Using AutoAttack and cycling baddies

[Desdemonte]

I've been playing for a couple months now and have never really used the autoattack. When I first started playing, I just hit left mouse repeatedly to attack and quickly found that I kept jumping from baddy to object to friend. So I tried AA, I didn't really like it because it kinda stuck me to somebody until they were dead- not good if something stronger pops up and you have to deal with it. So I stopped using AA, and just hold down the left mouse button- if I have to change focus I just let up and face the new baddy and attack. I haven't used the next baddy buttons either, because I can't seem to keep all the keys straight and am not very fluent with keyboard gaming.

I've never really played a lot of computer games where you use all the keys for stuff (I'm used to controllers and joysticks), so I have trouble keeping everything straight. But I wonder what's the best way of doing things so I don't have to unlearn a bunch of bad habits as my characters get to high levels and I have to be *fast* in what I do. How does AA work? Do you need to keep a button held down or can you let go and use that hand/finger to hit quickbar keys as needed? Do most people use AA then use the "next" buttons to change focus to someone new if necessary?

I'm trying out a couple of completely different characters- a kensai tempest barb, a barb, and a sorcerer. I can see how AA would work for a Barb, who just walks in and destroys, moves then destroys some more and it doesn't matter what he's targetting, but for the sorcerer you must be much more specific in your actions, hit keys for spells, not usually attacking with a weapon, tring to avoid attracting aggro, etc. I could see how having a hand or finger free would be useful for hitting spells though, or allowing you to strafe.

I'm finding the sorcerer very difficult to play because it's so different from anything I've ever done- I never even used a caster once during my old PnP days. There is a lot of key pressing and hotbars to keep straight. I'm going to read the guide I found to get some more tips, but I'm just wondering what the most efficient/ quickest way to learn to play in general (and if it's different between character types) would be.

Thanks, and sorry for the blathering on....
D

[SolarDawning]

I'm not really sure what your question is, but I think you may be looking for a way to hard target specific enemies without autoattack, so you only attack the one you want to.

If so, just right click them? Right-click by default sets a hard target, while just mousing over something is a soft target. If a hard target is within melee range, or within the arc of your weapon, you will only hit that target.

You can also use Tab to switch between all nearby targets.

[Desdemonte]

I'm not really sure what your question is, but I think you may be looking for a way to hard target specific enemies without autoattack, so you only attack the one you want to.

If so, just right click them? Right-click by default sets a hard target, while just mousing over something is a soft target. If a hard target is within melee range, or within the arc of your weapon, you will only hit that target.

You can also use Tab to switch between all nearby targets.

Thanks for explaining the soft vs hard target- I've never right clicked with success, but read that was how you attacked and it seemed never to work- left click is how I attack..... I would have somebody in front of me and right click them and nothing would happen. Now I see (if I understand correctly) that right click is to hard target something so your mouse movement doesn't throw your attention to a barrel or friend. Once you hard target them, do you then left click to actually attack them? You mention "melee range"- would the same thing apply to ranged range if you were holding a wand or bow or going to cast a spell? I'll have to try this in-game, obviously, but when you're in the middle of 3 guys womping you, it can soon become a matter of "screw testing- stay alive!"

I guess what I'm trying to ask in a very convoluted way is if I should be auto attacking, regardless of character type. It seems like a brutish way to go- ok for tanks, but not for casters (which seem to need a lot more finesse and key tapping). I'm just wondering how various people tend to play this game- a lot of mousing (left and right) on specific targets then left hold down to continue on a baddy, or a lot of scrolling through targets and having AA activated. Does this make sense?

[SolarDawning]

Thanks for explaining the soft vs hard target- I've never right clicked with success, but read that was how you attacked and it seemed never to work- left click is how I attack..... I would have somebody in front of me and right click them and nothing would happen. Now I see (if I understand correctly) that right click is to hard target something so your mouse movement doesn't throw your attention to a barrel or friend. Once you hard target them, do you then left click to actually attack them? You mention "melee range"- would the same thing apply to ranged range if you were holding a wand or bow or going to cast a spell? I'll have to try this in-game, obviously, but when you're in the middle of 3 guys womping you, it can soon become a matter of "screw testing- stay alive!"

I guess what I'm trying to ask in a very convoluted way is if I should be auto attacking, regardless of character type. It seems like a brutish way to go- ok for tanks, but not for casters (which seem to need a lot more finesse and key tapping). I'm just wondering how various people tend to play this game- a lot of mousing (left and right) on specific targets then left hold down to continue on a baddy, or a lot of scrolling through targets and having AA activated. Does this make sense?

