So, "how" do you play Guild Wars? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Kuldebar Valiturus

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Garden City, Idaho

The Order of Relumination (TOoR)

R/

10 May 2007 at 23:33 - 1

Some people are entirely keyboarders, other mouse clickers, and some a mixture of both. And, of course, peeps customize their game user interfaces around their particular input device usage. When I first started Guild Wars, I attempted to use my arrows keys to navigate the game world. This was a habit from my WoW days, I quickly learned that click-to-move was the superior method in Guild Wars. But after that, I settled into a routine, until very recently.

As for me, I recently dusted off my Nostromo SpeedPad n50 and am enjoying good results. It's hard to change play methods after having been a mouse-clicker and keyboard tapper for so long. But, my old n50 is making Guild Wars even more of a blast.

I own the Nostromo SpeedPad n52 as well, but it had entirely too many keys for what I needed, so I reverted to the n50 which has a simpler design.

Now, I bought my Nostromo's several years back, but I know their are other gaming devices on the market. Zboard comes mind, I had used the WoW version in a previous MMORPG life, but unfortunately the cat spilled beer all over it. :/

So, let's talk "how" you play, things like:

Does anyone turn off the UI (shift+ctrl+H) and play free-style?
Is the keyboard only used when you need to type in chat?
Does your hand ever leave the keyboard?

Who knows, maybe some people may feel inspired to change their gaming methods like I did... after all, it's good to rewire your brain on occasion.

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

10 May 2007 at 23:36 - 2

Left hand always on the keyboard, right on the mouse.

Both hands where they can be seen.

tenshi_strife

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

in sardelac getting yelled at.

Angels of Strife[Aoc]

E/

10 May 2007 at 23:52 - 3

yea im a combo guy i walk and use skills 1-5 on keyboard but tend to click to do skills 6-8*hard to reach ^^*

i also pick up loot via the mouse and select targets via the keyboard.

inventory is all mouse.

i was thinking of getting out my old gamepads but idk you would still need hands on keyboard to type and i type in the middle of other stuff quite well now and i think that would slow me down ^^

Spazzer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2006

USA

Team Asshat [Hat]

Mo/E

11 May 2007 at 00:27 - 4

Left hand keyboard, right hand mouse.

Main differences between the standard contol scheme and mine is that i have "CANCEL ACTION" bound to one of my mouse buttons and "TARGET NEAREST ITEM" bound to a key closer to my hand on the keyboard.

This lets me bait interruptors much easier (esc is so hard to reach) and pick up loot without looking for it.

Kuldebar Valiturus

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Garden City, Idaho

The Order of Relumination (TOoR)

R/

11 May 2007 at 00:30 - 5

Ya ya, one handed game play aside...

My layout looks like this on my Keyboard drawer:

{n50} {Keyboard} {Trackball Mouse}

So, it's all very handy. I still find myself reaching to tap the keyboard shortcut, but if I leave my left hand on the n50, all the common shortcuts are at my finger tips.

Using the thumb pad for Default Action and Target Closest works really well for me even though I am "strongly" right-handed and had these buttons set on my mouse. Now my mouse is primarily character movement, camera control and skill selection.

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

11 May 2007 at 00:38 - 6

Left hand for 1-8 and opening Inventory. I often use R to run forward too. Thumb does C+Space

Right hand is all mouse-dedicated.

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

11 May 2007 at 00:46 - 7

I'm going to pay attention to that last interesting tidbit:

Quote:

Does anyone turn off the UI (shift+ctrl+H) and play free-style?
Is the keyboard only used when you need to type in chat?
Does your hand ever leave the keyboard?

Who knows, maybe some people may feel inspired to change their gaming methods like I did... after all, it's good to rewire your brain on occasion.

On occassion, yes I do turn off the interface. However, I always remember it's not as fun as I hoped because the health bars and damage/healing numbers still show up, so it can never be truly freestyle.

