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[G] Screen Hotkeys: An easy way to improve - Page 6

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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Messi
Profile Joined September 2011
United States212 Posts
July 27 2012 05:54 GMT
#101
Good guide!
snexwang
Profile Joined April 2011
Australia224 Posts
July 27 2012 06:18 GMT
#102
On July 27 2012 14:43 Lagcraft wrote:
Is it illegal in tornuments to have custom hotkey setups as long as they can be used on any standard keyboard?
Of course not. Your hotkeys are saved on Bnet, afterall.
Mesha
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Bosnia-Herzegovina439 Posts
August 09 2012 14:59 GMT
#103
3 months later after i forced myself to use screen hotkeys i don't even know how i played without them, . Seriously, all of you in doubt, practice this and your game will be so much smoother and faster. I really can't stress enough how much this simple feature adds to your mechanics improvement.
I really don't have deep understanding of this game, don't know what am i doing most of the time ^_^, but with good mechanics and specially with screen hotkeys (i use 3 to 6! of them, f1,f2,f3,f4,f5, caps for pylon) i am enjoying masters league, raping opponents and being called all kinds of names all the time, haha ^_^.
You can be that guy too - PRACTICE SCREEN HOTKEYS TODAY!
This thread deserves ocassional bump. So good to know about screen hotkeys and use them. :D
Reality hits you hard bro.
NewDawn
Profile Joined March 2012
Canada120 Posts
August 09 2012 15:35 GMT
#104
As someone who has been using screen positions for a while, they are incredibly useful. (F1-F4 are always used for me, F5-F8 depend on if I need them.) They literally save seconds.
이지은 | 송지은 | 정은지 | 홧팅 ~ !
Uggert
Profile Joined June 2012
Sweden10 Posts
August 09 2012 15:55 GMT
#105
Hi all ! i have a question about this, i have very small hands, and , i want to use my side buttons on my mouse to act like the ctrl button, so i can hold side button on mouse+F1 to bind F1 to location. to do that i must have the program for my razer mouse to make that button on the mouse act as CTRL, is this allowed in big tournaments ? it is no macro by any means , i just replace the key to another button.

Dont want to get used to something that is not allowed if i ever would be in a tournament
Mesha
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Bosnia-Herzegovina439 Posts
August 09 2012 17:44 GMT
#106
On August 10 2012 00:55 Uggert wrote:
Hi all ! i have a question about this, i have very small hands, and , i want to use my side buttons on my mouse to act like the ctrl button, so i can hold side button on mouse+F1 to bind F1 to location. to do that i must have the program for my razer mouse to make that button on the mouse act as CTRL, is this allowed in big tournaments ? it is no macro by any means , i just replace the key to another button.

Dont want to get used to something that is not allowed if i ever would be in a tournament

I don't think they would allow you to install the program to setup your mouse on tournaments, i presume that some kind of software is needed. On the issue of small hands. I don't really have long fingers myself but i use shift+f1 to save positions.
Don't use ctrl and f1, its awkward for anyone. Unlike other things size of the hands doesn't really matter, you can practice any position and you will develop muscle memory, speed and strength eventually. Pro player puck comes to mind, from what i see on his stream he has very small hands but he has impressive mechanics.
If you dont use tilde key or caps lock - there you have 2 positions very close even if you have only one finger on your hand ^_^.
Reality hits you hard bro.
KingLumps
Profile Joined January 2012
74 Posts
August 09 2012 20:54 GMT
#107
its allowed... pretty sure the rule is simply one action for one action. aka press '1' and it only hits '1' not 'ctrl+shift+1+etc. when I play I have 8 on scroll down and 9 on scroll up, easy for keeping observers on a hotkey. Almost positive it would be allowed.

but yeah hand size doesnt matter, after doing it for a while it will just become muscle memory.
iSuck
TheGreenMachine
Profile Joined March 2010
United States730 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-09 21:07:49
August 09 2012 21:07 GMT
#108
I have a question, at lans am I allowed to use the "macro keys" on the blackwidow keyboard? I don't make them into macros that do multiple things, I just want to use them as F1-F5 location hotkeys. This uses a razor program to rebind the keys on keyboard.

picture of 5 keys on left side of keyboard
+ Show Spoiler +
[image loading]


Don't forget to get everyone you know to play HOTS so this game we love called Starcraft will live on. Every little bit helps. ^^
Milsberry
Profile Joined January 2012
United States18 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-08-15 16:32:43
August 13 2012 20:24 GMT
#109
I've been a diamond player and have felt like I've been stuck for the past 3 seasons or so. I made 4 hotkeys for my 4 bases about a month or so ago and have finally started to become used to using them. I'm now facing a lot of masters players on the ladder and winning a good amount.

Could be that I finally have just gotten better but I think the hotkeys are certainly a huge help.

