Keyboard vs. Gamepad

[Snike]

While there are some who prefer a gamepad i would suggest against it. The mouse is simply the best input device for direction control currently in existence. No 3d game(and by 3d game i mean game with 3dimensional gameplay, not 3dimensional graphics) that uses a gamepad has ever been as precise or fast to control then one that uses a mouse. Of course if you already don't use mouse look you wont lose out on much.

Gamepads are used with the mouse, atleast all the ones I have owned and seen. Gamepad in left mouse in right. It's a miniture keyboard programable how you like. The one I have has 10 keyboard keys with 3 flipable banks + directional D-pad, and a volume or throttle wheel... all these are programable as far as what you want each i/o to represent.

I don't think the OP was asking about using a gamepad to control look direction...

I use mouse look a lot, but I never have it toggled on... I use directional (wasd) keys in left and hold left mouse button for mouse look. I too frequently need to move things around click extra stuff on bars to worry about toggling it on and off with my left hand, easy to do it with left mouse button.. All the game pad does is give a comfort feel and programablility to the left hands use.

[adamkatt]

Mouse good for quake 3 mouse good for ddo...

[ErgonomicCat]

Gamepads are used with the mouse, atleast all the ones I have owned and seen. Gamepad in left mouse in right. It's a miniture keyboard programable how you like. The one I have has 10 keyboard keys with 3 flipable banks + directional D-pad, and a volume or throttle wheel... all these are programable as far as what you want each i/o to represent.

I don't think the OP was asking about using a gamepad to control look direction...

Based on what he described, I'm pretty sure he was - he's talking about using a real game pad, like a PS2 controller, to play.

I'd recommend against that.

However, I used a Nostromo n52 for all my gaming, and I can't recommend it enough. It's basically a mini keyboard, with a d-pad, a couple extra buttons, and 4 configs. It's just spiffy.
I use mouse look a lot, but I never have it toggled on... I use directional (wasd) keys in left and hold left mouse button for mouse look. I too frequently need to move things around click extra stuff on bars to worry about toggling it on and off with my left hand, easy to do it with left mouse button.. All the game pad does is give a comfort feel and programablility to the left hands use.

Edit: Looks like the Pro GamePad link is pretty much the same thing, with more buttons. I found that more than 3 rows tended to get in my way, but if you want more, that one looks pretty nice too.

[Onubis]

Personally i hate using the mouse PERIOD, for anything. I've bought trackballs for both my laptop and desktop, alls u have to do is move ur thumb instead of ur whole arm, and then pick up the mouse and start over...
I use a game pad for ddo, i prefer it. It's a basic playstation design.
And I do not think the difference could be noticed between a gamepad and a mouse in terms of accuracy(sp?) etc. IMO, any1 claiming the mouse is better is just baised and probably hates consoling game, so anything that reminds them of it they hate. just playing.

[wiglin]

Personally i hate using the mouse PERIOD, for anything. I've bought trackballs for both my laptop and desktop, alls u have to do is move ur thumb instead of ur whole arm, and then pick up the mouse and start over...
I use a game pad for ddo, i prefer it. It's a basic playstation design.
And I do not think the difference could be noticed between a gamepad and a mouse in terms of accuracy(sp?) etc. IMO, any1 claiming the mouse is better is just baised and probably hates consoling game, so anything that reminds them of it they hate. just playing.

People always say the keyboard and mouse are more precise, but when joystiq held a shadowrun competition and IGN (I think it was IGN mabee someone else) held a halo 2 competition between pc and consol gamers, the controller using console gamers won both matches.

It really just comes down to what you are comfortable with. I play alot of hours of Halo 3 using my controller. I use a controller in Tabula Rasa, but in DDO I prefer keyboard and mouse.

[Spectralist]

People always say the keyboard and mouse are more precise, but when joystiq held a shadowrun competition and IGN (I think it was IGN mabee someone else) held a halo 2 competition between pc and consol gamers, the controller using console gamers won both matches.

I don't know much about halo 2, but shadowrun is a very bad example, since it was designed with the intention of showing that a gamepad can be as good or better then the mouse. What it really showed was that a game designed around a gamepad works as good or better with it then with a mouse. Which is hardly shocking.

Most console shooters have much more lenient hitboxes, and or semi-autoaim specifically because a gamepad/analog stick is unable to match the mouse. If that's not proof that the mouse is more accurate then i dont know what is. Maybe watching people who aren't using the mouse in DDO as they take 3 seconds to turn 180°.

[wiglin]

The menu were optimized for a console, but when you are strafing and aiming the menu and ui doesn't matter.

What I would like to see is an MLG competition between the top pc gamers and the top console gamers, using games that are cross platform.

I agree though I much prefer using a keyboard in ddo. I do not play in mouse look though. If I was forced to play in mouse look I would use a controller like I do in Tabula Rasa.

I use too many buttons in ddo to use a controller.

I tried using a controller in BF2, but I went back to the mouse. Same thing too many buttons.

[Deusxmachina]

Personally i hate using the mouse PERIOD, for anything. I've bought trackballs for both my laptop and desktop, alls u have to do is move ur thumb instead of ur whole arm, and then pick up the mouse and start over...

If someone has to move the mouse so far that they have to pick it up and start over, they may need a higher dpi mouse. I've got a 2500dpi, and I can cover the entire screen with about a 1/2" movement. Even a 1600dpi is much better if someone is using a "stock" mouse that's often only 400dpi or maybe 800dpi on a good day.

I've got an N52 sitting here I haven't tried with DDO yet. If someone wants a dpad, something like that is probably the way to go.