What I like to do a lot is change my interface. For awhile, it was the standard GW set up. Then I mixed things up by putting the skillbar at the top with the compass in the lower-right corner. I tried having nearly everything around the bottom of the screen, but I discovered that it made my focus my attention mostly to that area - so I wasn't able to enjoy the pretty scenery. Then I tried getting rid of the compass and replacing it with the mini-map, but I couldn't get used to having to press escape twice to cancel my action (press once to close the friggin' mini-map, then again to cancel action).

It all changes on mood, really. I love how you're able to change the interface to something that suits you, and it's one of Guild Wars' strongest points.

Thanks for allowing my to let my mind breath, Kuldebar. Very refreshing, talking about something like this...

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

11 May 2007 at 00:51 - 8

I control movement in the forward-backward plane with the keyboard while holding down the right mouse-button to "look" where I want to go...

i.e. I rather use both for navigation. It mostly consists of my holding down W (usually with Ctrl and Alt at the same time so I know where everything is) while directing my character with the mouse. I use A and D (left and right) to strafe while using the mouse generally... though sometimes I'll switch to the actual strafe-keys instead (Q and E) if I'm stuck in a corner or somesuch...
Naturally this is an easier way of both controlling my view and micromanaging my character's direction and movement speed.... rather than the rather crude point-and-click mouse only method or slow and cumbersome keyboard-only method.

When I get into battle... my hands move instantly off the mouse to the keyboard, my eyes move to the health-bars and skill bar.... and it typically becomes a matter of using C or Tab to select an enemy... followed by a number key for a particular skill (and promptly pressing the key for the next skill while the first is activating... etc). I NEVER click on the skills with the mouse... and it is fairly rare that I select enemies with the mouse either. While this is happening I usually get a few moments of skill activation time to switch hand back to the mouse and get a look around..... see if there are any priority targets I didn't catch in the initial view... check how my heroes / henchies are doing.... etc.
... Which reminds me... sometimes I don't just charge in at all... and just Ctrl + Shift + Space to direct my Heroes to attack first... [prevents me being the first target of all the enemy anti-melee hexes and whatnot]
... Oh... and I rarely ever use Esc to cancel action... nor any other "cancel action" button; I just tap one of the direction buttons and take a step, since skills can't activate while moving.

After battle, I typically press Semi-Colon to target the nearest item and Space to get it, or if I don't want that, I have "next item" mapped to apostrophe right next to it. (If any americans aren't familiar with the British keyboard layout..... tough).

Kuldebar Valiturus

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Garden City, Idaho

The Order of Relumination (TOoR)

R/

11 May 2007 at 01:24 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

On occassion, yes I do turn off the interface. However, I always remember it's not as fun as I hoped because the health bars and damage/healing numbers still show up, so it can never be truly freestyle.

I like to be able to easily toggle UI elements from on to off via UI presets like this suggestion here. But, as you say, no target or health bars can make for a dearth of situational awareness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

What I like to do a lot is change my interface.

I constantly fiddle with my UI as well, keeps it fresh, but overall I am getting set in my ways about certain placements of things. Compass is nearly always going to be upper right for me and Health and Skills to the right since I am right handed. I would like Heroes stuck on the bottom in a line up like they are on top, but their buff/condition/hex icons become hidden if I do that. I nearly always have the Mission map up and chat is usually minimized when I am in combat.

R_A_M_Z_A

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2006

THG

E/Me

11 May 2007 at 01:26 - 10

I have my skillset linked to my number pad, I use WASD keys to move, and I mainly use the mouse to move the camera around...

viper11025

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2007

02/18/05 (Pm me with the place, its a riddle)

A/

11 May 2007 at 01:29 - 11

Depends....Mostly keyboard.
Requires both for GVG and PVP.

Hey PM me in game Valiturus I WANT that set-up you have!
Seriously how did you do it?

