Monks - Lets Talk Interface

CtrlAltDel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Ohio

Brotherhood of Havoc

Mo/Me

So I love playing this monk char so far, been a blast. But I'm looking for ways to be a better support character and I'm starting with my interface and config.

Right now this is my config.

Spells: Mapped to 1-8 numbers (pretty standard)

Party Members: Mapped to corresponding Number Pad number. Granted this only works to 9 party members (includes allies that join during missions etc).

During battle I can pretty much not touch my mouse, using the keyboard to strafe while casting so that I'm not getting blasted. As I've noticed that as a monk you cant really sit in one spot and heal the whole fight from one spot like you can in some other games. Yes I'll grab my mouse when I need to kite a mob to a tank or something but for the most part this works out well.

While this works out well, I'm wondering what some of the more seasoned Monks are doing out there.

Are there modifications I can do to my party box to make it more informative? Can I modifiy how the party screen is layed out to make it suit my needs more? I've heard of some people moving it from the side and closer to their buttons, but this seems for people that are mouse dependant or people that cant remember how they mapped their spells out.

Teach me 'o wise Monks

[edit]
Oh and I have a Logitech G15 keyboard too. I'm wondering if I should map my spells over there, I think that it might be easier to use them over there. Anyone else have this keyboard? How are you using it?
[/edit]

SnipiousMax

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

I stole an idea from JR, and have my first four skills mapped close to my movement keys, and use my mouse to click the last four skills (the ones I don't cast very often, or the ones I don't need to use at a seconds notice). So I move with 'w''a's'd' and I use 'shift' 'q' 'e' and 'f' for my first four skills with the shift key being Reversal of Fortune usually.

I like to have my effects right about my skill bar, so I can see my health, mana, and hexes/conditions enchantments without having to look in two places.

Other than that, I run everything standard.

CtrlAltDel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Ohio

Brotherhood of Havoc

Mo/Me

That key setup sounds pretty slick as well, interesting. Good idea on moving the effects down there.

Do you move your party screen near that also?

heroajax1

heroajax1

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

By Any Other Name [Rose]

W/

Mine is still pretty much set up as the standard. I did map my party members to the keypad and the skills are 1-8 at the top.

I gave it about a week of trying to use the number pad to select party members, but I just never felt comfortable with it. I couldn't deal with the camera always being off and not being able to see what was going on.

So, for me, left hand selects skills and moves me. The mouse moves the camera and selects party members from the box. My maintained enchantments are vertical next to the party box.

olly123

olly123

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

sh*tvill england

tgc

Mo/

i go the same as heroajaz, but my enchantmest r run up form the bottom right hand screem, between wepon sets and skill bar up, use to b samll and when i had 10 out it would only reach up to the botom of da party box, but soem updates changed that and now 10 got form the bottom of the page to the top

Effigy

Effigy

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Illinois, US

Heroes of Talia [HoT]

Mo/

I use 1-4 and F1-F4 for skills, since they are closer to my movement keys (WASD). I use mouse to select party members.

For interface, I enlarged the party window and radar, and put everything in the bottom and right sides of the screen so that I can see it all without having to move my eyes too much.

JR

JR

Re:tired

Join Date: Nov 2005

W/



[woops, posted ugly old UI first ^_^]

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

Mine is pretty much deflault except I have my party on my No. pad and for the most part I use the mouse to click on party name and press 1 to 8 for skills.When it comes to movement I use the wsqe or my cursors keys or I use the mouse especially to kite and away.I scroll way up so that I can see more of the map than usual so it is easier to click on it and to find my escape route.

JoeKnowMo

JoeKnowMo

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Oct 2005

Wessst Siiide, USA

Mo/

Same setup as the OP for skills and party members.

But I also have the following bindings on the NumPad:
0 = Skill 5
.Del = Skill 6
Enter = Skill 7
+ = Skill 8
- = Close all open windows (sometimes I try to type chat but forget to open the chat dialog, so I end up opening up all kinds of interfaces )
* = cycle thru weapon sets
Num Lock = Cancel Action

I try to use the keyboard for the most part, but when kiting I usually have to resort to mouse usage (esp. for camera adjustment).

I like to put as much as I can in one part of the screen so I don't have to move my eyes around much.

i am teh monk

i am teh monk

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

ca

qq

i use default

Tsai

Tsai

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Majestic Dragons [MaD]

Mo/

I mainly use the numbers keys up to to cast and my mouse to move and and select. Also use the mosue to cast the bottom row of skills, which generally are ones that arent time critical or arent cast as often. Heres a screenie of my layout

Ultimate Sacrifice

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

I'm starting to use the same interface as JR and it works for me, I also use the same key configuration as Snipious. Shift, Q, E, and F as 1-4 skills and the only difference is that I use number keys 1-4 for skills 5-8.

jesh

jesh

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

San Diego, CA

Penguin Village

Mo/

I have my interface set like so.. as you can might be able to tell, I set it up this way for interrupting on a mesmer.




Is it the best? Probably not, but it definitely works for me. HP and SP are easily viewed, as is the enemy's spell and cast time left. Skills are off to the side cause really, I usually have them memorized. I also use the keypad for party members..
7,4,1= members 1,2,3
8,5,2= members 4,5,6

Wierd, I know. =P
I also use F,E,Q, and Shift as skill keys, but I use them for skills 5,6,7 and 8 in that order.

I Brother Bloood I

I Brother Bloood I

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2006

Good question

I run heavy pvp and its probably fastest to run hotkeyed members and click your skills. I just havent found it easy to use hotkeyed skills. Also u dont have the chance to screw up by clicking the wrong person to heal.(although i did memorize the keyboard so its easier to do this for me) I basicly have default settings "almost".



My weapons are above where my mouse is so i can easily switch. As u can see no skills are hotkeyed. I also dont click to walk i use w, s, a, d.

Edit - Dont flame my staff pink is hardcore... Actually its a green i use it for alot of builds.... well 2 or 3 (+5 nrg 20/20 divine divine +1 (when using skills) Huhkra's Staff... i think.

Edit 2 - The way i have it walking and casting isnt to difficult so if ur trying to find a simple controls to use try mine its pretty good.