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[G] YAKS: Yet Another hotKey Setup (zerg only)

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-08-11 09:57:40
July 22 2014 13:11 GMT
#1
This hotkey setup is made for QWERTY keyboards. If you have something different, please change some of the key settings.

I present to you: Yet Another hotKey Setup (YAKS) for zerg.

It is a new hotkey setup for zerg. The idea was to make a hotkey layout, which would feel natural, not hard to learn, comfortable for the hand and would make your most common tasks as easy as possible:


- Make larva injects faster
- Drone faster
- Spend less time spreading creep
- Control your armies with more ease



Meet YAKS! A 'brand' new hotkey setup that will make your life as a zerg more comfortable.
Here is a short overview of the setup:
[image loading]


The idea:
As a Zerg player, there are many things you need to think about:

- Larva injects
- Droning
- Producing army units
- Spreading creep
- Controlling your armies
And the rest that needs your attention

This is a continuous cycle. We have tried to make all these things as quick and easy as possible. Thus allowing you to process more of the game in the same time. This is done by doing 3 things:

1) by minimizing the hand movement around the keyboard
2) by making all these movements with as much of a rolling motion as possible
3) by incorporating all the nice tricks that are around

1) minimizing hand movement:
We have chosen to put the default finger positioning on the standard typing position for touch typing (ASDF). Both your index and pinky have space to reach to one adjacent key, effectively increasing the amount of commands you can control. Putting your fingers at the middle row puts it closer to the modifier keys. And the last benefit, is that you will learn touch typing with your left hand for free!
In YAKS, the thumb is also heavily used, and OMG it is so useful! On the SPACE bar are all of your most needed and favorite spells positioned. And you will use the thumb also for controlling the ALT modifier key.

2) rolling motion:
We have also chosen to make the most important combinations on a rolling motion:

SHIFT+Z,X,C for larva injects

A,S,D for droning

D,F for creating a hatchery

ALT+A,S,D,F,G to scroll through your bases

Your control groups are left of your commands and spells, making it easy to select a control group and issue a command to them

And even something as complex as creep spreading is easy now with the zigzag motion CTRL+A,Z,S,X,D,C

3) nice tricks:
The rapid fire key is here! Grab some tumors and press X to spread them like mad. Or grab some infestors and press X to spawn those infested terrans.

The keys for selecting larva and creating drones and overlords are double binded. This means that when there are no larva, you don't need to press 2 keys repeatedly like crazy to make the drones as quickly as possible, but can simply hold 1 key instead.

Or when you are in panic and want to create spines quickly, just grab some workers and hold SPACE and click to build a lot of spines. Do the same with D and you build spores.

The CTRL and SHIFT key are swapped, making reinforcing and building your army much easier.

Creating centered camera locations is super easy by pressing ALT+SHIFT+key . It centers your view on your hatch and creates a camera location for it.





We love YAKS, and hope you will do too. Please tell us what you think about it, and if you use it, please tell us your experiences with it!





Read more about the different topics in depth:
+ Show Spoiler +

Super fast larva injects:
SHIFT(hold) Z,X [repeat:C,X] (release shift) S
+ Show Spoiler +
What this does:
SHIFT+Z select queens,
X Select spawn larva
SHIFT+C base camera
X Rapid fire key (could also be click)
S Hold your queens from wandering around the field


Super fast droning
A,S,D
+ Show Spoiler +
What this does:
A select your hatcheries
S Select larva
D Build drone

This way you always make, without any mistakes, your drones correctly. If there are no larva, no problem, because the select larva also has a binding to D. Thus you don't need to spam S,D as a crazy guy, but can just comfortably press and hold D, and when a larva pops, it immediately turns it into a drone. This is also true for overlords, which you create by the letter F).


Super fast creep spread:
In three different locations, with virtually no time lost.
+ Show Spoiler +
This relies heavily on the camera locations. Don't release CTRL!

CTRL(hold)

CTRL+A (jumps to creep cam 1)
click tumor or box tumors
SPACE click to spread them
CTRL+Z (set creep cam 1 on new location)

CTRL+S (jumps to creep cam 2)
click tumor or box tumors
SPACE click to spread them
CTRL+X (set creep cam 2 on new location)

CTRL+D (jumps to creep cam 3)
click tumor or box tumors
SPACE click to spread them
CTRL+C (set creep cam 3 on new location)

release CTRL

And your done. Practice this and you will never want to go back.


