/back with your pinky, strafe with your middle and index finger, reload with thumb <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I started playing FPS games big time with Tribes 2. Tribes 2 has ESDF as the default movement layout. I never in my entire life used arrow keys or wasd voluntarily. It really does just depend on which keys you got used to using originally.
I have to start by saying I'm a very casual player. (Couple times a month)
Some key combinations just never really need to be pressed in my opinion so I'm not going for uber performance. So I decided I wanted to be able to play with one hand so I can say eat a slice of pizza or drink a Bawls while I play. Or even better, be able to get to start exploring while distracting the person sitting next to me at a Lan. So I settled on a layout that I've never even heard of anyone else using.
so I am right click-ASD where right click is forward. X - jump C - crouch space - use ctrl - map (because map should be one of the most pressed buttons in the game IMO) shift - walk
The all the rest of the ns commands can be done with the mouse middle click / scroll wheel so I don't change the defaults.
ShockehIf a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it...Join Date: 2002-11-19Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
WASD, with Alt for Duck, Space for Jump and Ctrl for Use.
It just makes sense people! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
Comments
What little bit I did try of playing FPS games with ESDF instead of WASD was quite frustrating. At the time I was using number keys for weapon binds, and having weapon slot 1 bound to number 2, slot 2 to number 3, etc. was immensly distracting.
I guess try to make use of the new keys you've opened up immediately. Having an ability in better to position to be used may help you keep from getting despondent while you learn your new system.
I use the Arrow Keys and my mouse basically for switching weapons.
Oh - how to do it? Play against whichbots (with cheats to keep their damage to zero, but you HAVE to challenge yourself) for 24 hours - either straight or in 2 hour sessions. Then switch to skulk bhop around maps for a little while, switching to use leap helps to get used to it faster.
up/down arrows: forward/back
left/right arrows: turn (or strafe depending the game and how many keys are use)
KP_4 strafe left, KP_5 strafe right
KP_2 Jump, KP_3 crouch
KP_1 is usually some kind of secondary attack
KP_0 is reload
KP_9 (page up) is flashlight because if you hold it in, it pulses really fast <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
kp_8 is menu
kp_7 is misc stuff, usually some script i'm using
mouse 1 shoot, mouse 2 change weapon, mousewheel weapon fwd/reverse
mouse 4 drop weapon, mouse 5 chat
You control your forward/back with your pinky, strafe with your middle and index finger, reload with thumb
Heres mine, i never used wasd keys, i use:
up/down arrows: forward/back
left/right arrows: turn (or strafe depending the game and how many keys are use)
KP_4 strafe left, KP_5 strafe right
KP_2 Jump, KP_3 crouch
KP_1 is usually some kind of secondary attack
KP_0 is reload
KP_9 (page up) is flashlight because if you hold it in, it pulses really fast <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
kp_8 is menu
kp_7 is misc stuff, usually some script i'm using
mouse 1 shoot, mouse 2 change weapon, mousewheel weapon fwd/reverse
mouse 4 drop weapon, mouse 5 chat
You control your forward/back with your pinky, strafe with your middle and index finger, reload with thumb
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All I can say is "ugh..."
Some key combinations just never really need to be pressed in my opinion so I'm not going for uber performance. So I decided I wanted to be able to play with one hand so I can say eat a slice of pizza or drink a Bawls while I play. Or even better, be able to get to start exploring while distracting the person sitting next to me at a Lan. So I settled on a layout that I've never even heard of anyone else using.
so I am right click-ASD where right click is forward.
X - jump
C - crouch
space - use
ctrl - map (because map should be one of the most pressed buttons in the game IMO)
shift - walk
The all the rest of the ns commands can be done with the mouse middle click / scroll wheel so I don't change the defaults.
It just makes sense people! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
z = med/heal
x = ammo/chuckle
c = orders/stopsound
v = weld
§ (console) = stopsound
tab = showscore
capslock = map
mouse2 = "we've got hostiles"
mousewheel = jump
and some other stuff that isnt relevant, like upgrades and those
on aliens, v toggles between jump and +movement bound to space
alias "req" "impulse 80;say_team: [Orders, sir!]"
alias "ammo" "impulse 11;say_team: [AmmO Please!]"
alias "weld" "impulse 14;say_team: [Weld Me Homie!]"
bind "BACKSPACE" "impulse 3"
bind "UPARROW" "+forward"
bind "DOWNARROW" "+back"
bind "LEFTARROW" "+moveleft"
bind "RIGHTARROW" "+moveright"
bind "CTRL" "+duck"
bind "SHIFT" "+speed"
bind "F1" "jointeamone"
bind "F2" "jointeamtwo"
bind "F3" "autoassign"
bind "F4" "readyroom"
bind "DEL" "+reload"
bind "PGDN" "+showmap"
bind "PGUP" "+showscores"
bind "END" "+use"
bind "KP_HOME" "req"
bind "KP_LEFTARROW" "+voicerecord"
bind "KP_END" "lastinv"
bind "KP_DOWNARROW" "weld"
bind "KP_INS" "medpack"
bind "KP_DEL" "ammo"
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "impulse 1"
bind "MWHEELUP" "invprev"
bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
bind "MOUSE2" "+jump" (or +movement for fade)
bind "MOUSE3" "+popupmenu"