Mouse, Numerical Pad or Number Keys? - Guild Wars Forums

Centrifical Force · Nov 25, 2008, 01:55 AM // 01:55

Hi All,
I'm new to GW and am just wondering the best way to activate skills? Is it best to just point and click with the mouse? Or is it better to learn to use the numerical keypad (on the right of the keyboard)? Or are the numbers above the letters the best ones to use? I'm playing a Mesmer and would like to eventually become an Interrupt Mesmer, so I guess quick skill usage will be important. Thanks to all who reply.

Sharkman · Nov 25, 2008, 02:04 AM // 02:04

Keyboard is definately the fastest, but whatever works for you personally I suppose.

snaek · Nov 25, 2008, 02:09 AM // 02:09

personal preference really

i think mostly it comes down to movement vs skill activation
if u do more wsad'ing, then mouse or numpad would be better for skills
if u do more mouse click movement, then the keyboard would be better for skills

tho i think for an interrupt mesmer (and many other classes)
keyboard offers an advantage to mouse activation
its jus more readily available and easier to find

some ppl remap the 7 and 8 keys to ones closer to wsad such as "r" or similar keys
that way its rite under ur fingers for easier access
and less chance for a mis-hit

i tend to see a lot of solo farmers use the mouse for skill activation
maybe because movement is less important and they generally stand still for most of the time i dunno

personally i use numpad
jus cuz i hate clickin

Gift3d · Nov 25, 2008, 02:51 AM // 02:51

i use 12345 on keypad
678 mouse buttons

quickest possible

ac1inferno · Nov 25, 2008, 02:57 AM // 02:57

For being a good mesmer, I would suggest movement by clicking the mouse. Use numbers for skills. And select enemies by clicking and not tabbing.

Dark Desicration · Nov 25, 2008, 03:06 AM // 03:06

1-8
q,w,e,r,a,s,d,f
click to move
z,x,c for lazy movement

Itokaru · Nov 25, 2008, 03:28 AM // 03:28

WASD to move
1-5 on on keyboard
6-8 by clicking with mouse

For me.

Shadowmere · Nov 25, 2008, 03:36 AM // 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itokaru

WASD to move
1-5 on on keyboard
6-8 by clicking with mouse

For me.

same here.
place the skills that need the most precise/reliable activation to the left so I can easily hit em on the fly

obsidian ectoplasm · Nov 25, 2008, 04:53 AM // 04:53

I use either WASD to move, or I just click

and I use mouse normally to play,

but it is better if you use keys to use skills and click to move.

i would really suggest you do that, its harder at first, but its deff better

Ele Mental · Nov 25, 2008, 06:39 AM // 06:39

yeah, I use pretty much the same

When I monk I have target party member across qwertyui

And then I have skills across 12345678

Move with mouse click for more efficient and precise kiting

Haxor · Nov 25, 2008, 07:25 AM // 07:25

WSAD for moving. 1234RFVX for skill activation. I find that the easier to quickly hit, the better for general play.

Dzjudz · Nov 25, 2008, 12:28 PM // 12:28

QWEASD for moving (doesn't anybody else use strafing?)
12345678 for skills
mousewalking disabled (I hate accidentally clicking next to a target I want to target and then my character walking there)

JackSpinner · Nov 25, 2008, 01:17 PM // 13:17

I use allsorts of combinations depending on what I am doing

My one quirk, which i find the most usefull is setting left and right arrow keys to strafe (kite) left or right. Up and down arrow keys as default, with dbl hit down arrow to turn through 90. This gives you right hand to move precicely leaving left to sort skills and rotate if necessary. Mouse is virtually under right hand for quick transition if necessary (running away)

imnotyourmother · Nov 25, 2008, 02:15 PM // 14:15

Well do not forget ctrl is nice to light up all foes at once

pamelf · Nov 25, 2008, 03:14 PM // 15:14

It's personal preference really. I personally use my mouse for most things. I just got used to using it from the beginning, and it's definitely the fastest for me.

