Razer Nostromo + Naga help!

[KuruptOwnz]

Hello all,

 

I'm brand new to MMO gaming and picked these two items up thinking it would help out... I was a bit wrong in that, I'm really lost from square one.

 

I'm used to controllers as I'm a console gamer, so this is all really new to me.

 

Anyway, any help on what keys I should make commands for both products?

 

Thanks who all view and reply...

[Taranisi]

It depends on personal preference. You really don't have to change them up much.

 

What I did with the Nostromo was swap the alt and space bar buttons, changed the caps lock button to shift and the shift button to control.

 

Then, in game, I assigned hotkeys to the alternate action bars. The right action bar follows the same design as the main one, with the hotkeys being 1-0, -, and =, but instead having an alt modifier to each button. so instead of the buttons being 1, 2, 3 etc., they were alt+1, alt+2, alt+3 etc. Then I did the same with the bottom action bar but the modifier was shift. The companion action bar has a ctrl modifier by default, so that works out. And I haven't done anything for the left action bar yet but I plan to make the modifier shift+alt.

 

If you have any questions, let me know.

[KuruptOwnz]

I'm kind of confused about what shifts and alts are all about, heh.

 

I also have a Naga which is set to mirror the number keys.

[Twaddlefish]

You bind quickslots in your key bindings with numbers 1-9.

 

When they are full, you can assign <button>+<number> to activate skills on another row. For example, by main row is 1 to =, and then the row below that is Shift PLUS 1 to =. You can do the same for the alt and ctrl keys, and as long as you bind them to the correct quickslot, the button combination will work. You can even set shift/alt/ctrl as clicking the scroll wheel on the Naga, I use one and it's great.

[Taranisi]

When you play SWTOR with a keyboard, the row of numbers on your keyboard correspond with the row of abilities on your action bar. With a Naga, you can use the 12 buttons on the side of the mouse to activate those abilities, instead of using the row of numbers. This is very convenient if you also use the Nostromo, because the Nostromo doesn't have a row of numbers.

 

About the modifiers: If you have a button bound to 1, you press 1 to activate it. But if you have a button bound to shift+1, you press 1 while holding down shift and it will activate it. This opens up so many possibilities and gives you a lot of versatility when playing an MMO like SWTOR.

[Riulassher]

It can get very overwhelming fast, even for experienced PC Gamer. I am Logitech G13 user and I know it's no easy task to set up everything correctly.

 

Shift, Alt and Ctrl are "modifier" keys on your keyboard, allowing you to press them together with other keys. You can have one skill mapped to "A", another to "Shift+A", "Ctrl+Alt+A", or even "Shift+Alt+Ctrl+A".

 

I don't know what can be done with Naga's or Nostromo's software, but I will assume that it's possible to map a keyboard key to every button on Naga and Nostromo. You don't want to have same key binds (like key "2") on both devices, unless that's exactly what you want.

 

I will try to explain how I found my setup for the game, but it's pointless trying to take over someone's else configuration, these devices are about maximum ergonomics and user comfort, and everyone has different expectations.

 

 

------

 

First, start with a level 1 character. That way you have to deal with level 1 skills, targeting and movement only.

 

It's a good idea to have some plan how to map everything. For example, my thumb controls the movement, rest of my fingers on the left hand control skill activations. My mouse is for camera orientation and my mouse buttons are for targeting.

 

1 ) Start with movement keys configuration. Bind Move Forward, Strafe left, Strafe Right and possibly Move Back to your thumb pad. The biggest advantage of Nostromo and G13 pads over standard WASD keyboard layout is that your thumb controls your movement, leaving the rest of your fingers free to use any skill while running in any direction.

 

2) I'd recommend delegating target controls to your mouse buttons. Target nearest enemy, Target next enemy and Target previous enemy are a good start.

 

3) Figure out which 4 keys are naturally under your fingertips, when your hand rests on the Nostromo. These keys are your most important keys, "default" keys, and you should use them for your most frequently used skills. Start using them with the combat skills you get at level 1 and first few levels.

 

4) As you level up, you will unlock more skills. If they are more important than those you have assigned to default 4 positions, replace them. If not, bind them to the nearest available free key.

 

Rest is up to you, but the general idea is to have your most often skills on your default keys and on keys most comfortably accessed from your default hand position. If it takes more effort to reach a button, a less important skill should be mapped onto it.

 

One exception to the rule are special skills used in PVP that have to be activated as quickly as possible, as a reaction to a surprise development (your opponent vanishing, Operatives jumping on you out of stealth, etc). You will want to bind them to a button that can be pressed instinctively in your sleep

Edited January 20, 2012 by Riulassher

[KuruptOwnz]

Thanks so much everyone!

 

Any more advice for a new MMO keyboard player?

[Daerilis]

I am a console gamer who could not get comfortable using keyboard bindings and got the Nostromo and Naga and found they work great. But as other posters stated above you have to get used to what works best for you, as each person is different in that regard.

 

When I set up the Nostromo the movement keys were already binded to the thumbstick correctly, so you should be good there. Make sure you open all four quick slots and then bind the quickslots in game as the poster suggested above with the main bar already being 1-12, and the additional quick slot bars can be something like shift 1-12, Control Shift 1-12, Etc.

