Game pad vs Keyboard

[Nikita]

Ahh, yeah the n52te is the Nostromo I just bought in prep for GW2. (With the G600 mouse) So it didn't work well for XIV? That kinda sucks but it sounds like your pretty confident it will work well with 2.0, which is good to see.

I am actually sure the n52te would work pretty decently with the current UI, but in combination with the mouse the UI just feels too slow and clunky, which is why I am sticking with the controller until 2.0. It would be a perfect fit for GW2 as well. I can attest to that since I was using it in the beta weekends!

[NintenPyjak64]

Normally, I play with controller. I switch to K+M for when I play WHM to be more accurate and quick paced (also for like every other game in my Steam library)

[Aalryn]

Keyboard and Mouse if I'm doing anything even remotely important. The controller is fine for running around and gathering, but it's demonstrably slower than the keyboard/mouse counterpart. I have the naga mouse, which adds the advantage that I have all skills accessible without any loss of movement or delay.

I do use a controller when I play in my living room, however. There is just something relaxing about laying on the couch, playing on a 107" screen.

[Ferth]

I use just a keyboard. I have changed most of my settings to allow it to control as near to FFXI's full keyboard controls as I can make it, but there are still a few failings. Mainly in the horrendous action bar taking priority control over the arrow keys when you are in combat. I really wish the action bar controls were separate from the menu controls in the config menu. Also would like to see the return of the <stpt> macro option they added shortly before abyssea.

The game reacts FAR too slowly right now to use a mouse (the only thing I actually use the mouse for is targeting King Moggle mog when I am tanking that fight.) if the 2.0 controls work more like WoW's mouse/keyboard controls I may resume using the mouse... though really I just want to control the game like I used to control FFXI.

[Lux_Rayna]

What are you guys using? I still feel like I am wrestling with this games UI, especially on AV, CC, and Garuda speedruns. I have yet for find a targeting setting and setup that I feel comfortable with and not clumsy... Maybe it's because I play on a 42" TV and have more realestate to travel. I felt like I did back in Darkhold speed run days. Right now I use keyboard + mouse, but switch over to controller when I'm doing non intensive stuff. Mostly play WHM, BLM, MNK.

This game was made with a console in mind. I swear once you go to a game pad you'll never go back, at least for ffxiv. The control scheme is crap.

[Yves]

Just putting it out there...

I use the xbox 360 controller with the chatpad/messenger kit. There is a driver out there (unsigned) which allows it to function as a keyboard, mouse, and controller. Plus, hotkeys are incredibly nice, too. The only setbacks are that it is limited to wired controllers only (for now) and you need to boot into the unsigned mode for windows. However, it really is super awesome to have everything in one compact place. I actually write papers with my controller now...



Hit the orange button to enable the mouse via the thumbsticks

[ispano]

Keyboard/Mouse for anything important, like someone else said. I do have a controller when I DoH/DoL it up.

But to the nay sayers. Yes people have preferences. However, preferences never negate the fact that a Keyboard/Mouse setup is going to give you better control in FPS type games, or in MMOs where you could be doing multiple things at once.

In general Mice are better at quick accurate movement, at the expense of having a slight issue with longer distances. Gamepads deal better with the longer distances, but the movement is typically termed as "sloppy". The other point is that a Mouse is basically a 1:1 movement of your hand, a Gamepad Thumbstick reads a speed and a direction to move, so even using third party programs to boost the speed, it's still a sloppy movement in general.

[TimonLoon]

Thanks for explaining that better than I could.

[Lux_Rayna]

Keyboard/Mouse for anything important, like someone else said. I do have a controller when I DoH/DoL it up.

But to the nay sayers. Yes people have preferences. However, preferences never negate the fact that a Keyboard/Mouse setup is going to give you better control in FPS type games, or in MMOs where you could be doing multiple things at once.

In general Mice are better at quick accurate movement, at the expense of having a slight issue with longer distances. Gamepads deal better with the longer distances, but the movement is typically termed as "sloppy". The other point is that a Mouse is basically a 1:1 movement of your hand, a Gamepad Thumbstick reads a speed and a direction to move, so even using third party programs to boost the speed, it's still a sloppy movement in general.

None of this applies to FFXIV though. For most games I agree with you, but FFXIV is built and designed like a console game. As such, a controller is far smoother in terms of gameplay. The only downside to a game pad is the fact that you can't type. But if you have vent, typing is pointless.

There's very little reason to use a mouse in this game. And from what I understand, a lot of hardcore mmorpgers dont even use a mouse..but full keyboard. In fact, you'll find many that say using a mouse is nooby. I also disagree about the mouse being accurate. It is generally far faster to target with a keyboard than it is to click something on the screen. If you have godlike accuracy more power to you, but you can't miss with a keyboard.

[AliceKaye]

Currently I'm using my PS3 wireless gamepad with an ioGear Bluetooth Dongle.

As soon as the game hits 2.0, I'll be switching back to my Logitech G13 gamepad.