Kuldebar Valiturus

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Garden City, Idaho

The Order of Relumination (TOoR)

R/

11 May 2007 at 01:29 - 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by R_A_M_Z_A

I use WASD keys to move...

Don't terrain obstacles drive you crazy? Of course, I play on a high latency connection, so maybe I had more issues with that type of movement method.

R_A_M_Z_A

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2006

THG

E/Me

11 May 2007 at 01:35 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuldebar Valiturus

Don't terrain obstacles drive you crazy? Of course, I play on a high latency connection, so maybe I had more issues with that type of movement method.

My ping is usually under 100 so I dont really rubber-band that much.

I do have some problems with obstructions, but it's nothing a little press of the strafe key cant fix

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

11 May 2007 at 01:53 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuldebar Valiturus

I constantly fiddle with my UI as well, keeps it fresh, but overall I am getting set in my ways about certain placements of things. Compass is nearly always going to be upper right for me and Health and Skills to the right since I am right handed. I would like Heroes stuck on the bottom in a line up like they are on top, but their buff/condition/hex icons become hidden if I do that. I nearly always have the Mission map up and chat is usually minimized when I am in combat.

You know, that actually looks very very cool. I might either copy that completely or make something similiar.

...

...If you don't mind, of course??

Kuldebar Valiturus

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Garden City, Idaho

The Order of Relumination (TOoR)

R/

11 May 2007 at 02:06 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

You know, that actually looks very very cool. I might either copy that completely or make something similiar.

...

...If you don't mind, of course??

Like I could object!

Just happy no one has /point /laugh at my skill bars.

For the UI elements not shown in the screen shot:

The Trade and Drop buttons are directly on the left and right of the target bar, respectively.

Skill Monitor is right above, not quite overlapping the target bar.

Skill Progress indicator bar is up above the Skill Monitor.

All the Mission Goals & Timers and Dialogs, etc are placed in a manner so that they cause the least screen obstruction possible.

The philosophy is to keep me center/target focused and have all the things I need to routinely mouse click all in a close proximity for maximum efficiency. For a keyboarder based skill slot user, of course, the placement wouldn't make much sense.

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper11025

Hey PM me in game Valiturus I WANT that set-up you have!
Seriously how did you do it?

I won't be in-game for a bit yet, but I do have a screenie of the layout grid...if you can see it. :/ Press F11 to get the options screen up while in game and just drag, size and move the elements where you want them. Easy as pie.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...bar/layout.gif

The UI options in Guild Wars are truly amazing, to get this flexibility in other games required a lot of modding, which, of course Guild Wars doesn't support.

ValaOfTheFens

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2006

Warrior Nation[WN]

11 May 2007 at 02:25 - 16

All keyboard. I'm on a laptop and though I could get a mouse I've found the keyboard to be fine for my needs. I keep forgetting that I can open specific bags w/certain keys and I sometimes end up chaging weapons during combat rather than using a skill(which can be pretty funny when playing my Ranger b/c she has all 4 weapon slots taken up).

That's usually only when its after 12pm and my eyes are all blurry. *lol*

Esprit

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Dvd Forums [DVDF]

E/

11 May 2007 at 02:31 - 17

I'm a keyboard + mouse person. Hand is predominantly in the WASD position. Hardly used skills are on the 6-8 keys, which are harder to reach without shifting the hand. Otherwise, most common commands are bound within reach of my left hand.

Mouse is used to move around, pan the camera, and select team members and enemies.

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

11 May 2007 at 02:38 - 18

I guess I could also mention my weirdness with skill placement on my bar.

I find I get more satisfaction when my main deathdealers, like Dragon Slash or or Meteor Shower, are the 4th or 5th skills on the bar. They just seem more...powerful for some reason.

onerabbit

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Thanks to all the guru [mods]

11 May 2007 at 02:43 - 19

Depends what mood im in.

if im bored i tend to use the mouse to do everything and auto run (r)

i use the mouse for my skills and always hold down Ctrl and Alt .. cant take my fingers off it :S .. addicted to chest running

wasd or mouse to move, depending where i am .. i rubber band alot, so in closed areas i use mouse.