[Aodh]

I use a logitech multi-button mouse. I think there's 5-6 extra buttons on it that you can bind to whatever you want. I usually use those for "twitch" stuff, like PK/FOD/Heal/wands, etc. Then I use the 0-9 keys for weapon sets, or additional spells/potions, etc. Works pretty good, although I usually need to swap spells at the start depending on which quest I'm running.

[Noirceuil]

nm

[Tous]

I use an Xbox 360 PC controller and love it. As far as control it is the best for me because I like the twitchy aspect of DDO.

All my basic combat functions and movement are on the controller, 16 keys mapped and move forward, move backward, strafe left and right and camera pitch up and down.
My mainly play melee base classes and any clikies or item switching I do on the keyboard.

[roadkill525]

anyone seen a place to find those gaming pads made to be used in the right hand? all the onese I find are ment to be used in the left hand

[Krondox]

Hey i baught a game pad this weekend, for a melee character it is working great! for a caster it is working well enough. My friend just set one up for this sorc and he seems to like ti as well. I can push one button and take care of all my buffs. yep one buttom like 10 buffs. Look its all a matter of what your comfy with i like the new game pad, feels just like an Xbox controller and it works great for me. You can set your X and Y axis to your mouse you can set your other X and Y axis to movement. It all works really well....grab one at your local eloctronics store they are only like 20$. I like em.

[Stormanne]

To each their own. My wife played with a game pad and loved it. I tried it, didn't like it that much. Now, when I'm on the PS 2, I couldn't imagine using anything but the controller. But then again, I only play fighting, driving, and sports games on the PS 2...

[Tous]

Hey i baught a game pad this weekend, for a melee character it is working great! for a caster it is working well enough. My friend just set one up for this sorc and he seems to like ti as well. I can push one button and take care of all my buffs. yep one buttom like 10 buffs. Look its all a matter of what your comfy with i like the new game pad, feels just like an Xbox controller and it works great for me. You can set your X and Y axis to your mouse you can set your other X and Y axis to movement. It all works really well....grab one at your local eloctronics store they are only like 20$. I like em.

How are you doing that? I would love to be able to do that as well.

[Hiisi]

And I do not think the difference could be noticed between a gamepad and a mouse in terms of accuracy(sp?) etc. IMO, any1 claiming the mouse is better is just baised and probably hates consoling game, so anything that reminds them of it they hate. just playing.

Sure...

Some more recent stuff too...

I'd love to know how you can reach such a combination of accuracy and speed with a gamepad.

[Mudcnd]

Based on what he described, I'm pretty sure he was - he's talking about using a real game pad, like a PS2 controller, to play.

I'd recommend against that.

However, I used a Nostromo n52 for all my gaming, and I can't recommend it enough. It's basically a mini keyboard, with a d-pad, a couple extra buttons, and 4 configs. It's just spiffy.
I use mouse look a lot, but I never have it toggled on... I use directional (wasd) keys in left and hold left mouse button for mouse look. I too frequently need to move things around click extra stuff on bars to worry about toggling it on and off with my left hand, easy to do it with left mouse button.. All the game pad does is give a comfort feel and programablility to the left hands use.

Edit: Looks like the Pro GamePad link is pretty much the same thing, with more buttons. I found that more than 3 rows tended to get in my way, but if you want more, that one looks pretty nice too.

Yeha I had a Nostromo n52 prior and upgraded to the pro gamer, one thing i donr like about the pro gamer is the keys are set up just like a keyboard, kinda offset , where as the n52 the are all inline. I really do miss the dpad too tho. With the pro gamer i can insta select anything in 3 toolbars , i use the mouse for the rest.
edit .. I personaly think the progamer is built better , I found my n52 was cheaper and the keys wore you quicker, + the pro gamer has flashy blue red and green lights !

[yoyorobbo]

I use an XBox360 controller for DDO, in conjunction with my mouse and keyboard when needed (mouse for some menu/dialogue selections, etc...and keyboard for typing in party/guild chat).

I auditioned a few others (Logitech PS-2 style, etc) but found the XBox360 one to work best for me.

It is a little tricky when playing a caster, tho, as I find myself limiting my offensive spells (ie, ones that i would use as an attack - not buffs, and not setups like web/firewall, etc...as those can be chosen and/or targeted with my mouse...just clicking on spell icon). As far as offensive spells (like scorching ray, MM, PK, etc), I usually have to trim it down to 3 or 4 that I will be able to hit using the gamepad, without have to switch them again....per dungeon, setting, instance, room, etc.

But, for melee types (which is what I play the most), the gamepad is the only way for me.

I just suq at the keyboard for these games, and have much more of a console gaming background, tho....so not for everyone, that's for sure.

[Geonis]

I use a $12 gamepad I got at EB Games.

It is identical to a Playstaion 2 controller (I think it's a Logitech).

With the correct setup, it has controls to move, look, attack, jump, target nearest enemy, and control 2 full hotbars.

I use it on my Sorceror with no issues, I simply put the long duration buffs on the keyboard number pad.

I use the gamepad with all my characters, a TWF Pally, a Nuking Sorc, a Ranged Bard, a TWF Ranger, a Casting Cleric, a TWF Bard, and a Barb.

The only one that is kind of difficult is the Cleric, since there is no way to cycle through party members, so you have to use F1-F6. I simply put Heal and Mass CSW on the controller for right hand use and use my left hand to cycle through the party.

[GeneralDiomedes]

With most of my characters having 10 hotbars loaded with clickies, spells, weapons, equipment potions, wands, abilities etc. which I actively use .. I could never seriously entertain using a gamepad.

Also for a Cleric my own experience is that is was faster and more accurate to use the mouse to click on the red bar going down for healing. (I also happen to use F1-F6 consistently across all characters for emergency things like pots and abilities like Diplomacy).