Question about PC/Keyboard controls

Hi all,
I play on PS4 only as all healers but am buying a gaming PC and will be playing more on PC soon. I've always found it awkward in the few times I did a demo of ffxiv on my laptop mainly with doing actions. It's fairly straightforward to move with WASD and control the camera/targets with the mouse. What I have trouble with is the action keys, using 0,1,2,3 etc for Cure, Cure II and so on. I always have to look down to see them where as PS4 you only ever push 2 buttons, a trigger and a button never looking away from the screen. Holding ctrl plus one of them seems even harder, and mousing over one to click it seems slow. More people play on PC though so I'm obviously missing something, just wondering if you have any tips?

Well if you don't end up getting used to it, you could just plug in your PS4 controller and keep playing that way

as a dedicated pc player who also uses a controller from time to time, I can say that whatever is the most comfortable for you is where you should go. However, if you want to adjust to a keyboard, what I do is divide the keyboard up. I use the number keys 1-6 with my left hand, but the 7-9 is done with the mouse, this also provides me having two ways to activate.
The other option to keep in mind is that targeting on the pc is far more intuitive and you have many more party target options. Try going to a simple area with a party that'll help you adjust and try the targeting options. You can use the F keys to immediately target on your party list, select that member on the screen directly, select that member with the mouse in the party list, mouse over that party list if you want to use macros as well as using text commands if you like that instead. The adaptability is the real benefit, but the other suggestion I would have is to plan your heals to begin precasting.

I have a similar question, but in the reverse of the OP's. Sorry to steal your thunder, OP, but it's better than starting a new thread.

I just started healing recently, and so far party healing seems pretty straight forward with a controller... but Alliance healing seems impossible. I avoid PvP or 24 man raids as my healer because I feel gimpy by comparison to the PC players who can easily just click on whatever Alliance HP bar is low and cast a heal. Normally it's fine... until you're the last healer standing any everyone's begging you to rez/heal them. Opening the "virtual mouse" to heal is slow, clunky, locks your hotbar, and locks your camera (both of the last two being utterly stupid), so I don't find that's a good alternative.

So, my question is: Do any controller players know a better way of going about doing this? Or am I screwed in Alliances without a mouse and keyboard?

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Originally Posted by Februs

So, my question is: Do any controller players know a better way of going about doing this? Or am I screwed in Alliances without a mouse and keyboard?

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If you use a PS4, you can just use the pad on the controller as a mouse. It's not as good as a mouse, but whatever.
If you're on a PS3 or usin a control with no pad on your PC, I don't know what to say. I played on PS3 a long time ago, but there wasn't alliance content back then and then I transferred to PS4...

I never use 7-0 keys, I use my mouse for anything I can't keybind on the 7-0 abilities to letters QERT FG ZXCV. I also keybind my mouse wheel (pressing it) to sprint (I'm a healer, comes in handy while I'm running around) so when I'm moving around I can still use abilities around the WASD keys that are within reach.

You get used to it. It was hard at first but once you know your keyboard layout, you do it without thinking.

Helps to keybind similar actions to the same letters through the jobs (Medica II on T, Aspected Helios on T, Sacred Soil on Q, Collective on Q, Medica on R, Succor on R, Helios on R, Addlo on 3, Aspected Benefit on 3, Regen on 3, Esunas (sch, ast and whm versions) on 5, Aetherflow / Shroud / whatever the AST one is on X.) it gets to be muscle memory then no matter what job you're on.

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Originally Posted by Februs

So, my question is: Do any controller players know a better way of going about doing this? Or am I screwed in Alliances without a mouse and keyboard?

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Open the Character configuration menu, control settings, filters tab, then scroll down to "enable customization."

You can set up four targeting behaviors here, each activated by pressing L1+ a face button. You can use this to create filter just for alliance members. So in mid battle, activate the filter, get your heals off and then switch back to your regular filter with ease.

Oh hmm, I've just read that L1+ left/right will cycle through alliance members by default. See if that works too.

Thanks all that helps. I've never had an issue with alliances on the PS4. I mean I worry about my own party, it's not that often that you look and see many other people dead from the alliance. I just use the dualshock touchpad and mouse up to that person and click them though, it's the easiest way I find. I might keep using the controller on the PC we'll see, was more the 7-0 mentioned as they seemed awkward. Where I find the PS4 slightly more challenging is on PC with the mouse it's easier to just mouse over an ability, or a buff on someone etc and see what it is. PS4 it's not as easy to do that, especially tool tips on abilities. I usually just use the touchpad to mouse over one if I need to see but I feel like already having the mouse in your hand would make you faster.

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Originally Posted by Ragology

Oh hmm, I've just read that L1+ left/right will cycle through alliance members by default. See if that works too.

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It does. That's how I do it. But it's a pain in the butt.

