Keyboard controls

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Finally made the jump from a controller to mouse/keyboard, which is quite the adjustment. So I'm rather curious what people use to possibly better optimize my setup. I've seen a lot of suggestions about remapping strafing to A+D, but that causes backpedaling whenever attempting to move in midway directions. Locking on seems easier, though again, some suggestions from more experienced players is always nice.

[micheleuno]

Is difficult to change the way you play, i once tryed to use a controller (i've played with mouse and keyboard for many year) and i counld't even do my rotation.
"'ve seen a lot of suggestions about remapping strafing to A+D, but that causes backpedaling whenever attempting to move in midway directions." That's why you use the W,A,D only to make your character walk, you have to use your mouse (righ click) to make him face where you need to.
I think the reason to straf with A and D is to free the Q and the E, that way you have 2 more binds.
And for more binds i use: Q,E,R,T,F,G,V,| (the one is left from the 1), and from the 1 to the 5, and the mouse wheel click (Sadly you can't assing the wheel up and down like on WOW). And from then you can use all thos bids but with Shift and CTR as modifiers.
That's how i play, you should a way is confortable for you, so don't rely too much in what other people say, just don't click your abilities.
Sorry if my english is a mess.

[dementiondrive]

i have it set up as default. the character settings for camera is legacy so S key turns me and runs. i never have to press 2 keys to turn. though that is practice.

i also have the face target turned on so no matter how my character faces. i will turn and attack is and only have to worry about directional keys. i only strafe if i really need to. other than that. it is fairly easy after getting use to it.

[VargasVermillion]

It took me a while to set the strafe buttons to A and D but it's worth it in my opinion, especially with classes like MNK where you need to move around bosses a lot since you want all your auto-attacks to hit. generally you use your mouse to control where you face and use strafe to circle around targets. Just play as you are doing now and adjust as you hit walls until you work out whats for you, especially with hotbars and the like. Having a mouse with at least 2 extra buttons helps too.

[Nadirah]

Finally made the jump from a controller to mouse/keyboard, which is quite the adjustment. So I'm rather curious what people use to possibly better optimize my setup. I've seen a lot of suggestions about remapping strafing to A+D, but that causes backpedaling whenever attempting to move in midway directions. Locking on seems easier, though again, some suggestions from more experienced players is always nice.

Enable legacy controls.

No backpedaling. Pressing S will cause you to face the camera and run.

Also, keyboard for turning is clunky and horrible.

Hold Rmouse and side to side pans camera. Think it also changes your facing but I'm not in game atm. Mouse turning, A and D strafing.

[Catwho]

If you have issues using a mouse for long periods of time, it's possible to map nearly every function over to the keyboard with the exception of ground targeting. I swapped out WASD for the NUMPAD 4862 with strafing at 1 and 3. My thumb controls the camera, allowing me to run and adjust the camera angle on the fly. That leaves my left hand free to handle all macros. I use my thumb to smack the CTRL ALT and SHIFT keys to grant me access to three hotbars and a pet bar, and I have the keybinds mapped such that the keys I'll need to use while running can be accessed by the left hand, but keys I'll need to stand still to use are smacked by the right hand instead (e.g. bard songs, long cast spells on SMN, etc.)

It's a modified version of the FFXI layout, which was keyboard heavy and mouse light.

[KaijinRhada]

I started off with WASDQE standard for movement, but I quickly cut out A/D since I mouse turned (best thing ever), and then years ago I shifted the keybinds over. Since then, I have ERWD (E=move forward, D=backpedal, W=strafe left, R=strafe right). This opened up more keybinds for me, so now I have QAS open with GTVBHY closer to my reach, and no changes with FCXZV as they still remained accessible. It isn't that big of a change with large hands using WASD, but large hands I do not have and having three keys to add CTRL/ALT/SHIFT combos to is nice. I'm still sad I can't bind mouse wheel up/down to anything like I can in WoW.

In the end though, try different set ups to see what works for you.

[_slowpoke_]

It took me a while to set the strafe buttons to A and D

It was literally the very first thing I did in the game after the opening cutscene. I cannot fathom how people play with the standard movement keybinds.

Not saying it's wrong but I just seriously don't get it.