Quaker · Nov 25, 2008, 03:49 PM // 15:49

I tend to just click on the skill icons for every character except heal/prot Monk. For the Monk I use the number keys 1, 2, & 3 for the most needed skills and still click on things that are bonds, HB, etc., that are not used as often.
This is primarily because of the way I control character movement (mouse + keyboard) - clicking on skills works best for me.

Of course, this may depend upon whether you're talking PvE or PvP. In PvE, speed is not so important, so do whatever feels comfortable. In PvP speed is important, so learning to use direct keys is probably best.

Shadowhaze · Nov 25, 2008, 05:59 PM // 17:59

I use a combination of both keyboard and mouse. Mainly W,A,S,D for movement. Mouse I'll use to click skills or if I'm on monk or another prof that I need speedier reaction, I'll use the number key buttons (have the main skills on 1-4 keys and the like).

MrGuildBoi · Nov 25, 2008, 06:32 PM // 18:32

I put [Signet of lost souls] and interrupts or [overload] for spammage on skill #7 but binded it to mouse5.

Burnt Mind · Nov 25, 2008, 09:17 PM // 21:17

I use W,A,S,D to move, and just click the skills, it works fine for me.

Centrifical Force · Nov 26, 2008, 11:47 PM // 23:47

Thanks heaps for all the replies. It looks like the general concensus is keyboard is a little faster. Will try to learn that. Hadn't really thought about other keymapping which would be good too. Also, disabling mousewalking is a great idea, because I often miss a target and end up running into danger.
Thanks again.

Nov 25, 2008, 01:55 AM // 01:55	#1
Centrifical Force Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2008 Guild: Overclockers Australia Profession: Me/E	Mouse, Numerical Pad or Number Keys? Hi All, I'm new to GW and am just wondering the best way to activate skills? Is it best to just point and click with the mouse? Or is it better to learn to use the numerical keypad (on the right of the keyboard)? Or are the numbers above the letters the best ones to use? I'm playing a Mesmer and would like to eventually become an Interrupt Mesmer, so I guess quick skill usage will be important. Thanks to all who reply.

Nov 25, 2008, 01:17 PM // 13:17	#13
JackSpinner Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: May 2008 Location: Norwich UK Guild: Wanderers in the Wilderness Profession: R/Me	I use allsorts of combinations depending on what I am doing My one quirk, which i find the most usefull is setting left and right arrow keys to strafe (kite) left or right. Up and down arrow keys as default, with dbl hit down arrow to turn through 90. This gives you right hand to move precicely leaving left to sort skills and rotate if necessary. Mouse is virtually under right hand for quick transition if necessary (running away) Last edited by JackSpinner; Nov 25, 2008 at 01:22 PM // 13:22..

Nov 25, 2008, 03:49 PM // 15:49	#16
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	I tend to just click on the skill icons for every character except heal/prot Monk. For the Monk I use the number keys 1, 2, & 3 for the most needed skills and still click on things that are bonds, HB, etc., that are not used as often. This is primarily because of the way I control character movement (mouse + keyboard) - clicking on skills works best for me. Of course, this may depend upon whether you're talking PvE or PvP. In PvE, speed is not so important, so do whatever feels comfortable. In PvP speed is important, so learning to use direct keys is probably best. Last edited by Quaker; Nov 25, 2008 at 03:54 PM // 15:54..

Nov 25, 2008, 02:04 AM // 02:04	#2
Sharkman Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Dec 2005	Keyboard is definately the fastest, but whatever works for you personally I suppose.

Nov 25, 2008, 02:09 AM // 02:09	#3
snaek Forge Runner Join Date: Mar 2006 Profession: N/	personal preference really i think mostly it comes down to movement vs skill activation if u do more wsad'ing, then mouse or numpad would be better for skills if u do more mouse click movement, then the keyboard would be better for skills tho i think for an interrupt mesmer (and many other classes) keyboard offers an advantage to mouse activation its jus more readily available and easier to find some ppl remap the 7 and 8 keys to ones closer to wsad such as "r" or similar keys that way its rite under ur fingers for easier access and less chance for a mis-hit i tend to see a lot of solo farmers use the mouse for skill activation maybe because movement is less important and they generally stand still for most of the time i dunno personally i use numpad jus cuz i hate clickin