I use Alt + b, alt + n, alt + m, alt + k to set the location and then I use Alt + Q, Alt + W, Alt + E, Alt + D respectively.
Pssh
Profile Joined August 2012
Denmark3 Posts
August 13 2012 21:19 GMT
#110
I usually bind all my hatcheries on 4 and then continue to bind my queens on 5,6,7,8 etc. depending on how many expansions i have and use them instead of screen hotkeys to jump between bases. Do you think this is less effective than using screen hotkeys, and if yes, why?
Zerg
Qwyn
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States2779 Posts
August 14 2012 07:48 GMT
#111
Just wanted to say that camera keys are the cornerstone of my mechanics. Everything I do, the way I play, is centered around them.

Don't hotkey queens - just inject using camera keys. Stop drops, take bases, place tech, move armies, nydus/attack, all using camera keys. Set rallies with camera keys.

But here's the real thing. A lot of players (myself included) find/found it hard to do anything past the 4 base macro cycle w/ injects a lot b/c it is such an APM sink to macro all that correctly. Camera keys shave off MINUTES from your play, not just seconds.

Your play can be so much faster/more precise that you can save 3 to 4 minutes in total game time that might of been used for monotonous actions like scrolling. 3/4 minutes more fast than before. That is a gamechanger.

It is so easy to retake a lost hatchery with camera keys, and so easier to prevent that hatch from going down in the first place.

And lastly - injects. Oh man. Since using these I have near perfect injects even into the lategame. Every game. If you can get in flow with camera keys and have a cycle going with them it is sooo much better than base cam or any other method.

Camera keys affect gameflow so much. As the OP said, it is literally like watching and playing a different game, it feels so smooth. You save so much time - there is no more awkwardness in moving around. Build orders are easier to execute while also multitasking army.

A lot of players look at camera keys like something neat to add ON TOP of their gameplay, when in reality, camera keys are the CORNERSTONE of your mechanics. Treat them like that - use them for everything you do, and you'll be much faster and more efficient.

"Think of the hysteria following the realization that they consciously consume babies and raise the dead people from their graves" - N0
RiSkysc2
Profile Joined September 2011
696 Posts
August 14 2012 07:53 GMT
#112
On August 14 2012 16:48 Qwyn wrote:
Just wanted to say that camera keys are the cornerstone of my mechanics. Everything I do, the way I play, is centered around them.

Don't hotkey queens - just inject using camera keys. Stop drops, take bases, place tech, move armies, nydus/attack, all using camera keys. Set rallies with camera keys.

But here's the real thing. A lot of players (myself included) find/found it hard to do anything past the 4 base macro cycle w/ injects a lot b/c it is such an APM sink to macro all that correctly. Camera keys shave off MINUTES from your play, not just seconds.

Your play can be so much faster/more precise that you can save 3 to 4 minutes in total game time that might of been used for monotonous actions like scrolling. 3/4 minutes more fast than before. That is a gamechanger.

It is so easy to retake a lost hatchery with camera keys, and so easier to prevent that hatch from going down in the first place.

And lastly - injects. Oh man. Since using these I have near perfect injects even into the lategame. Every game. If you can get in flow with camera keys and have a cycle going with them it is sooo much better than base cam or any other method.

Camera keys affect gameflow so much. As the OP said, it is literally like watching and playing a different game, it feels so smooth. You save so much time - there is no more awkwardness in moving around. Build orders are easier to execute while also multitasking army.

A lot of players look at camera keys like something neat to add ON TOP of their gameplay, when in reality, camera keys are the CORNERSTONE of your mechanics. Treat them like that - use them for everything you do, and you'll be much faster and more efficient.


This. This. This. This. it's really unfortunate that people don't know HOW awesome they really are.. Camera hotkeys have improved my play tremendously, and most importantly, they've increased my enjoyment of the game by a ton!! Just do it if you're considering it!
OptimusYale
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Korea (South)1005 Posts
August 14 2012 07:55 GMT
#113
On August 14 2012 16:48 Qwyn wrote:
Just wanted to say that camera keys are the cornerstone of my mechanics. Everything I do, the way I play, is centered around them.

Don't hotkey queens - just inject using camera keys. Stop drops, take bases, place tech, move armies, nydus/attack, all using camera keys. Set rallies with camera keys.

But here's the real thing. A lot of players (myself included) find/found it hard to do anything past the 4 base macro cycle w/ injects a lot b/c it is such an APM sink to macro all that correctly. Camera keys shave off MINUTES from your play, not just seconds.

Your play can be so much faster/more precise that you can save 3 to 4 minutes in total game time that might of been used for monotonous actions like scrolling. 3/4 minutes more fast than before. That is a gamechanger.

It is so easy to retake a lost hatchery with camera keys, and so easier to prevent that hatch from going down in the first place.

And lastly - injects. Oh man. Since using these I have near perfect injects even into the lategame. Every game. If you can get in flow with camera keys and have a cycle going with them it is sooo much better than base cam or any other method.