Alleji

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

11 May 2007 at 02:54 - 20

Left hand on mouse, right hand on keyboard :P

I have everything bound to numpad and keys around it:
8,4,6,2 to move
7,9,5,1,+ for targeting
arrow keys, right ctrl, numpad enter and page up+page down cover the 8 skills

Although in certain situations I use the mouse to target and to move. For example, in PvP I do most of targeting by clicking on people and mouse-walk when I'm running flags or relics to avoid rubberbanding.

??Ripskin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

Mo/

11 May 2007 at 03:04 - 21

The infmaous me is back..
And I play like just about everyone else, left hand on my keyboard, right on my mouse. The way it's supposed to be played. I've never tried to change buttons. But my ui helps me heal.. I guess. that's it's initial purpose.

And I know that's 600, I made sure it was.

Kuldebar Valiturus

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Garden City, Idaho

The Order of Relumination (TOoR)

R/

11 May 2007 at 03:15 - 22

Now that's unique, Ripskin.

Do you use the keybind shortcut to select Party Member to heal? Or just click party member and keyboard in skill slot?

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

11 May 2007 at 03:16 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alleji

Left hand on mouse, right hand on keyboard :P

I have everything bound to numpad and keys around it:
8,4,6,2 to move
7,9,5,1,+ for targeting
arrow keys, right ctrl, numpad enter and page up+page down cover the 8 skills

Although in certain situations I use the mouse to target and to move. For example, in PvP I do most of targeting by clicking on people and mouse-walk when I'm running flags or relics to avoid rubberbanding.

I was wondering are you left handed as I am?I play like most left hand on the key board and right hand on the mouse and when I play Monk I usually click on the map with my mouse.It helps me kite better.I can't wait for the day a left handed keyboard comes out.

??Ripskin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

Mo/

11 May 2007 at 03:18 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuldebar Valiturus

Now that's unique, Ripskin.

Do you use the keybind shortcut to select Party Member to heal? Or just click party member and keyboard in skill slot?

Click and keyboard. And yes it is, thankyou. I like hearing that

It makes me happy to play GW and not need 30 addons to make it sexy like that.

??Ripskin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

Mo/

11 May 2007 at 03:37 - 25

Btw, I ONLY use wsad, nothing else. No clicks no arrows none of that crap. It seems like wsad is the only way to have fun.

tenshi_strife

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

in sardelac getting yelled at.

Angels of Strife[Aoc]

E/

11 May 2007 at 03:57 - 26

yea wasd is the way to go, gets you more invloved with your char, i cant wait for GW2 where i can jump and climb and swim.... wooo hooo

??Ripskin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

Mo/

11 May 2007 at 04:01 - 27

I know right.

Laharl the Angel

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2007

Ancient Warlords of Tyria

A/Me

11 May 2007 at 04:04 - 28

Left hand on keyboard, right hand on trackpoint and keyboard

Kha

Sins FTW!

Join Date: Mar 2005

USA

Angel Sharks [AS]

11 May 2007 at 04:48 - 29

Left hand on keyboard, right hand on mouse.

My left hand is stationed on 1-4 (not the number pad) for the first four skills, and then Q, W, E and R are set up for skills 5-8. I can easily press Tab, T, C, etc to call/switch targets and what not this way.

Meanwhile my right hand is on the mouse and clicking on party members (since mostly I been playing the monk) and clicking the ground to kite. Also provides quick way to rotate camera when I need to see other places around me, and can easily press my third mouse button to talk on Vent/TS.

strcpy

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2005

One of Many [ONE]

11 May 2007 at 07:34 - 30

Left hand on keyboard, right on mouse.

