Awkward controls? Super newbie question!

Hi everyone! ^^;

I am SUPER new, as in I'm level 10 archer new. I might be asking this prematurely but I wanna make sure I'm training my fingers correct from the start haha... I'm finding the controls a bit awkward in combat? I'm using a mouse and keyboard. Is it just something I will get used to or is everyone else doing it a different way?

When I get into combat, I'm using WASD to move around and also trying to press number keys at the same time and I awkwardly end up using my thumb for moving so my fingers are free for attack keys and holding down the right click on the mouse so I can see whats actually happening... is this how everyone else is playing or do people change their controls a lot?? I watched a youtube video of someone saying they strafe around and move and jump but I can't even get a finger down to jump while Im moving and attacking... Am I even meant to be moving while attacking or just avoiding the red area that comes up to show an attack?

I know this question is super nooby sorry I just want to make sure I'm on the right path! I haven't played any similar mmorpg's. Also... is the map always so confusing hahaha I hadn't even realised I'd missed the level 5 job quest and when I did realize I had so much trouble hunting down where Luciane even was lol

I no longer use keyboard/mouse, but I'm pretty sure you can turn your camera view without using your mouse (like the arrow keys I think, or at least it can be set up to do so). Some players I've seen are using keyboard for most things, and only use mouse to target specific targets. Others weave mouse usage in between their actions. Archer solo quests at lower levels do usually require you to move around a lot to reduce the damage you take, it just takes practice to move around, jump, and attack all at once.

This answer is a bit different for everyone. Some people change the keybinds for their attacks to be easier to hit while moving, some people use standard controls with no problem, some use the mouse to move during fights with their other hand on the attacks, some come up with other solutions(gaming mouse?). Its good that youre worried about picking up bad habits early, but this is probly a little premature. At level 10 youve only probly ever fought over-world monsters solo or easy-instance monsters with helper NPCs. Around level 30 youll get a companion, after which point you rarely fight over-world monsters alone. And around level 18 youll get your first mission to venture into a dungeon with a group of other players. When truly solo you might sometimes find yourself moving more often to reduce damage as Yui describes(unless youre out of reach, this doesnt actually make much of a difference). With other players? A good tank will get the enemies mostly looking at him and standing still, freeing you up to focus on putting arrows into their tender places. Generally speaking, youll mostly just need to move when youre standing in a targeted AoE(some archers/bards feel compelled to run around constantly while in groups - this does nothing but occasionally put them out of healing range for no benefit). With your companion? Most DPS players spec their companion as a healer first, in which case you more or less stand where you need to and let them focus on keeping your health up if needed.

Since you specify strafe, i personally have those movements set to "Q" and "E" - both fairly easy to hit without bringing my fingers too far away from the attacks. For most fights im able to position my camera either just before or right at the start and leave it there(which again, for me, is zoomed out almost all the way and looking down at around a 20-30 degree angle so i can see fairly far forward while still having a good angle on any aoes near my feet). If i need to do a big move or a mechanic requires me to switch focus, ill be ready to quickly refocus the camera when im done. And one general tip: if you find yourself unable to move because of your attacks its possible you might be hitting the buttons more often then you need to. Heavy shot can only happen once every 2.5 seconds, hitting it 5 times a second isnt speeding it up or giving you any extra benefit. You do want to press it - if you dont activate it then it wont happen and attacking as often as possible is DPS rule #1, but youll spend a lot of fights not hitting more then 1 or 2 buttons every GCD(global cool-down - those 2.5 seconds between main attacks) which makes it easier to work in some movement. This is especially true once you have some more practice with the system and if you know what to expect from the enemy youre fighting.

And as for the map, itll be second nature to you before long. Starting out they throw a ton of stuff at you all at once, but it doesnt take too long for it all to feel natural. After awhile youll have little problem finding things, and the most important places youll go to repeatedly and theyll become ingrained knowledge. And dont worry about asking "super nooby" questions. The people who read this forum like to help and are happy to do so.

Frizze has some good input.

I use a mouse, keyboard, and a Logitech Q13. Keyboard is mostly for chat. Mouse is for moving and camera. Q13 is programmed for most everything else - I wouldn't play without it. There are other similar products. https://www.gamingscan.com/best-gaming-keypads/.

It'll definitely come down to your own personal preferences. There aren't really any wrong ways to do it, if you can make it work.

