Posted in: Other
Posted 2011-01-11 at 15:34 by Deadfast
[url=https://www.realitymod.com/forum/members/8792.html]DonDOOM[/url] [url=https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f380-project-reality-news/93393-pr-arma2-highlights-reel-4-a-3.html#post1528699]brought up[/url] the subject of me using a [I]bit weird control configuration[/I] in [url=https://media.realitymod.com/news/arma/prarma_08/controls_menu.jpg]this image[/url].
What you can see there is the [B]ESDF[/B] keys configuration. It's not as fancy as it may sound, it's pretty much just [B]WASD[/B] except one key to the right. And yet it can make so much difference, especially with a controls heavy game such as Arma 2. I have been using it for over 3 years and not once did want to go back.
The main advantage is that by moving by one key on each row to the right you gain one easily accessible key in each row to your left. Without having to move away from your movement keys you have easy access to 16 keys (not counting the numerical row and Left Windows). That is 3 more than with [B]WASD[/B]. It might not seem that much but trust me, 3 keys can make all the difference.
[IMG]http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x279/deadfastcz/layout_wasd.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x279/deadfastcz/layout_esdf.png[/IMG]
Unfortunately as everything in the world even the [B]ESDF[/B] layout has its downside - virtually every single game nowadays comes with [B]WASD[/B] layout as the default. That means you have to reconfigure the entire controls scheme. With the aforementioned Arma that is a major pain - some experts claim the game has an infinite number of keys you'd have to re-assign. That is why I recommend starting with something easier - PR:BF2 or BF2 in general is a good start. It worked for me ;).
On Rhino's request you can download my PR:BF2 [B]ESDF[/B] [I][B]Controls.con[/B][/I] file [url=http://deadfast.armaholic.eu/download.php?file=downloads/Controls.con]here[/url].
Shut down the game, overwrite the existing file in [I]My Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\001[COLOR="Red"]*[/COLOR]\Controls.con[/I] and start it again.
[COLOR="Red"]*[/COLOR] Number is based on the position in the account login list: 1st = 001, 2nd = 002, etc.
[B]ESDF pros:[/B][list][*]3 extra usable keys[*]Using Ctrl won't break your little finger[*]Homerow marker on the F key allows for quick hand positioning[*]You'll be [I]special[/I], Epoch totally digs that![/list]
[B]ESDF cons:[/B][list][*]Will take a while to get used to[*]Games need to be reconfigured[*]Tilda (~) might not as easily reachable as with WASD on some keyboards[/list]
That about concludes it this not-really-PR-related blog post. Before any suggestions for crucifixion are spoken let me just say I will be happy to write about something much more related to Arma 2 modding if requested. Suggestions regarding posts about scripting, dialogs and some basic configs will be welcome. Everything else is out of my area of expertise so I'd rather avoid those than start spouting some nonsense ;).
What you can see there is the [B]ESDF[/B] keys configuration. It's not as fancy as it may sound, it's pretty much just [B]WASD[/B] except one key to the right. And yet it can make so much difference, especially with a controls heavy game such as Arma 2. I have been using it for over 3 years and not once did want to go back.
The main advantage is that by moving by one key on each row to the right you gain one easily accessible key in each row to your left. Without having to move away from your movement keys you have easy access to 16 keys (not counting the numerical row and Left Windows). That is 3 more than with [B]WASD[/B]. It might not seem that much but trust me, 3 keys can make all the difference.
[IMG]http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x279/deadfastcz/layout_wasd.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x279/deadfastcz/layout_esdf.png[/IMG]
Unfortunately as everything in the world even the [B]ESDF[/B] layout has its downside - virtually every single game nowadays comes with [B]WASD[/B] layout as the default. That means you have to reconfigure the entire controls scheme. With the aforementioned Arma that is a major pain - some experts claim the game has an infinite number of keys you'd have to re-assign. That is why I recommend starting with something easier - PR:BF2 or BF2 in general is a good start. It worked for me ;).
On Rhino's request you can download my PR:BF2 [B]ESDF[/B] [I][B]Controls.con[/B][/I] file [url=http://deadfast.armaholic.eu/download.php?file=downloads/Controls.con]here[/url].
Shut down the game, overwrite the existing file in [I]My Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\001[COLOR="Red"]*[/COLOR]\Controls.con[/I] and start it again.
[COLOR="Red"]*[/COLOR] Number is based on the position in the account login list: 1st = 001, 2nd = 002, etc.
[B]ESDF pros:[/B][list][*]3 extra usable keys[*]Using Ctrl won't break your little finger[*]Homerow marker on the F key allows for quick hand positioning[*]You'll be [I]special[/I], Epoch totally digs that![/list]
[B]ESDF cons:[/B][list][*]Will take a while to get used to[*]Games need to be reconfigured[*]Tilda (~) might not as easily reachable as with WASD on some keyboards[/list]
That about concludes it this not-really-PR-related blog post. Before any suggestions for crucifixion are spoken let me just say I will be happy to write about something much more related to Arma 2 modding if requested. Suggestions regarding posts about scripting, dialogs and some basic configs will be welcome. Everything else is out of my area of expertise so I'd rather avoid those than start spouting some nonsense ;).
Updated 2011-01-11 at 16:40 by Deadfast
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lifes will never be the same :OPosted 2011-01-11 at 15:52 by supahpingi 
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you could upload a controls.con for PR:BF2 with your setup
I may give it a go, but my Saitek Cyborg K/B has different material on the WASD keys which when mixing normal and WASD keys feels a little odd on the fingers
Posted 2011-01-11 at 16:03 by Rhino
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So tru so tru datPosted 2011-01-11 at 16:10 by General Dragosh
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Cool! I might be trying this out tonight
Posted 2011-01-11 at 16:13 by cyberzomby
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That is a good idea, I'll edit it in.Quote:Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Rhino
you could upload a controls.con for PR:BF2 with your setup
I may give it a go, but my Saitek Cyborg K/B has different material on the WASD keys which when mixing normal and WASD keys feels a little odd on the fingers
EDIT: And done.Posted 2011-01-11 at 16:23 by Deadfast
Updated 2011-01-11 at 16:40 by Deadfast -
Ive never had any problems with WASD. Enough buttons for everything! Might work better in ARMA2 tho.
Posted 2011-01-11 at 16:58 by L4gi
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But now I can't double you!
Posted 2011-01-11 at 17:59 by Cheeseze
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Been doing that way over 15 years. You have more buttons on the left that you can assign, it's as simple as that.
The only game I don't use it with is ArmA, as every button has a meaning.
ESDF is the way to go, that's for sure.Posted 2011-01-11 at 18:07 by AfterDune
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It does more then WASD for me :sQuote:ESDF pros:
* Using Ctrl won't break your little fingerPosted 2011-01-11 at 18:46 by NyteMyre
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What are the weapon cycle (f) and enter vehicle (e) keys set to?
Posted 2011-01-11 at 18:51 by MCI
