Keyboard Binding

[Moonlost]

My Name is Moonlost... And I am a mouse clicker.

Not quite a keyboard tuner though. I use my A and D buttons for strafing whilst turning with my mouse. And this usually does just fine.. Usually. There are a few boss fights (coughFactionChampionscough) where this doesn't cut it. I'm aslo planning on doing my Demon Quest very soon (omg, just picked up my Petrified Leaf!) and I'm pretty sure that the way I play now if going to make that test even harder on myself.

It's come to my attention that I could be doing better by learning how to manage my abilities using my keyboard. So I'm thinking of learning to keyboard cast. I've had a quick look about for ideas on how to set this up, but I'd kind of like to get a better idea of how some other hunters set up their keyboards.

So, for those of you who do, how do you set up your keyboards?
Wait, scratch that. To you fellow raiders, what sort of configuration do you use for raiding? Keyboard, clicking or a mix? I'm interested to see how we all do our job.

[Aleu]

Honestly, I click. Almost all the time. The only time I've ever hit keys is when I'm tanking (I use the 1 - 0 keys for that). Everything else is done by clicking I raid and pvp that way. I do just fine. >.<

However, I've seen a good amount of people who actually do both. Some abilities are bound to keys (Likely the most important ones or the most used ones) and others are clicked.

I just don't like people tossing around rumors that one is the 'scrub' way and the other is the good way. >.< Granted clicking may not be the best in some situations, but it still can work.

[Vephriel]

I use both, but the majority of my spells and such are key bindings.

I generally play with my left hand on the keyboard. My pinky finger rests on the 'A' key, my thumb on the spacebar, and my three center fingers are on 4, 5, and 6 respectively. My right hand stays on the mouse for the most part.

A is the binding for my Pet Attack + Hunter's Mark macro. I can't play a hunter or warlock without this now, I'm so used to it. I find that A is in a perfect, comfortable position to hit frequently. My boyfriend hates that as he usually moves around using WASD, but I don't.

With my fingers on 4,5,6, I have easy access to most of my spells and actions which are all keyed to the numbers. Just a quick shift left or right with a finger and I'm there. I'll click on a spell if it's at the far right hand side of my key bindings sometimes, and also for things that aren't used often, such as potions or whatever other various things I have on my right action bars.

Another crucial key binding that I can't play without now is Auto Run bound to my thumb mouse button. I just click the side of the mouse to toggle it on and off, and it's how I move around. It's so easy and convenient, and I literally have trouble playing without it.

[Jakkra]

I'm a little unusual in that I play exclusively on my laptop, with no mouse. I only use my touch pad. Been that way since day 1, and it feels ultimately too awkward for me to use a mouse, now. Plus, I'm able to use my right hand for my rotation, also, while being able to switch back to my touch pad if I have to change the angle or something.

WASD are my basic movement controls, with Q and E being strafe. I use the numbers above all the letters on the keyboard for all of my normal shots. I click for hunter's mark, my traps, CDs and Misdirect.

I have " \ " binded to be my auto run.

I go to heroics and raids, and do just fine.

Just play the way you're comfortable with, and your dps will be just fine. I wouldn't buy into someone's idea of the "right" way to play- it might not work for you.

[Vephriel]

Oh my gosh Jakkra, I can't imagine playing only on a laptop touch pad.

I tried it once when I had no mouse and I just could not do anything. xD Kudos for you for mastering that difficult technique, haha!

[Dragonpuff]

Indeed Jakka, Kudos! I tried to play that way once when my Desktop died, but I could hardly do anything.

And Moonlost, I know a lot of people online say clicking is 'bad', but if it works for you and you do well, then it is 'good'! I use a combination of clicking and binding myself, but I mostly click. As long as I pay attention to my cooldowns and get to the button before it's up, everything is fine. I have macros and such keybound, along with my pet attack button, but I otherwise use the default Warcraft config for my keys.

[VelkynKarma]

I do a mix of both.

For the most part (especially on my hunters) I click. Its' not so much a problem on Silinrul anyway since she runs dungeons as BM and that's like...three buttons.

I do however use a number of Shift + (letter here) bindings for things like buffs and heals. Regardless of class, I always try to put similar types of buffs and heals to the same bindings, so I don't have to constantly re-teach myself bindings. For example, 'cleansing' moves to remove poison/curses/whatever are always shiftV for me; self-buffs are always shiftZ while buffs I can give anybody are shiftF. Makes life a little easier, haha.

But yeah, for the most part, I click.

~VelkynKarma

[Sharilar]

I use WASD movement and for the most part my main stuff is keybound... `-6 or `-7 are my most used abilities, 9 is my AoE if I have to target it, and 0 is my CDs. Anything else I have on my bar I don't use that often so I just tend to click it when needed rather than have my hand flying all across the keyboard. When I strafe, I just use Right Mouse + A or D.

I also try to keep setups similar between all my classes, though that leads to fun moments such as looking for Innervate or brez on my hunter.

[Karathyriel]

Yep, I'm also using both mouse and keyboard.
Weird thing is, I don't have a standard.
What I click right now, I might tap the next minute. Just as it feels comfortable to me right in that moment.

And no one ever complained about my DPS so far but then I'm no hardcore raider.

[Epicfail]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgDjG_0ecTI

Kripp's guide to dpsing. Take from it what you can. Everyone does things differently.