Proposal - Active Mode for Gamepad (Action Bar & Button Combinations)

[RyoFujo]

Please see the linked image below for my proposed update to the action bar. This proposal uses a directional pad and button combinations to select actions. I refer to PS3 controller buttons, but the proposal would also work with other gamepads.

Action Bar Layout Proposal


The action bar is split into two pieces and available stamina is displayed on each side:

..............Enemy
--======[==]....\/...[=====]===--
Stamina......../\.........Stamina
............Character
........[4]...........[9]
.....[2][1][3].....[7][6][8]
........[5]...........[0]

When no buttons are pressed, actions 1 & 6 are enlarged. Action 1 has its stamina requirement displayed on the left stamina bar and action 6 has its stamina requirement displayed on the right stamina bar.

When a directional (d-pad) button is held down, the enlarged actions change. For instance, holding down the left d-pad button will enlarge actions 2 and 7. An analog stick could be substituted for the d-pad if preferred.

Pressing the square button will select the enlarged action from the left side, and pressing the circle button will select the enlarged action from the right side.

PS3 button combinations:

- Gamepad Active Mode -
Press Triangle = Toggle Active/Passive Mode
Press Cross = Cancel

- Button Uses while Selecting a Target -
Press Left = Next Target to the Left (Shift+Tab)
Press Right = Next Target to the Right (Tab)
Press Up = Previous Party Member
Press Down = Next Party Member

- Buttons for Left Actions when Target is Locked-
Press L1 = Previous Action Bar Set
Hold L2 = Ctrl Macros
Press Square = Action #1
Hold Left & Press Square = Action #2
Hold Right & Press Square = Action #3
Hold Up & Press Square = Action #4
Hold Down & Press Square = Action #5

- Buttons for Right Actions when Target is Locked -
Press R1 = Next Action Bar Set
Hold R2 = Alt Macros
Press Circle = Action #6
Hold Left & Press Circle = Action #7
Hold Right & Press Circle = Action #8
Hold Up & Press Circle = Action #9
Hold Down & Press Circle = Action #0

----------------------

Currently I use a Saitek P2900 with the following configuration to use my actions:

Hold L2 & Press Button 4 = Action #1
Hold L2 & Press Button 3 = Action #2
Hold L2 & Press Button 1 = Action #3
Hold L2 & Press Button 2 = Action #4
Hold L2 & Press Button 10 = Action #5
Hold R2 & Press Button 10 = Action #6
Hold R2 & Press Button 4 = Action #7
Hold R2 & Press Button 3 = Action #8
Hold R2 & Press Button 1 = Action #9
Hold R2 & Press Button 2 = Action #0

This works well, but it does not give me easy access to my macros or other action bar sets.