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Unit Hotkeys for laptop players?

Blogs > Betalump
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Betalump
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States109 Posts
April 04 2011 03:12 GMT
#1
I find trying to use 1a 2a 3a type hotkey setups super hard to use because I only play on a laptop and can't turn my keyboard without also turning the monitor.

I play random so I would prefer to be able to use similar a similar hotkey setup for all 3 races.

If anyone has any suggestions or a setup that can be used without turning the keyboard please tell.

Thanks

Zlasher
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States9129 Posts
April 04 2011 03:15 GMT
#2
Why should it matter if you're on laptop or on an external keyboard?

Either way I use

1) CC's, 2) Barracks 3) Fac/Starports 4+ units

If I play Protoss
1) Nexus's 2) Gateways 3) Robo/Starports 4+ units

If Zerg (almost never)

1) Hatch's 2) main queen 3) Natural queen 4+ units and if I have more than 2 bases I use F5/F6 hotkeys to bind screens and just drag grab the queen.
Follow me: www.twitter.com/zlasher
KnightOfNi
Profile Joined December 2007
United States1508 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-04-04 03:29:18
April 04 2011 03:24 GMT
#3
I seem to have a pretty rare hotkey setup, and I play on a laptop... I'm a random team game player so I know all the races decently well

T:
1 - barracks
2 - factories
3 - starports
4 - cc/oc/pf
5-7 - units
8-9 - ebays/armories (primary gets placed on 8, other on 9... so if I'm going mass bio ebay will be on 8, if i'm going hard mech or sky terran armory will be on 8)
0 - random tech labs, upgrade buildings (ghost academy esp)

Z:
1 - all my queens (using the minimap to inject can get tough on larger maps but i make it work lol)
2/3 - upgrade buildings (usually 3 for evos and 2 for spire, although roach warren and other such buildings can occasionally find their way in there)
4 - all hatches
5-7 (or 5-9) - units
8-0 (or 0) - overseers, utility units (infestors at expos), other random upgrade buildings... these don't usually get used a whole lot since 2/3 are all my ups

P:
1 - all warp gates/gateways
2 - robo (or cyber if no robo and going air... which in team games is far too often lol... OSHI-- BANSHEES is not a recommended response)
3 - stargate (or forge if I don't have one)
4 - nexus
5-7 - units
8 - forges (if I don't have a SG)
9 - cybers if I'm upgrading air weaps (I like my gate-air play so this is frequent)
0 - obs/utility units

Hope this helps... its what I used in BW and it feels very comfortable to me, since 1a is much more awkward to me than is 5a, which it sounds like what you're looking for. Also, all the harvestor structures are on 4 (great continuity), and the typical primary unit production structures are on 1 (queens do count as that lol). You can also put zerg evo/spire on 8/9 to keep it the same as the other races, although its just easier to put it on the otherwise unused 2/3 in my setup. a<3 5a6a7a 1dddaaaa2ss3dd 8ea9ev 44ssss
RIP eSTRO :(
Najda
Profile Joined June 2010
United States3765 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-04-04 03:51:15
April 04 2011 03:47 GMT
#4
I'm on a laptop and use 1a2a3a4a and it's super easy for me. I just use my thumb for the 'a' button. If you're uncomfortable using your thumb for A I'd suggest redesigning your hotkeys to something like 4a5a6a7a so you can use your pinky on a

My hotkeys (zerg)

1- Ground Army
2- Banelings
3- Mutas
4- Extra
5- Hatcheries
6- Main queen
7- Nat queen
8- Third Queen
9- 4th Queen
0- Creep Queen or 5th queen late game.

To inject: 66v(Click) 77v(Click) etc

An alternative if you wanna use higher numbers for armies is using 1 for main building, 2, 3, and 4 for macro (queens for zerg, rax/fact/port for terran respectively, gates/robo/stargate respectively) which leaves 5a6a7a for units (which might be hard for you, idk) and then 890 for extras/upgrades.
synapse
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
China13814 Posts
April 04 2011 04:10 GMT
#5
Back in the day when I played BW on laptop:
5,6,7,8,9,0 hatches
1,2,3,4 lings early game, then later on only lurkers / defilers / ultras / mutas etc.

...which is pretty much the same as I use now on desktop. Basically, learn to turn your hand to the left.
:)
dudeman001
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States2412 Posts
April 04 2011 04:20 GMT
#6
I use a laptop and I find Slightly angling my laptop doesn't impact my ability to play. However, you could always try what some people do and use 4a5a6a for your army instead, since it's a little easier to attack by only having to move your index finger. However, if you're finding that no matter what keys you choose you still are having issues, you may just have to get an external keyboard.

If you play random, I highly suggest you use the grid keys setup. It makes remember hotkeys much simpler since you don't have to remember every letter, just their position in the grid.
Sup.
djcube
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States985 Posts
April 04 2011 04:35 GMT
#7
The easiest solution is to just connect a keyboard to your notebook when you play sc. If that's not possible, I think I've seen Nony hotkey his buildings to 1 and 2 and his army to the later keys, which may help with the awkward hand positioning of 1a2a3a.
NB
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Netherlands12045 Posts
April 04 2011 05:15 GMT
#8
dont play on laptop keyboard, i used to use it but after i switch to a normal keyboard, i feel much much better.
always provide yourself the best condition to play is the 1st step to improve :D...

only use 3 4 5 for army if you are good at using ur left pinky to type (i do :D) since sometimes you need to use CTRL and shift in battle at the same time as attacking.
Im daed. Follow me @TL_NB
Torenhire
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States11681 Posts
April 04 2011 05:52 GMT
#9
On April 04 2011 13:10 synapse wrote:
Back in the day when I played BW on laptop:
5,6,7,8,9,0 hatches
1,2,3,4 lings early game, then later on only lurkers / defilers / ultras / mutas etc.

...which is pretty much the same as I use now on desktop. Basically, learn to turn your hand to the left.


This is basically what I use!

Learned all mah hotkeys back in BW so all my units are 1-4 and other stuff is the rest, regardless of what race I play.
SirJolt: Well maybe if you weren't so big and stupid, it wouldn't have hit you.
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