The guy above me clearly loves using the mouse, and yet personally, I despise using the mouse for anything except moving items around in menus (particularly because I play on a laptop, so my option is trackpad or external-mouse-on-my-leg, both of which are terrible). I generally wind up using my middle or index finger for movement if I need my other fingers for pushing hotbar numbers and/or other nearby buttons. Almost everyone I share my control scheme with balks and throws up in their mouth a little, but it works for me, so do whatever you get comfortable with. I find that your preferred control scheme tends to heavily depend on the type of other games you like playing. I notice that people that like shooters tend to rely on a mouse much more than I ever could. I suck at those, so...

Though I've been playing on PS4 for years (and PS3 before that), I've only recently added the PC version and started trying the game out using a keyboard and mouse. I'm still finding it rather awkward too, though I seem to have somewhat better success with mouse for movement and keyboard for actions than I do with keyboard movement. It seems to be largely a matter of trying things out and seeing what works best for you.

On the subject of trying things out, another possibility to consider is getting the sort of gaming controller more commonly used on consoles. As a cross-platform game, it's already designed to support them, and a controller certainly makes movement more natural. Actions and targeting take a bit more getting used to, but they do with the keyboard as well. (Plus if you're sitting in front of a computer anyway, it's not an all-or-nothing decision. You could use a controller for most actions, but reach over to the mouse or keyboard occasionally for whatever you find awkward on the controller.)

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Originally Posted by Niwashi

On the subject of trying things out, another possibility to consider is getting the sort of gaming controller more commonly used on consoles. As a cross-platform game, it's already designed to support them, and a controller certainly makes movement more natural. Actions and targeting take a bit more getting used to, but they do with the keyboard as well.

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As a long-time ps3/ps4 player I'd second this. The game feels really good on a controller, for most jobs at least (I don't particularly like healing with controller). But it's all a matter of personal preference. Main thing you want to do is build muscle memory and that only happens with time or regimented* design.

* - What I mean by this since it's just the word that came to mind, but try to find some logic with how you lay out your actions. For example I try to make sure all my main 1-2-3 combos are on the same buttons regardless of class. I have Fell Cleave and Holy Spirit on the same buttons. Provoke, Rampart, Awareness, Convalescence, Reprisal, I have them all on the same buttons for WAR/PLD/DRK. For MCH I tried set up my off-GCDs in the order I'm going to use them. Anything you can do to organize them in a way that doesn't conflict with natural movements, for example I try to not use my main attack actions on Left side of the controller since I you'll be using the left analog stick for movement, which makes it hard to move and attack at the same time. Little things like that to make it more comfortable and consistent.

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Originally Posted by whiskeybravo

Anything you can do to organize them in a way that doesn't conflict with natural movements, for example I try to not use my main attack actions on Left side of the controller since I you'll be using the left analog stick for movement, which makes it hard to move and attack at the same time.

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I've gone through the same thought process, and a good thing to think about for left side/right side of the controller is whether skills are instant-cast or need to charge up. Instant ones are better on the right so they can be used while moving, and charged spells on the left since you have to stand still to cast them anyway.

Also, make sure you turn on the two layers of extended controller hotbars (pressing both buttons and double-tapping) to have access to as many skills as possible.

I use al,ost 100% mouse. I got one of those mmo mice with the 12 buttons on the side and don’t think I could play without it as other control schemes just sound super clunky to me. I’ve also tried controller, but just found it irritating and clunky to use and all I wanted to do was just grab my mouse for more fluid control, but tons of people love controller and couldn’t play without it.

What I do is use keyboard to hit the modifier keys (Ctrl, shift, alt) to access all my binds, and WASD to move. I turn with right mouse button and also hold down right mouse button and a or d to strafe so I don’t have to hit different keys for that.

You just have to find what feels the most comfortable for you.

Try something out, see what works. I'm using 1-5 and the rest bound to qefg while using ctrl and shift. Lots of pinky work, but i'm used to it by now.
Mouse binds are good if you have or can afford a gaming mouse, but certainly not a perfect solution.

I've also been using plenty of macros for actions. RDM uses casting to build up a gauge before jumping in, I have a macro that changes the actions if I jump in to the melee strikes and back to magic if I jump out.

I use a trackpad and a keyboard...I actually like turning the camera with the trackpad because it is a simple swipe haha....