Esdf

[darkxshade]

Anyone use this over WASD? Seems more efficient in that the left pinky has access to more hotkeys and LShift is still accessable. You do lose accessability to LCtrl & LAlt though. I haven't tried it since it would take getting used to so I'm curious if anyone uses this as a default and like it over WASD.

 

[ivan2]

i actually started with ESDF in quake and later transferred to WASD because every other game's default bind was WASD and i don't want to bother re-binding.

To me it's the same.

 

[GullyFoyle]

A search for ESDF turns up 45 threads.

 

[Maximilian]

Arrow keys ftw! Old school!

 

[darkxshade]

A search for ESDF turns up 45 threads.

Strange, I did a search for esdf and it only returns 8(9 including mine), none of which has esdf on the title.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I use WSAD - I couldn't be bothered getting used to a new control scheme, and I would get annoyed at having to rebind every game. WSAD doesn't have any shortfalls for me.

 

[abaez]

Yea, and I like the fact that I can put my fingers onto WASD easily by feeling the big shift key with my pinky. When I had tried esdf I was always having issues with the correct keys, because esdf feels the same as rdfg so I always had to look down to verify.

 

[ViviTheMage]

WASD is the only way!

 

[misle]

I've always used ESDF. It gets old re-binding the keys on every game though.

 

[darkxshade]

Yea, and I like the fact that I can put my fingers onto WASD easily by feeling the big shift key with my pinky. When I had tried esdf I was always having issues with the correct keys, because esdf feels the same as rdfg so I always had to look down to verify.

That sort of makes sense but as a counter-argument, everyone naturally types with their hands on home keys[asdf] anyway, wouldn't it be more natural then to be able to feel for esdf[or rather asdf] more easily than wasd, then just move the middle finger up to e?

 

[acheron]

I used to use ESDF when I did FPS games. Generally found it better than WASD for all the reasons you state.

 

[Xcobra]

Arrow keys ftw! Old school!

This!

 

[Ackmed]

Obviously ESDF is better than WASD. More keys are accessible, and its the "proper" placement for your typing anyways.

And arrow keys is just silly. If you want old school, using a mouse button to move forward is old school. That doesnt make it better.

 

[2dt Drifter]

AWEF is what I use, but my FPS controls are whack but efficient.

 

[bobross419]

ESDF ftw. More controls access to buttons.

I've got fairly long thin fingers so the pinky gets a good workout

WASD is easier to find placement for? Seriously, does no one have the "f" key nipple anymore?

 

[n7]

RDFG n00bs.

I used ESDF for a bit until i realized it's still not that great.

I've used RDFG for many years now.

Allows me all kinds of binds i can hit with my pinky while still in movement using the RDFG keys, & i can still reach Shift/Tab/CTRL just fine.

 

[Ika]

Anyone else notice a very tiny (but present) difference in the placement of the upper key (W in wasd vs. E in esdf)? I realize that ESDF is probably more effective than WASD, but since I've been using WASD for years I feel like the ESDF layout has the upper key shifted ever so slightly to the left (maybe like 1mm).

 

[Modular]

I'm WASD all the way. My mouse has buttons for binds and so forth.

 

[Zenoth]

I've always been using the directional arrows instead, and the surrounding keys for other functions, such as right-shift for jumps, numpad numbers such as Ins (zero) for sprinting or Del (dot) for firing modes, or Delete for throwing grenades and End/Home for opening inventories or for general "action" (opening doors, activating switches) respectively, etc, I've tried WASD and ESDF a few times, I just can't stand it, generally that is, but I do use WASD in two games, the first being in Battlefield 2 for vehicles and in Dragon Age simply because the controls for Dragon Age are very good by default and it feels just right, I haven't changed a single control option so far.

 

[Arglebargle]

I just use wasd, but with my pinkie on the w, ring finger on the a and s, middle finger on the d. Doesn't take my fingers off home row, and leaves my index finger and thumb free for for hotkeys.

Ended up on wasd because I played on a friend's computer that was set up that way, and didn't want to mess with his settings. But no one told me that they used different fingers, so I just learned it that way.

I am a reasonably fast touch typist, so perhaps that might have affected it.

 

[Ika]

I just use wasd, but with my pinkie on the w, ring finger on the a and s, middle finger on the d. Doesn't take my fingers off home row, and leaves my index finger and thumb free for for hotkeys.

Ended up on wasd because I played on a friend's computer that was set up that way, and didn't want to mess with his settings. But no one told me that they used different fingers, so I just learned it that way.

I am a reasonably fast touch typist, so perhaps that might have affected it.

Er... how is that physically possible? Do you have ginormously long fingers? Do you use the keyboard vertically? Do you mean "pinky on the a" and "ring finger on the w and s"?

 

[Maximilian]

Hehe you're all slowly and subtly making your way back along the keyboard towards the arrow keys Its WASD one day, RDFG the next, before you know it its arrow key time!

 

[Joemonkey]

Er... how is that physically possible? Do you have ginormously long fingers? Do you use the keyboard vertically? Do you mean "pinky on the a" and "ring finger on the w and s"?

i too was wondering this...

 

[zerocool84]

ESDF??? Move into the 21st Century. It's all about TFGH.

 

[bullbert]

Arrow keys ftw! Old school!

Old school? Arrow Keys? My Apple ][ had all four arrow keys misplaced clumsily in a single row. Not usable in my opinion.