Nov 25, 2008, 02:51 AM // 02:51	#4
Gift3d Forge Runner Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Las Vegas Guild: Enraged Whiny Carebears [oR] Profession: W/E	i use 12345 on keypad 678 mouse buttons quickest possible

Nov 25, 2008, 02:57 AM // 02:57	#5
ac1inferno Desert Nomad Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boston Guild: We D Shot Your Stances [GODS] Profession: A/W	For being a good mesmer, I would suggest movement by clicking the mouse. Use numbers for skills. And select enemies by clicking and not tabbing.

Nov 25, 2008, 03:06 AM // 03:06	#6
Dark Desicration Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Southeast USA Guild: West Kentshire Pony Club [Pony] Profession: Me/	1-8 q,w,e,r,a,s,d,f click to move z,x,c for lazy movement

Nov 25, 2008, 03:28 AM // 03:28	#7
Itokaru Academy Page Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BC, Canada Guild: Disciples of the Fish Profession: R/Mo	WASD to move 1-5 on on keyboard 6-8 by clicking with mouse For me.

Nov 25, 2008, 04:53 AM // 04:53	#9
obsidian ectoplasm Desert Nomad Join Date: Jan 2008	I use either WASD to move, or I just click and I use mouse normally to play, but it is better if you use keys to use skills and click to move. i would really suggest you do that, its harder at first, but its deff better

Nov 25, 2008, 06:39 AM // 06:39	#10
Ele Mental Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Underworld, being farmed for ecto by r3s Guild: In Soviet Russia Servers Hate [You] Profession: W/E	yeah, I use pretty much the same When I monk I have target party member across qwertyui And then I have skills across 12345678 Move with mouse click for more efficient and precise kiting

Nov 25, 2008, 07:25 AM // 07:25	#11
Haxor Krytan Explorer Join Date: Aug 2008 Guild: Legion of the Feng Huang [ASH]	WSAD for moving. 1234RFVX for skill activation. I find that the easier to quickly hit, the better for general play.

Nov 25, 2008, 12:28 PM // 12:28	#12
Dzjudz Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz	QWEASD for moving (doesn't anybody else use strafing?) 12345678 for skills mousewalking disabled (I hate accidentally clicking next to a target I want to target and then my character walking there)

Nov 25, 2008, 02:15 PM // 14:15	#14
imnotyourmother Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: in a house Guild: The Knitters Guild Profession: W/R	Well do not forget ctrl is nice to light up all foes at once

Nov 25, 2008, 03:14 PM // 15:14	#15
pamelf Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Australia Guild: Lost Templars [LoTe] Profession: Me/Mo	It's personal preference really. I personally use my mouse for most things. I just got used to using it from the beginning, and it's definitely the fastest for me.

Nov 25, 2008, 05:59 PM // 17:59	#17
Shadowhaze Nothing, tra la la? Join Date: Oct 2007	I use a combination of both keyboard and mouse. Mainly W,A,S,D for movement. Mouse I'll use to click skills or if I'm on monk or another prof that I need speedier reaction, I'll use the number key buttons (have the main skills on 1-4 keys and the like).

Nov 25, 2008, 06:32 PM // 18:32	#18
MrGuildBoi Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2006 Profession: A/	I put [Signet of lost souls] and interrupts or [overload] for spammage on skill #7 but binded it to mouse5.

Nov 25, 2008, 09:17 PM // 21:17	#19
Burnt Mind Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2008 Profession: E/Mo	I use W,A,S,D to move, and just click the skills, it works fine for me.

Nov 26, 2008, 11:47 PM // 23:47	#20
Centrifical Force Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2008 Guild: Overclockers Australia Profession: Me/E	Thanks heaps for all the replies. It looks like the general concensus is keyboard is a little faster. Will try to learn that. Hadn't really thought about other keymapping which would be good too. Also, disabling mousewalking is a great idea, because I often miss a target and end up running into danger. Thanks again.