Yes. if you have a specific enemy hard targetted, you will shoot them with ranged/spells if you're pointed anywhere in their direction. Something else blocking the way can still be hit by the projectile instead, though, but you will aim for the target.

Also yes, I left click to attack my targets. I just right click or tab when there's a specific one that I want to hit, to target it first.

[Desdemonte]

Yes. if you have a specific enemy hard targetted, you will shoot them with ranged/spells if you're pointed anywhere in their direction. Something else blocking the way can still be hit by the projectile instead, though, but you will aim for the target.

Also yes, I left click to attack my targets. I just right click or tab when there's a specific one that I want to hit, to target it first.

thanks

[Lorien_the_First_One]

First of all for melee/ranged types unless you are autoattacking a stationary object that isn't fighting back like a portal or a distant ranged target that isn't moving, TURN OFF AUTOATTACK. You gain more control and will do more damage if you actually play your character. Click to attack, or even hold to attack. If you autoattack in melee you will periodically get missed attacks because "you aren't facing your target". Auto attack bad...

Now for casters. Two ways to go.

Option 1) Turn off autotarget and go into mouselook mode. If you are a FPS type, many people prefer this because you target where you look (some like this for melee too)
Option 2) Click on your target or tab to select your target. If you have soft targetting on, tab again to lock the soft target into a hard target.

Select 1 or 2 hotbars and create hotkeys you can readily remember and quickly access during combat. Put the spells you need during combat on those bars, that way your aren't looking for spells to kick on, just hit CTRL-1 (or whatever) and cast. Use the other bars for spells where you have time (ie - your buffs used before combat)

[ivar415]

Also something I found out in a very annoying way is to unbind the interact option from your left button and rely only on the E key for interactions like picking up stuff or opening doors.

Sometimes there are fights right next to a dungeon exit and your autotarget may jump to the exit trigger, dropping you in the city while your mates valiantly fight on. And hopefully don´t get wasted without you, to then loot the chest which you won´t get now.

Picking up stuff is much quicker with E than hunting that elusive pixel with the mouse.

[Desdemonte]

Both very useful replies- thanks

I searched but cannot figure out what FPS or mouselook are though- please elaborate, if you would.

[Zlingerdark]

Both very useful replies- thanks

I searched but cannot figure out what FPS or mouselook are though- please elaborate, if you would.

As one who uses mouse-look mode almost constantly, it can be toggled on and off by hitting T. Otherwise, right-mouse button activates mouse-look so long as your button is down. I find that very taxing on my hands, and use the toggle method instead, however it takes away your ability to mouse-click on clickies, as the mouse pointer basically disappears and turns into a circular reticule in the center of the screen.

This makes it difficult for one who needs to use clickies on the hot-bar a lot. Thankfully, so far I haven't been too terribly ineffective yet, but I can see it getting harder and harder as I level up. I do use the shortcuts to switch between the different hot-bars quickly, and hit the appropriate # for the "clickie". In my case, clickies are "PRESSies".

During play I get instant response in my ability to turn and face any direction with my mouse-look TOGGLE activated without pressing any button on my mouse. That frees my other hand to work the keyboard. Because I only have a laptop, I am forced to have to play without a numeric keypad, and thus use the WASD keys. However, since my old fingers will cramp up in 2 seconds with ASD keys in a row and the W key up one row, I remapped the Q and E keys to also be strafing keys. This allows me to simply shift up a row with 3 fingers (the W (forward) row) and have strafing while moving forward easily, and shift down when needing to do some back-pedaling and strafing during combat.

My only advice other than that, it is what makes your fingers not suffer fatigue so easily. Think about how you want the keyboard, or keypad and mouse to work together. You can then remap any key to fit your personal preferences. Many youngsters will probably have no problem with constantly pressing and holding down keys, and buttons, but I cannot possibly hold up for long before my hands and fingers grow sore or numbed.

I suppose it doesn't help that I work on computers all day which is sure to contribute to the problem...heh!

Forgot to address the FPS, as well. If you check under options you will see some pre-built keyboard/mouse set-ups. One is FPS (which is First Person Shooter style) which I believe is like the old you see through the eyes of your character and not a 3rd person view.

[Desdemonte]

As one who uses mouse-look mode almost constantly, it can be toggled on and off by hitting T. Otherwise, right-mouse button activates mouse-look so long as your button is down. I find that very taxing on my hands, and use the toggle method instead, however it takes away your ability to mouse-click on clickies, as the mouse pointer basically disappears and turns into a circular reticule in the center of the screen.

