WASD vs ESDF

[Proteus214]

After 2 years of playing an MMO competitively, I still find WASD to work better than ESDF. Adding more buttons to the left hand doesn't make things better for you at all most of the time. In a pinch, having too many buttons can cause confusion. What people usually do is just add more buttons to the right hand. Get a 7 button mouse and map your mid-to-high-range usage functions to those buttons.

 

[ZomgSharkz]

I guess I use WASD just because I never knew there was any other option. It has never once occurred to me that I could remap the keys. I guess I can see your points on why ESDF could be better, but by now I'm just so used to WASD that I'll probably stick with it.

I only need two buttons for all games
Forward and Kill

You're my hero.

 

[thatstheguy]

ESDF is a little too cramped for me. With WASD, it's easier to hit keys like Ctrl, Shift, and Alt. All of which are big keys and easy to hit IMO.

 

[Borntolose]

ESDF? I've never heard of that configuration. I guess I'm just really used to WASD.
It has even become my typing position.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

ESDF? Fucking hell, this is an entirely new concept to me.

The only two choices I've ever been aware of are WASD and the arrow keys. ESDF never entered my mind, and I doubt I'd ever employ it.

 

[Korten12]

Greetings all,

I've been playing PC shooters since Quake 1 and I don't understand the allure of WASD compared to ESDF. I'm aware that WASD is the default setting for most FPS games (and it probably started with Quake), but why?

ESDF seems to be superior in all aspects. More keys are within reach. When using ESDF, your index finger can get to T, G, & B with much less stretching than WASD, and your access to the left column (tab, caps, shift,ctrl) isn't hampered at all.

Furthermore, when using ESDF, your hand is in the normal typing position. Most keyboards have a little riser on the F, so that you can place your hands correctly without having to look at the keyboard. That's really useful in gaming as well. As I'm moving my hands all of the keyboard (StarCraft for example), i can get back to my default ESDF position just by feeling.

PC games that don't allow remapping from WASD to ESDF will annoy me to no end. That was one of my biggest issues with Demigod. The camera controls were mounted to WASD and i couldn't get comfortable with my hands out of position. And i recall only one game where ESDF was the default (Tribes).

So, if you use WASD, why? Is it because that's what you've always used, and it's more convenient than having to remap every time you play a new game? Is it something special with your keyboard. Perhaps the switches makes pressing some combination of buttons non-responsive. I'd like to hear what you have to say.

wait people use EDSF? This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone using that. 0.0

 

[Sheamus]

I use esdf in every game I play. Started trying it in MMOs where it offered the ability to use the pinky for hitting certain skills without moving any of my fingers off the movement keys. But it has since carried over into everything else I play on pc, it feels more natural and generally I remap most keys in games anyway.

Get a 7 button mouse and map your mid-to-high-range usage functions to those buttons.

I also did this using the mouse buttons for modifiers like ctrl, alt, shift and tab, cutting down the number of buttons for my left hand while increasing the speed to hit a combination of buttons

 

[The Procrastinated End]

I usually go with WASD, because I never really heard of EDSF.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

I'm just used to WASD. I went to my buddy's house once and we started to play Jedi Academy.

He had the movement on arrows, space as the jump, and everything else assigned to things generally on the far left. With a right-handed mouse.

FIDDLY AS FUCK.

 

[Actual]

You do make a good point.

I may try your crazy new-fangled way next game I can be bothered to change the controls on.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

Uhhhh... I use WASD because it's all I have ever known and I don't do a lot of PC gaming to begin with?

 

[omega 616]

Are you guys bonkers? "it feels unnatural", "I can't get used to it", "it's uncomfortable" ... it's an inch at most! Talk about nit picking.

If you were saying arrows is or WASD I would disagree 'cos the arrows are really close to my mouse, meaning it would like playing with your elbows tied together.

Why not RDFG?Even more keys, or go bat shit crazy and go mid keyboard with YGHJ? Gives most access to most keys.

 

[PatrickXD]

One question, apart from the obvious what the hell are you talking about: You say You can Reach T G and B with little effort. I have never played a PC shooter where any of those buttons were relevant, except maybe taunting in Team Fortress 2.

I think the idea is that it makes it easieer to have more keys surrounding it, with ESDF you have QAZ and TGB to hotkey, whereas with WASD you only really have RFV for hotkeys.

 

[Hobonicus]

If you're right-handed, it's generally understood that the middle finger, index finger, and thumb on your left hand are easier to control than your ring and pinky fingers. While ESDF does offer more room on the left side for keys like the W and A keys, you sacrifice that easier accessibility of the Shift, Control, and Tab keys, which are all larger and easy for the ring and pinky fingers to manage. There's also the issue that moving closer to the center of the keyboard disorients your positioning and often times the palm below your index finger may be forced to rest uncomfortably on or above the space bar, which your thumb should have sole possession of.

Even the bump commonly found on the F key is beaten by the space left between the A and Caps Lock keys. To feel that bump requires you to brush the F key slightly, but most people simply place their fingers on the key and become stationary, and even then they generally keep their finger in the center of that key, whereas the bump is often on the bottom. On the other hand, the lack of material between the A and Caps Lock key is very noticeable when orienting your hand.

 

[Ne1butme]

Why not RDFG?Even more keys, or go bat shit crazy and go mid keyboard with YGHJ? Gives most access to most keys.

Do you normally keep your left index finger on g when you type? if so, then perhaps RDFG is for you. But like most Typists, i keep it on F. thus a control scheme where the index finger on F is the most comforatable to me.

But however you play is fine. Game on.

 

[Excludos]

"and your access to the left column (tab, caps, shift,ctrl) isn't hampered at all."

I'm sorry, it just is. Its not comfortable at all to play like that. Then again, if you play a certain way for a long time, you become used to it. I just can't see any reason to "get used to" playing with esdf.

And whats with all the people using arrow keys? Unless you're left handed, you'll be really cramped. Not to mention the lack of any buttons nearby

EDIT: I guess some keyboards have arrowkeys integrated straight into the rest of the keyboard without any space around it..I guess that would work out somewhat

EDIT2: One of my friends still use the arrowkeys to look around in FPS and such..

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

I just prefer WASD.


I used to be an all Arrows guy, But WoW made me go... Hey, its a lot easier to use WASD.


So then I did.


And I never really have trouble with pressing any buttons.

 

[^=ash=^]

My first real fps on the pc was Wolfenstein: ET and shift was sprint, using wasd was easier because it means less stretch for my pinkie. I've used wasd since then really.

 

[Sheamus]

Are you guys bonkers? "it feels unnatural", "I can't get used to it", "it's uncomfortable" ... it's an inch at most! Talk about nit picking.

If you were saying arrows is or WASD I would disagree 'cos the arrows are really close to my mouse, meaning it would like playing with your elbows tied together.

Why not RDFG?Even more keys, or go bat shit crazy and go mid keyboard with YGHJ? Gives most access to most keys.

here's the thing, If you do reassign hotkeys for a game you are playing and you are and avid typist who uses the index finger on the f it becomes very easy to remember what key is what, whereas if you moved over just that one key you'll often be hitting one key off, does that make any sense? the added benefit of extra keys in reach is just the kicker for me now that I think about it.

 

[mrhappydude]

that actully makes sense, i have a hard time with wasd since a lot of the time when i go to hit 'a' i hit capslock instead, i'll have to try this, thanks!