Build Hotkey Changes

[Dominus_Noctis]

posted on December 9th, 2010, 12:03 am

Last edited by Dominus_Noctis on December 9th, 2010, 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

I would like to request that build hotkeys (the hotkeys you can use for constructing vessels) be changed to a more logical system, hopefully the F1-F12 keys that has been suggested in the past.

It doesn't take much know-how to simply memorize the order of ships, and this naming scheme is consistent and easy to hit on the keyboard.

Currently, FO ships are given hotkeys based usually on their names. For instance, "S" for Saber, "I" for Intrepid... but then there are hotkeys, like "K" for Akira, that destroy this system. Likewise, these keys are far apart from each other, hard to remember if they are non-intuitive (for instance, switching from the name of the ship, to the type of ship, as in the case of "C" for constructor, "F" for freighter and "S" for scout).

Essentially, you're spending more time memorizing the hotkeys to a particular vessel than actually would be necessary just to memorize the order of the ships.

On top of that would it be possible to reinstate the Ctrl+C (or something else since that's what cloak uses) Cancel current ship / research hotkey and the "B" Open the build / research list hotkey?

Lastly... many hotkeys don't work right now (like the aforementioned K for Akira, or I for Intrepid), so it's a prime opportunity  .

EDIT: forgot to mention something

posted on December 9th, 2010, 12:09 am

Returning to the F1-12 system for ships, I would agree with. It would allow the build menu hotkey to work without also making a BoP or Bomber.

I keep pressing V and expecting a Veqlaragh to start...

posted on December 9th, 2010, 12:59 am

I'm Boggz, and I wholeheartedly endorse this message .

posted on December 9th, 2010, 8:09 am

I would love improvements to the shortcuts.

Some notes: F8 is further away from my left hand's resting position than 'K'.

SC2 utilized a build hotkey system where every hotkey is accessible from the resting position of the left hand. 'E' builds overloards, etc (they actually do have a consistent system going tho). Not exactly intuitive, but fast.

I've found that, without looking down, finding/hitting the F2, F3, F5 & F6 buttons are more difficult than finding keys that are close to the left-hand home keys (this is because my hand has to come off of the homekeys and I then lose track of the position of my hand relative to the keyboard. Which I have to take my eyes off the screen to look down to correct.)


I would be more in favor of a near home-key build (and research!) shortcut system.

posted on December 9th, 2010, 12:48 pm

i'm in favour of OPs post.

posted on December 9th, 2010, 3:23 pm

It could just use QWERTYU as well - afterall, there aren't that many ships in a single shipyard/build option.

posted on December 9th, 2010, 3:46 pm

This has been requested for such a long time, hopefully it will happen soon.

posted on December 9th, 2010, 4:56 pm

I like this idea. I'm supprised they took it out in the first place.

I don't think that the shortcuts necessarily need to be close to rest position as it's not as if you're typing when you place the game. I find that I do most stuff with the mouse, which means one hand is almost always on that. The other hand is usually near the arrow keys. The only shortcuts I use with any frequency are A, S, E. and fleet assignments. But I have fairly large hands so I don't have to move them too far to reach things. I think it's more important that keys are intuitive. "A" for attack; "E" explore; "S" stop; etc.

posted on December 9th, 2010, 4:59 pm

due to the very variable construction menus (avatars and stuff in future features for example) that's not possible at the moment. We will redo some parts in the future and will take a look at that again