I disable the "click to move" as I found I moved when I didn't want to. To move I use the "hold right mouse to move camera, press left to move where facing" - I played quite a few FPS's that used this and got used to it. To move backwards I do use the "s" key though, but other than farming it is rare I move backwards. If attacking I'm moving forward, if I need to retreat "x" and move forward.

For close targets I use "c" and then tab around - space or ctrl-space to attack. I use my left hand for skills in the slots 1-5, the mouse for the others. For further targets I use a "ctrl" key to show their names and click with the mouse.

As for my interface I tend to move things to where my eyes stay. For most of my characters that is towards my skill bar when fighting, at the center of the screen when positioning. Thus "tactical" information (health, energy, enemy skill used, enchant/hexes on me, etc) are down low, and strategic information (radar, map, who I currently have targeted) is up towards the top. It seems to work fairly well to me - though there are some interesting layouts I have seen I may try parts of - Ripskins is one

Milennin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2006

Europe

W/

11 May 2007 at 07:59 - 31

Right hand always on the mouse, but my other hand is not always on keyboard. I like to play mainly with mouse, but selecting enemies and picking up loot I use keyboard for.=P
I only play 'free-style' in pre-Searing because I love the landscape there.=D
My interface hasn't been changed for weeks, I like how it is now and don't see why I would want to change it.=P

artay

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Australia

The Agony Scene

E/

11 May 2007 at 08:01 - 32

I constantly strafe, gives me a view on things. so thats right mouse button and wasd.

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

11 May 2007 at 08:17 - 33

I play it sitting down, sometime with a cold beer next to me.

WASD standard setting,1-8 skills + mouse, nothing fancy. And when I monk, I just click on whoever need healing, c+space or t+space when I play a warrior lol.

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

11 May 2007 at 09:50 - 34

I forgot to mention.... I keep the Gamma settings rather higher than normal, as I tend to find the game a bit too... dark otherwise. It still comes through dark on screenshots, but if the game isn't the right brightness it just totally throws my play-style.

LONGA

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Thailand

Agot

N/

11 May 2007 at 10:14 - 35

Same as ordinary GW player Left hand for moving and using skill,right hand for targeting and changing views. Only skill slot 6 and 7 move to Q and E for easier reach.
The Ui chage a bit to keep my mesmer interupt play a little easier by draging enemys' health and skill display down to my skillbar.
And Change the enrgy bar to vertical and keep the maintain echantment near it. In case im playing bond monk.

LONGA

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Thailand

Agot

N/

11 May 2007 at 10:16 - 36

Same as ordinary GW player Left hand for moving and using skill,right hand for targeting and changing views. Only skill slot 6 and 7 move to Q and E for easier reach.
The Ui chage a bit to keep my mesmer interupt play a little easier by draging enemys' health and skill display down to my skillbar.
And Change the enrgy bar to vertical and keep the maintain echantment near it. In case im playing bond monk.

Series

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2006

11 May 2007 at 15:34 - 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by «Ripskin

The infmaous me is back..
And I play like just about everyone else, left hand on my keyboard, right on my mouse. The way it's supposed to be played. I've never tried to change buttons. But my ui helps me heal.. I guess. that's it's initial purpose.

And I know that's 600, I made sure it was.

Did anybody else notice alliance chat? LOL. wtf dude

applejacks

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

N/E

11 May 2007 at 16:37 - 38

wasd and use my mouse to navigate sometimes, mouse to click on skills to use with certain characters, with others I use 1-8 for skills. Don't know why I do that, just what I got used to doing with the characters so became a habit.

greenchylde

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2006

CT

Heroes Etc

E/Mo

11 May 2007 at 16:50 - 39

left hand: pinky on ctrl, middle finger on C and index on space bar
right hand: mouse

i map a lot and am constantly calling targets so much so when i join a group i do it without thinking.

Corinthian

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

11 May 2007 at 17:01 - 40

No customizations, default controls. Like it was meant to be played.

And how exactly do you target party members from keyboard? I only know V but that's quite limited.