Camera keys affect gameflow so much. As the OP said, it is literally like watching and playing a different game, it feels so smooth. You save so much time - there is no more awkwardness in moving around. Build orders are easier to execute while also multitasking army.

A lot of players look at camera keys like something neat to add ON TOP of their gameplay, when in reality, camera keys are the CORNERSTONE of your mechanics. Treat them like that - use them for everything you do, and you'll be much faster and more efficient.




As someone who just started to use camera keys I agree with most of what you say, however I still hotkey my queens to 3 (habit) but camera keys help this too. Camera keys ARE essential imo now I use them, and I have my hatcheries on f1-4. After that I can't reach the others, but I have tried to use f5-f8 more, its just hard with my hand being as stiff as it is these days (I have a slight finger deforemity on my left index finger which makes movement kind of slow).

If you don't already....fucking do it
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20318 Posts
August 14 2012 08:00 GMT
#114
Play against the very easy computer a couple of times. Do not let yourself edge-scroll! Disable edge-scrolling in the options if you have to.


am i the only one that NEVER EVER edge scrolls? i used holding down mousewheel scrolling to bridge the gaps between screen hotkeys and minimap clicking, unlike edge scrolling, you can do it from anywhere on the screen, and it has no limit (you can pull across half the map in a fraction of a second if you want to)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
RiSkysc2
Profile Joined September 2011
696 Posts
August 14 2012 08:00 GMT
#115
On August 14 2012 06:19 Pssh wrote:
I usually bind all my hatcheries on 4 and then continue to bind my queens on 5,6,7,8 etc. depending on how many expansions i have and use them instead of screen hotkeys to jump between bases. Do you think this is less effective than using screen hotkeys, and if yes, why?

The game IS going to get to a point where you need 4+ hotkeys to control your army.. and using camera hotkeys free's up a TON of hotkeys for such army control groups + upgrades + important tech buildings etc etc. Furthermore, it's just more efficient because instead of double tapping, which may not be consistent, it's just one tap inject, tap inject, tap inject etc..Plus it's much easier to get into the rhythm of it because it's just one click.

I'm not sure why but my injecting has improved DRAMATICALLY since i started using camera hotkeys. And you can use them for more than just injecting! It's just flat out BETTER than every other injecting method. And it's much more fun!!
gronnelg
Profile Joined December 2010
Norway354 Posts
August 14 2012 08:44 GMT
#116
As a zerg, I set up all base cams (with the F# keys) at the start of the game (or as soon as I know where my opponent is on 4 player maps). For me, it helps me be more efficient with injects, building new bases (since my cam centers on the base, I can place the hatch corretly really fast), build new buildings (tech, gas, defence), maynarding, change worker rally point, worker counting. So far I havent used it for drop and harass defence though. Hopefully I'll get to it.

Although a lot of pros dont use it, from looking at their stream, I can tell that even they would be more efficient with cam keys.
Lulzez || My stream: http://www.twitch.tv/gronnelg
Alejandrisha
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States6565 Posts
March 30 2013 22:28 GMT
#117
lengthy bump, but here's something cool

rebind space bar (or another key that is convenient for you) to center your current selection. this way you don't have to click on the portrait to center the base and then save the screen hotkey. fun stuff!
get rich or die mining
TL+ Member
Hyak
Profile Joined April 2011
United States8 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-28 10:36:25
April 28 2013 10:36 GMT
#118
Trying to implement camera hotkeys myself atm. Definitely disable scroll for a few AI games to ingrain camera hotkey use. Humans are creatures of habit, if you don't remove the option you will have to constantly fight the urge to use scroll and minimap. Ofc re-enable after :O
Hyak
Profile Joined April 2011
United States8 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-28 10:40:23
April 28 2013 10:39 GMT
#119
On March 31 2013 07:28 Alejandrisha wrote:
lengthy bump, but here's something cool

rebind space bar (or another key that is convenient for you) to center your current selection. this way you don't have to click on the portrait to center the base and then save the screen hotkey. fun stuff!


Can you not just eyeball it?
Nox_
Profile Joined August 2011
Sweden13 Posts
April 29 2013 04:50 GMT
#120
On August 14 2012 17:44 gronnelg wrote:
As a zerg, I set up all base cams (with the F# keys) at the start of the game (or as soon as I know where my opponent is on 4 player maps). For me, it helps me be more efficient with injects, building new bases (since my cam centers on the base, I can place the hatch corretly really fast), build new buildings (tech, gas, defence), maynarding, change worker rally point, worker counting. So far I havent used it for drop and harass defence though. Hopefully I'll get to it.

Although a lot of pros dont use it, from looking at their stream, I can tell that even they would be more efficient with cam keys.



I'm using the change base cam instead. It just cycles through all your bases really fast without having to press every single cam keybind. Using space bar for so just spam the space bar for all the injects.
Can be used for all the races but not as consistent as it seems to be random which base is chosen when you press do it.
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