Talk to the Team: Default Key-bindings

[Knossos]

Whatever new keybinding chart may be implemented for the desired ease for players new to Istaria but are accustomed to alternative key bindings, I hope that there may be a way for the present client base to "switch to" the current Istaria key binding chart and not need to edit a "new standard" chart manually.

Knossos

[GlindorOcculus]

If implemented, will this change our preferences or will this be the control set for newly generated preference files?

I wouldn't want to have to set all my controls back to what they were.

[silverth]

If implemented, will this change our preferences or will this be the control set for newly generated preference files?

I wouldn't want to have to set all my controls back to what they were.

If I'm understanding what is said here correctly, I agree. I have my characters set up in a way that I'm comfortable with, and would not like to have to go through them all just to return to previous set up.

That said, we can change our key bindings fairly easy, so why do a total revamp on everyone? Maybe add something in the tutorial about setting up the keybindings for new players, make it easier for them to figure it out?

[Racktor]

I quite like the new keybindings idea. It certainly seems more comfortable than stretching your fingers all the way across the keyboards left and right trying to click things. (Even though I use Q to fly down and space to fly up...)

Also, to everyone who is worried about keybindings being reset: The way your characters keys are set up are saved in your preferences. I highly doubt they'd be reset. There's actually a file in all of your character's preference folder called "ClientPrefs_Controls". If there wasn't some way of saving it client-side, they'd be reset every time you'd log in. :P

[Knossos]

Note that each character has its own ClientPrefs_Controls.def file. Thus a file for each alt.

Knossos

[GlindorOcculus]

Also, to everyone who is worried about keybindings being reset: The way your characters keys are set up are saved in your preferences. I highly doubt they'd be reset. There's actually a file in all of your character's preference folder called "ClientPrefs_Controls". If there wasn't some way of saving it client-side, they'd be reset every time you'd log in. :P

Yes I know about that, but I was wondering if this change would automatically reset everyone's control scheme to the new default. I doubt it, but just wanted to make sure.

[Raptress]

This post is sort of stream-of-consciousness-y, sorry. xD

Spacebar for jump is what it always should have been.

Launch window on escape is perfect.

CTRL for crouch (also descending while flying) is pretty good. Better than X, in any case, and definitely the key I associate with crouching.

The strafe keys (Q, E) look good.

The sit, select self, select group members, assist target, and toggle interface keys are more consistant with other games, and some make more logical sense, so these are fine.

Cycle nearest enemy on TAB is also what I'd expect if coming from other games.

Quest window on L is good, but I'm not sure I see the logic for the equipment, chat, spell, or formula windows. I associate B with "bags" in other games, so for it to bring up my equipment window seems counterintuitive. I say leave that on E. I cannot actually recall ever opening another chat window on any other game, so I can't really say N is any better than H, but at least H shares a letter with "chat." Not sure what the basis for J for spells is either; I'd rather see it left on B because I associate that with "spellbook" in Istaria. Don't see the reasoning for changing F for "formulas" either, and I don't think I play any games where H is the crafting key. Logical keybinds are much easier to remember.

I don't like slash for attack. You have to move your hand all the way across the keyboard and off WASD in order to hit that. Not something I'd want to be doing in the heat of battle. I think what I'm used to for this is T, but Istaria uses that for trading. Perhaps swap slash for gathering's Y?

What is the new Stop Action? It was the previous user of spacebar, no?

I am hopeful but concerned about the new functions for right- and left-click. I have tried to attach right-click to mouse look in the past, and it suddenly became impossible to get right-click menus. Left-click was not allowed to be rebound at all when I tried. Are we to understand that there is new functionality being put into these bindings, rather than simply a swapping of binds here? That's what it sounds like, but it is a little unclear.

Note that each character has its own ClientPrefs_Controls.def file. Thus a file for each alt.

Knossos

This only really matters if your key binds differ between characters. If all characters use the same keybinds, the same ClientPrefs_Controls.def can be copied into every character's folder.

I doubt a reset as well (at least an intentional one), but I'd probably back my ClientPrefs_Controls.def file up if/when this change went live, just in case.

[Dhalin]

Most of those changes in the OP are what I already did to my key bindings already.

It just makes more sense, as these have become standard in most MMORPGs, or very close to.

Always thought some of the default bindings were just plain weird compared to anything else.

Awesome idea.

[awdz]

Whatever new keybinding chart may be implemented for the desired ease for players new to Istaria but are accustomed to alternative key bindings, I hope that there may be a way for the present client base to "switch to" the current Istaria key binding chart and not need to edit a "new standard" chart manually.

Knossos

I second this! I'd like to see an option of "use original default keybindings" as well as "use current default keybindings". I assume customized settings would not be undone if the new defaults are implemented, is that correct?