In all fairness though the controller is actually pretty well done considering the type of game this is. I see lots of posts people complaining about fitting stuff on, but with the expanded hotbar there's really no reason you can't have quick access to everything you use the most. I just want to try other games as well like Wildstar or WoW which don't have controller so figure it would be good to get used to it. Back to the keyboard though as you should post a new thread if you have controller questions and not hijack this one. Does it make a difference using bluetooth wireless keyboard/mouse vs plugged in? I know I always see wired is better but I feel like that might be more an issue on FPS games?

I would definitely play around a lot with keybinds. Similar to Dayala, I also gave up the 7-0 keys and use QERTFG to complete my 12 buttons for the hotbar. It just makes it that much easier to perform all actions while still keeping one finger on WASD ready to dodge stuff.

One thing I could not get used to, however, was clicking CTRL/Shift/Alt for other hotbars, so I actually purchased the Razer Mamba mouse. It very conveniently only has 2 large buttons on the side which I can click with my thumb. I bound those buttons to be Shift/Alt, so I don't have to stretch my hands pressing them on the keyboard with my pinky.

I would also recommend keeping the party list close to your character so while you're clicking and looking at the party list, your character is still in good vision of you. It will feel awkward at first but try sticking to it and you'll most likely never go back. I couldn't even do WASD movements when I started out but now I could never go back to pad. ;D

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Originally Posted by Februs

So, my question is: Do any controller players know a better way of going about doing this? Or am I screwed in Alliances without a mouse and keyboard?

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It's better to ignore them xD

Seriously, though. One of my bigger problems with the controllers - targeting sucks.

If you don't want to use target scrolling (I only did this in a2s as driver) the only advice I can give is to customize the target filter so you can target everything. I have mine split so when weapon is drawn my target is limited to enemies, then with sheathed weapon I can target non-party members and other things. It still gets kinda annoying (cuz you draw your weapon when you go to cast, so that means you can only select one person at a time). But it's equally annoying to have to scroll through 1000 things to find the right enemy or whatever.. At the end of the day I just don't worry about alliance member lol

Also, you could hook a mouse up to the ps4 if you wanted. I have a wireless keyboard with a touchpad on it that works as mouse, though not well enough to use it other than random selections like the above and moving around abilities on my fancy hotbars

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Originally Posted by Ragology

Oh hmm, I've just read that L1+ left/right will cycle through alliance members by default. See if that works too.

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Brilliant. Thank you very much. I will give this a try.

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Originally Posted by VanilleFang

It does. That's how I do it. But it's a pain in the butt.

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Probably, yes, but it can't be worse than the virtual mouse. Controller targeting will always be slower than a mouse, even within your own party. If I really wanted to up my healing game I'd plug in a mouse and keyboard... but that's a lot of work for just one job. I actually prefer the controller for my Dps/Tanks. So, I'm not willing to trade it for the sake of one job.

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Originally Posted by whiskeybravo

It's equally annoying to have to scroll through 1000 things to find the right enemy or whatever.

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I actually prefer playing with a controller for my Tanks and Drg, because I like the ease of use buttons for my hotbar rotations.

Targeting does get a little iffy in tightly packed areas (like PvP, for example) but I usually get around this pretty well by circle jerking my targets. Your targeting should automatically target whatever is closest to the centre of your screen, so if you aim well with your screen (3rd person shooter experience can come in handy here) you usually get the target you want, or near enough that a quick rotate left or right will get you the one you wanted. Takes some practice. PvP trained my fingers to circle jerk through targets pretty quickly though.

Anyone that says targeting with the controller is hard, clearly hasn't used the controller enough. I have zero problems ever targeting, it's pretty simple. From anywhere, D-Pad up and down cycles your party list starting from whoever is selected. Need to heal the tank fast, hit circle to make sure no one is selected then down twice to select them. To target enemies they have to be on screen, and then you hold R1 and cycle them with L1, or hold L1 and cycle with L2. If you want to select one from the enemity list, hold down L1 and press up and down on the D-Pad same as targeting the party. I completely prefer the controller, a mouse just lets you be a bit faster since you can quickly click exactly who you want or hover over a buff/debuff to see what it means.

I don't think hooking up a mouse is as efficient since you still have to let go of the controller to use the mouse. The touchpad on the PS4 works perfectly though so really not a big issue. I think my hardest thing with the keyboard is not moving as much. Like controller your thumb is constantly on the analog stick so it doesn't matter what you're doing you can easily be moving without having to return your hand to the WASD keys type thing. (Someone earlier mentioned keeping 1 finger on the W to return quickly, but still can't match the controller).

Hm, it also depends what type of keyboard/mouse you will be using. As for example I couldn't play anymore without my Logitech G600 (it's a mouse :p). On the side are keys for 1-0 (or whatever you bind) and I can all reach more or less comfortable with my thumb. With my left hand I use WASD QERT FG YXCV Alt Control Shift Tab Tilde Space (German key layout).