This makes it difficult for one who needs to use clickies on the hot-bar a lot. Thankfully, so far I haven't been too terribly ineffective yet, but I can see it getting harder and harder as I level up. I do use the shortcuts to switch between the different hot-bars quickly, and hit the appropriate # for the "clickie". In my case, clickies are "PRESSies".

During play I get instant response in my ability to turn and face any direction with my mouse-look TOGGLE activated without pressing any button on my mouse. That frees my other hand to work the keyboard. Because I only have a laptop, I am forced to have to play without a numeric keypad, and thus use the WASD keys. However, since my old fingers will cramp up in 2 seconds with ASD keys in a row and the W key up one row, I remapped the Q and E keys to also be strafing keys. This allows me to simply shift up a row with 3 fingers (the W (forward) row) and have strafing while moving forward easily, and shift down when needing to do some back-pedaling and strafing during combat.

My only advice other than that, it is what makes your fingers not suffer fatigue so easily. Think about how you want the keyboard, or keypad and mouse to work together. You can then remap any key to fit your personal preferences. Many youngsters will probably have no problem with constantly pressing and holding down keys, and buttons, but I cannot possibly hold up for long before my hands and fingers grow sore or numbed.

I suppose it doesn't help that I work on computers all day which is sure to contribute to the problem...heh!

Forgot to address the FPS, as well. If you check under options you will see some pre-built keyboard/mouse set-ups. One is FPS (which is First Person Shooter style) which I believe is like the old you see through the eyes of your character and not a 3rd person view.

Wow- super helpful! Great idea on the straffing keys. I play on a laptop too, and have been debating getting a mouse for it- it's slow to use the pad to get the cursor all the way across the screen to click on something quick. I like it for my ability to hit jump and attack at the same time though (spacebar and left mouse are really close together). Maybe I could get a mouse and map the wheel press to jump?

I will have to think out a good keymap and then learn it. I'd posted a thread before on keymapping though and didn't see much response. The thing I noticed was that some keys didn't stay mapped properly, and was wondering if there were some useful templates available to look at. Or is the default one pretty much as good as I could logically do? The people who made the default one have a much better handle on keymapping logistics than I do, but like yourselfm, I bet there are people out there with keymapping tips....

[Zlingerdark]

Wow- super helpful! Great idea on the straffing keys. I play on a laptop too, and have been debating getting a mouse for it- it's slow to use the pad to get the cursor all the way across the screen to click on something quick. I like it for my ability to hit jump and attack at the same time though (spacebar and left mouse are really close together). Maybe I could get a mouse and map the wheel press to jump?

I will have to think out a good keymap and then learn it. I'd posted a thread before on keymapping though and didn't see much response. The thing I noticed was that some keys didn't stay mapped properly, and was wondering if there were some useful templates available to look at. Or is the default one pretty much as good as I could logically do? The people who made the default one have a much better handle on keymapping logistics than I do, but like yourselfm, I bet there are people out there with keymapping tips....

Oh my god! Definitely get a mouse!

As for the keys not staying mapped... I have had that happen to me as well. Cannot remember exactly what and where it happened, but I suspect that it has to do with being able to map 2 keys to each option. Thus I am able to put 2 different strafing keys to ease my play. Each key mapping has 2 potential keys available for it. You may have to wipe out the current ones in order to reset them to those you want.

For instance, I have the same problem with the shift key being mapped to block/tumble key. I remapped it to V so I can use my thumb to hold it down to block or tumble. It really come down to what it comfortable for your environment. I imagine if I had a full keyboard I would be using the keypad almost exclusively, and the mouse of course.

Oh my god! Get a mouse ASAP! I cannot imagine playing with the trackpad!

[Desdemonte]

Oh my god! Definitely get a mouse!

As for the keys not staying mapped... I have had that happen to me as well. Cannot remember exactly what and where it happened, but I suspect that it has to do with being able to map 2 keys to each option. Thus I am able to put 2 different strafing keys to ease my play. Each key mapping has 2 potential keys available for it. You may have to wipe out the current ones in order to reset them to those you want.

For instance, I have the same problem with the shift key being mapped to block/tumble key. I remapped it to V so I can use my thumb to hold it down to block or tumble. It really come down to what it comfortable for your environment. I imagine if I had a full keyboard I would be using the keypad almost exclusively, and the mouse of course.

