Lefties?

Talyn

I'm considering asking my fiancee to get into MMO's but I realized she is left-handed. For us righties, the controls are pretty convenient: WASD, 0-1 for primary hotbar, almost everything is at our (left) fingertips. But looking at my keyboard here, that wouldn't be the case for lefties.

Any suggestions for keymaps, etc. that I should pre-configure for her?

Hrothmund

Originally posted by Talyn


I'm considering asking my fiancee to get into MMO's but I realized she is left-handed. For us righties, the controls are pretty convenient: WASD, 0-1 for primary hotbar, almost everything is at our (left) fingertips. But looking at my keyboard here, that wouldn't be the case for lefties.
Any suggestions for keymaps, etc. that I should pre-configure for her?

Go with the standard controls, my brother is a leftie and has had no trouble adjusting.

DemonZealot

What does one being left-handed have to do with not being able to use WASD+mouse controls?

(I only ask because I myself am and have never had a problem with any controls because they are universal to most games)

Illius

I'm thinking that perhaps start with getting a lefty mouse on the left side of the keyboard, then instead of using WASD use the P L : and " keys and taking it from there.  Now Assuming that the game does not support the - and = buttons as part of the main hot bar then you'd have to move it further left.  Perhaps the I J K L for movement or something like that.

You could always just ask your buddy to take a few minutes and play around with different positions and see what's comfortable for him.  To be honest this is the first time I've actually thought about it so this may not actually be of much help.

 

EDIT:

Also when I type I'm equally proficient with both hands.  If he's been using a computer for quite some time in perhaps the standard configuration then he might not need any adaptive key binds.  Besides, don't most people remap their controls anyways.  I've seen people who don't use WASD but rather some other keys right in the middle of the keyboard so that they can map all their skills and abilities to the surrounding keys in a sort of arc around their movement keys on all sides.  I personally think having the caps lock button near my WASD is a waste of space that could be put to better use but then I have to worry about chatting and activating capital letters.

Vrika

You should ask the person whom you are remapping keys for what kind of keys she wants, they are quite personal thing and wary from user to user.



But it might be a good idea to start from getting a lefthanded mouse, and then just looking where she feels natural to keep her hand on the keyboard, and choose 4 movement keys from that point. Then remap the other keys around those movement keys as well as you are able.

TeflonEddie

Buy her one of those FPS-oriented game-pads. They're designed to be usable for both lefties and righties, and (with a little custom keybindings) are surprisingly awesome for controlling MMO's.

I've been using a Zboard (http://www.ideazon.com/us/products/fanggamepad.asp) for quite a while, and it's been great for the MMO's I've been playing (primarily WoW and LOTRO.)

Czzarre

Click to run :P

 

Torrential

Sketch5

I'm left handed and have been using a right handed keyboard and mouse my whole life.

Unless she's used to using a left handed mouse, I would suggest sticking with the usual WASD set-up.

And if she is used to the left handed mouse, I've actually seen left handed keyboards too. I've only ever seen one and it was at school, so I have no idea where you would be able to find one, or if it's even worth it.

Sanctus_Mors

For about 40 bucks you can get her a FANG keypad. I'm a lefty and it has made a world of difference for me playing.

Prior to using the FANG, I'd recofigure the keymapping to use the number pad for movement with other controls using the /*-+ around the number pad.

Ge0h0und

Originally posted by DemonZealot


What does one being left-handed have to do with not being able to use WASD+mouse controls?
(I only ask because I myself am and have never had a problem with any controls because they are universal to most games)

I'm a little confused myself. I'm left-handed, and I've never had issues playing any game with any kind of setup.

Sanctus_Mors

For me, it was a matter of comfort. As a lefty, using the WASD means either you have the keyboard off center to the right or you bring your arm across your torso since you are mousing with your left hand.

