Full or Compact - A question for PC users

[Gaspee]

I, too, prefer the compact setup for laptop. In my opinion, it's more intuitive.

[Mirage]

I use compact, because I want to use wasd. I would have preferred to be able to remap every key to my liking, but that is apparently super duper hard to implement :<.

[Djinnrb]

I use compact. one hand on asdw and one hand on the arrow keys

[Neika]

I use compact. one hand on asdw and one hand on the arrow keys

Same here. I hate the full keyboard setting.

[slakyak]

Think it depends what you are used to. Years of playing FPS on PCs is likely to give you a different opinion to someone who has been using controllers since the days of Alex Kidd in Miracle World!

Xbox wired controller all the way for me, even as a PS3 boy. (curse you Microsoft and your 64 bit version of windows 7!!)

[Canadian]

I've been using controllers since like the late 80s playing NES. Controllers are easy to play games with on consoles only because there was never a keyboard option. For FPS games, I prefer using mouse and WASD keys but that setup sucks for FFXI because you aren't always just running around. Whereas using only keyboard, you can just keep your hands on the keyboard at all times. F-keys get to your macros, keypad for running around/resting/targetting, arrow keys for camera angle.

Everyone finds different methods that work for them. For me, FFXI - full keyboard, FPS games - mouse + WASD, Console - controller

[Niyah]

I have 3 accounts and play this on 360, PC, and Laptop. My daughter plays on the Xbox and dual on PC and laptop. my main toon is played on laotop and i much perfer the compact KB over the full KB. You should try using a controller, I find them much easier to control. I use a Logitech PS style controller.

[JagerForrester]

I played on the PS2 with full keyboard setup, and it worked for me. Now I'm PC playing in windowed mode with a gamepad and keyboard in "compact" mode, and I customized the IJKL buttons to control my menu directions instead of the camera. It helps to move and control menu directions more accessible when I'm switching between windows on the PC. I have a delay with the game pad when I switch. You just adjust to what best suits your needs.

[Kasandaro]

I've a keyboard with a numberpad, but I keep it set to compact, since FPS has taught me to navigate with WASD.

As for the controller debate - I've tried hooking up an XBox controller and it felt slow and awkward, especially the macros, compared to using the keyboard.