 

What I did was I use the Naga for quickslots 1 to 12, and when I want to access a different quick slot I programmed the Nostromo as follows: key 5 Tab (for targeting) key 4 Shift, which allows me access to the 1-12 keys that are binded with shift. I just hold down key 4 on the Nostromo and then hit 1-12 on the Naga for the skills bound on those quickslots. Key 3 control shift, for those quickslot bindings, key 2 Ctrl for controlling your companion, and key 1 with alt shift for my least used quickslot abilities, as key 1 is farthest from my natural hand resting position.

 

Be careful with using alt shift, as I found that if I am using those quickslot abilities and have key 1 held down, and decide to target another mob this gets recognized as alt tab, and pops me out of the game into windows.

 

This helped me greatly and feels intuitive to me. The other buttons you can program however works best for you. If you are a healer you may want to program buttons 7-10 on the Nostromo as targeting party members for example. Just look at what button on the keybindings target party member (I think it might be F1 to F4) and then program 7-10 with those keys.

 

I also play a cover class and programmed the 2 buttons directly above and below the thumbstick as take cover and take cover in place, as you have to stop moving to do that anyway. Everything else is programmed between the Nostromo and the Naga and I only use the keyboard now to chat, and can use every ability available.

 

This may help to start, but in the end it will be what feels most natural to you, so make sure you experiment with getting the right setup.

[Kodosong]

I am experienced MMO (started with EQ in 99) and decided to try the naga for the first time last week as a lot of people here seemed to be using it.

 

I like it but I still use keyboard a lot because of habit. I am finding it hard to not use keyboard and have to think about using the mouse instead.

 

I may create a new toon (I plan to anyway) and dedicate to using the naga exclusively all the time just to get used to it when thing's aren't too complicated and i don't have many keys to worry about it.

 

I do like the naga at the moment and will hopefully get used to using it better soon, we will see.

[KuruptOwnz]

Perhaps maybe a set-up to get me started.

 

Edit: Wow, didn't see anyone post before this. Thanks again!

Edited January 20, 2012 by KuruptOwnz

[Daerilis]

I also move my abilites around as I get them to different quick slots, and put similiar abilities on different bindings. So for example, I put all my offence abilities on the quickslots 1-12, and all my defensive abilities on shift quickslot 1-12, so that when I am attacking I just use Naga 1-12, but when I have to use a defensive ability or two I hold Nostomo 4 (Shift) down and then hit 1-12 on the Naga for defensive use.

 

This works well for me because you have to move fast into a defensive position sometimes, and it becomes natural for me that when that happens I hit Nostromo 4 and then go to work.

[KuruptOwnz]

Wow, all this advice, I wish I would have came earlier... lol

[darkuk]

I think the Razor Naga is great, my set-up is

 

1-12 using the naga's side buttons.

I have quick-slot buttons set to my two side-front buttons (next to the main left one) and the wheel button.

 

I also have actions set to Q and E and changed A and D to left and right strafe. I turn by using mouse.

 

I consolidated my main actions to the 17 buttons all easy to click on. The others that I use that have long cooldowns etc I can easily move my mouse over too.

 

I'm about to get the Razor Anansi keyboard, with seven buttons under the spacebar so will make things even easier for me.

 

Threads like this are cool, its always good to hear what other gamers use etc.

[KuruptOwnz]

I'm a Sith Warrior, what is a set-up you all would recommend?

 

Still overwhelmed a bit...

[KuruptOwnz]

Weekend bump.

[KuruptOwnz]

One more.

[eGraced]

If it helps, I use a Razor Naga, but a normal (ish) keyboard...

 

I have the Naga 1-12 mapped to the normal 1-0,-,= skill bar.

The bar below that I have mapped to shift+1-0,-,=

And the left bar mapped to alt 1-0,-,=.

 

Then, I group similar skills or skills I use in combination a lot on the same numbers, but with the modifiers. For example, on my Jedi Guardian:

 

Force Leap is on number 4,

force push is shift-4 and

Guardian Leap is on alt-4.

 

That way I can hold alt, click the 4 Naga key to Guardian Leap, release alt and hit it again to force leap back to the mob, hold shift and hit the key to push the mob, then release shift and hit it again to force leap to the target, all without moving my thumb.

 

Works for me, but as everyone else says, you will find a setup that works for you.

Edited January 22, 2012 by eGraced

[KuruptOwnz]

If it helps, I use a Razor Naga, but a normal (ish) keyboard...

 

I have the Naga 1-12 mapped to the normal 1-0,-,= skill bar.

The bar below that I have mapped to shift+1-0,-,=

And the left bar mapped to alt 1-0,-,=.

 

Then, I group similar skills or skills I use in combination a lot on the same numbers, but with the modifiers. For example, on my Jedi Guardian:

 

Force Leap is on number 4,

force push is shift-4 and

Guardian Leap is on alt-4.

 

That way I can hold alt, click the 4 Naga key to Guardian Leap, release alt and hit it again to force leap back to the mob, hold shift and hit the key to push the mob, then release shift and hit it again to force leap to the target, all without moving my thumb.

 

Works for me, but as everyone else says, you will find a setup that works for you.

 

Thanks a lot for your help as well!

[KuruptOwnz]

Just another bump for new folks!

[SwordofSodan]

The Razor Naga is all you'll ever need. I use 1-0, -, = for my top bar and Alt + 1-0, -, = for bottom bar then Ctrl + Alt + 1-0, -, = for my left bar which comes to 36 binds all together which is more than enough for me. Btw, I was once a depressed clicker!