Oh my god! Get a mouse ASAP! I cannot imagine playing with the trackpad!

hahaha. yeah- I'll get a mouse.

speaking of tumble- how do you actually do it? My ranger/barb has trained it, but I can't do it unless I take a potion (I thought once I had the skill trained I could do it at will). Even then, I'm not sure what keys I was hitting- shift+A or D+right mouse (my strafe key) maybe??? Not easy to do *plus* battle. I'm going to re-map like you have suggested. And get a mouse

[Kaervas]

hahaha. yeah- I'll get a mouse.

speaking of tumble- how do you actually do it? My ranger/barb has trained it, but I can't do it unless I take a potion (I thought once I had the skill trained I could do it at will). Even then, I'm not sure what keys I was hitting- shift+A or D+right mouse (my strafe key) maybe??? Not easy to do *plus* battle. I'm going to re-map like you have suggested. And get a mouse

Even if you have a rank in tumble, be wary of armor and shield penalties reducing tumble to 0 or below (at which point you cannot tumble and do that ridiculous crouch shuffle).

Tumbling is done by holding down your block key (default shift) and then a directional button. Depending on your keybindings, to tumble left or right you may need to hold the right mouse button down as well. Tumbling backward and forward requires no additional clicking/key presses, just shift-A/shift-W.

[MysterX]

hahaha. yeah- I'll get a mouse.

speaking of tumble- how do you actually do it? My ranger/barb has trained it, but I can't do it unless I take a potion (I thought once I had the skill trained I could do it at will). Even then, I'm not sure what keys I was hitting- shift+A or D+right mouse (my strafe key) maybe??? Not easy to do *plus* battle. I'm going to re-map like you have suggested. And get a mouse

You probably have an armor penalty to Tumble skill that makes it negative, drinking a potion pushes back into a positive score and lets you tumble.
That is how I tumble on a character who normally wears full plate and put 1 point into the skill.
Pushing the block key + any directional movement key should tumble in that direction.

[Desdemonte]

You probably have an armor penalty to Tumble skill that makes it negative, drinking a potion pushes back into a positive score and lets you tumble.
That is how I tumble on a character who normally wears full plate and put 1 point into the skill.
Pushing the block key + any directional movement key should tumble in that direction.

I just tried it in-game and all it does is turn while blocking. I have reset my keymap to the "classic" one. I checked my stats for tumbling, and although it is cross-class I've been sinking points into it. Total mod 5.5, Rank 0.5, Ability Mod +4, Misc Mod +1. I have on light leather (hide? ...can't recall) armour. This is an elf ranger 3/barb1.

Am I still not high enough to do it without potions? Where do I need to get it to? I thought once it was beyond 0 I could use it.....

BTW, I just ordered a Logitech G5 mouse- should be here in 7 or less

[Zlingerdark]

I just tried it in-game and all it does is turn while blocking. I have reset my keymap to the "classic" one. I checked my stats for tumbling, and although it is cross-class I've been sinking points into it. Total mod 5.5, Rank 0.5, Ability Mod +4, Misc Mod +1. I have on light leather (hide? ...can't recall) armour. This is an elf ranger 3/barb1.

Am I still not high enough to do it without potions? Where do I need to get it to? I thought once it was beyond 0 I could use it.....

BTW, I just ordered a Logitech G5 mouse- should be here in 7 or less

To tumble, once you have the skill above zero, you need to hold down the block key AND move in any direction. If you are blocking and turning, then you are not moving. Strafe left or right, or move forward or backward to tumble in that direction.

Although I haven't mastered tumbling at all, but while in mouse-look mode you can tumble in a arcing direction, instead of a straight line. For instance, you can tumble forward and while in mid-tumble spin yourself around to face the direction you came from. Tricky to do, since it require precise mouse movement during the tumbling animation.

[Desdemonte]

To tumble, once you have the skill above zero, you need to hold down the block key AND move in any direction. If you are blocking and turning, then you are not moving. Strafe left or right, or move forward or backward to tumble in that direction.

Although I haven't mastered tumbling at all, but while in mouse-look mode you can tumble in a arcing direction, instead of a straight line. For instance, you can tumble forward and while in mid-tumble spin yourself around to face the direction you came from. Tricky to do, since it require precise mouse movement during the tumbling animation.

ahhh- that's why I was having trouble even when I took the potion. I will try as you say. Thanks.

[Desdemonte]

I just tried it and no go- I am moving (straffing) left or right, moving forward or backward and when I hit shift (which is mapped as block) I stop moving and go into blocking mode. I'm stumped....

[Zlingerdark]

I just tried it and no go- I am moving (straffing) left or right, moving forward or backward and when I hit shift (which is mapped as block) I stop moving and go into blocking mode. I'm stumped....

Try it the other way around. Hold SHIFT/BLOCK first, then move.

[Desdemonte]

Try it the other way around. Hold SHIFT/BLOCK first, then move.

yeah- I'm pretty sure (like 99.9999%) I tried it both ways and got the same effect. To make it 100%, I'll try reversing the actions, but any other thoughts????