Also, since your pointer, index and ring finger are on the WASD keys, your thumb only has access to the ctrl, shift and caps key. Tabbing between targets is a pain in the butt. A righty has his pinkey available to use the ctrl, shift, caps and tab with the thumb rested on the space bar. A lefty doesn't have that conveience. Using the num pad gave a bit more freedom but you always had to reconfig the key maps. Using a FANG, I don't have to deal with remapping keys and I easily had access to all the needed keys.

curiindi

I agree that if your fiance has always used standard keyboard/mouse set up while on the computer, she should be fine with what you have!

bobbler

Im left handed and have played computer games for a while, mostly i would switch the controls to the arrows and jump to like num0, but since a lot of game dont allow customization i got use to using WASD with my right hand and moving the mouse with my left hand. then to jump i just press my hand down since its going accross the keyboard and it hits the spacebar, but mostly ive gotten use to it. I also usually just click the skills now since its a pain to move my hand around -.- (BTW i also use a right handed mouse with my left hand which feels very weird but im use to it now)

Tordak

Lefty here, play with normal setup.

Mouse in right hand and yeah, both, w and mouse right click is move forward. 

Enjoy!

Teiraa

Originally posted by Illius


I'm thinking that perhaps start with getting a lefty mouse on the left side of the keyboard, then instead of using WASD use the P L : and " keys and taking it from there.  Now Assuming that the game does not support the - and = buttons as part of the main hot bar then you'd have to move it further left.  Perhaps the I J K L for movement or something like that.

I would suggest to use the arrow keys for moving (actually EQ just had it like that). And if you want to use strafing, then just use the num keypad instead.

wikie

my friend is a lefty....but still she can play MMO's,FPS, your gf needs practice..so she can get used to it

Recant

As a lefty I have no problem with a right-handed setup.  I find it odd when I see left-handed setups, because I never had the need for them myself.  Still, whatever is most comfortable to use is what you should use.

xpowderx

I am a leftie, I configure the arrow keys usually, along with shift,del,pg up,pg down and the keypad for most of my options. Works well for me.

Godliest

I don't really see the problem. I could control my character with equal skill with both hands, and I'm by no means very good at handling my left hand. Maybe it's just me because it seems to me like she won't encounter much trouble, even with normal settings.

Talyn

Thanks guys, I'm hoping she can get by with the standard controls for the most part. She gripes all the time at my mouse being on the right side rather than left where she uses hers. The catch is, she was born right-handed but trained herself to be ambidextrous. She got carried away with that and became left-handed and now has a bit of difficulty reverting back to right-handed behavior, so perhaps this will prompt her to work on her right-handedness again. Assuming she even agrees to play an MMO with me in the first place...

Sanctus_Mors

At work, I'm right hand dominant. But, when I game I prefer my left hand. It's all around your comfort zone.

I finally set up my work station so I have 2 computers, a desktop and a laptop, with 3 monitors.  My co-workers say I have the "Command Station" setup. The laptop, I use the laptop monitor with a 2nd monitor above it. To the Right and Left of the laptop monitor I've got 2 other flatscreens hooked up to the desktop. Got 2 keyboards, one on a desk tray and the 2nd on the desk (attached to the laptop). I use both my right hand for the laptop and left hand to mouse the desktop.

I keep telling them I need the same set up that was in "The Minority Report"

 

TeflonEddie

Originally posted by Talyn


The catch is, she was born right-handed but trained herself to be ambidextrous. She got carried away with that and became left-handed and now has a bit of difficulty reverting back to right-handed behavior,

Ok, that's weird.. but presents a simple solution.

Get two mice.

 

Tordak

me again

  Umm, my favorite mouse to date was actually Microsofts wireless laser 8000.  It's Ergo, bit pricey and programable.  It may not be what you want to spend but it's nice, has really good range and recharges quicker than others I've tried.  Just an FYI

Terranah

I'm left handed.  I use a mouse that is not designed for the right hand.  Other than that standard keyboard is fine.  Mouse goes on the left, keyboard goes on the right. 

 

You don't need a 'special keyboard' for people who are left handed.  Left handed people have been adapting to a right handed world since forever. 

Bakoryo

Im a lefty since birth and im using the default left for WASD and right for mouse. I guess it's a matter of how you start using your computer

 

Then again, im ambi whatever it's called and can use both my hands as my primary. I guess that aids some I hope your second half will do good with whatever she chooses though.

 

Cheers

Terranah

Get a wireless mouse then so it's easy to switch the mouse from right to left depending on who is using it.

 

If she's ambidexterous though it shouldn't be a problem. I taught myself to write with my right hand in college because I had six hour lectures and my left hand would cramp up.   I also type about 70+ words per minute so I get along just fine with a standard keyboard.

 

It's very thoughtful that you are trying to accomodate her.