Super fast army reinforcements
CTRL or ALT for adding to your control groups, SHIFT for creating control groups. Why? read on:
+ Show Spoiler +
Why would you turn around this fundamental principal of the game? Because the game does it wrong.

So you want to create some units, to join the battle, and you don't want them to just pop out, but want to put them in the right control group. How to do this?
+ Show Spoiler +

Old style:
press CTRL
click the egg portraits
press SHIFT
press dedicated hotkey
(4 steps)

YAKS style:
press CTRL
click the egg portraits
press dedicated hotkey
(3 steps, >25% faster)


Or, you have a mixed group and quickly want to add them to designated control groups
+ Show Spoiler +

Old style:
press CTRL
click the unit type to select them all
press SHIFT
press dedicated hotkey
(4 steps)

YAKS style:
press CTRL
click the unit type to select them all
press dedicated hotkey
(3 steps, >25% faster)


Or, you have a group with a few wrong units in it, and want to split it in its own control groups.
+ Show Spoiler +

Old style:
box all units
press SHIFT
click the ones who don't belong in it
press CTRL
press dedicated hotkey
(5 steps)

YAKS style:
box all units
press SHIFT
click the ones who don't belong in it
press dedicated hotkey
(4 steps, >20% faster)




Spread creep like a boss:
Select creep tumors, hold X and wave with your mouse
+ Show Spoiler +
or use SPACE or D to have more control


Spawn infested terrans like a boss:
Select infestors, hold X and wave with your mouse
+ Show Spoiler +
or use R to have more control


More rapid fire:
+ Show Spoiler +
All rapid fire keys are optional, so you can use rapid fire, but can also decide to not use rapid fire, thus giving you full control over your rapid fire.
Other rapid fire spells are:
Consume (Viper, normal key is D)
Corruption (Corruptor, normal key is SPACE)
Contaminate (Overseer, normal key is R)


Control groups:
+ Show Spoiler +
Armies:
1: CAPS (create SHIFT+CAPS, add ALT+CAPS or CTRL+CAPS)
2: Q (create SHIFT+Q, add ALT+Q or CTRL+Q)
3: W (create SHIFT+W, add ALT+W or CTRL+W)
4: E (create SHIFT+E, add ALT+E or CTRL+E)
5: 1 (create SHIFT+1, add ALT+1 or CTRL+1)
6: 2 (create SHIFT+2, add ALT+2 or CTRL+2)
7: 3 (create SHIFT+3, add ALT+3 or CTRL+3)
Tech buildings:
10: V (create SHIFT+V, add ALT+V or CTRL+V)

Hatcheries:
8: A (create CTRL+ALT+A, add SHIFT+A)
Queens:
9: SHIFT+Z (create CTRL+ALT+Z, add ALT+Z)

I would put my tech buildings on V. There are 7 control groups readily available for your use during battle.


Cameras:
+ Show Spoiler +

Cam 1: ALT+A (create ALT+SHIFT+A) main
Cam 2: ALT+S (create ALT+SHIFT+S) 2nd
Cam 3: ALT+D (create ALT+SHIFT+D) 3rd
Cam 4: ALT+F (create ALT+SHIFT+F or CTRL+F) 4th
Cam 5: ALT+G (create ALT+SHIFT+G or CTRL+G) 5th

Creep cam 1: CTRL+A (create CTRL+Z)
Creep cam 2: CTRL+S (create CTRL+X)
Creep cam 3: CTRL+D (create CTRL+C)

Center camera on current selections: ALT+SHIFT

Base cam: SHIFT+C

Having the cameras quickly at hand makes things like worker transfer much easier. the first three cams will always be self centering cameras. This makes it easier to put them at your hatcheries. The 4th and 5th cam can be set freely where ever you want them to set, or you can also use it as a self centering cam. The creep cams are dedicated for creep spread, but if you want to use them for something else, than that is OK, off course.


Spells and abilities:
+ Show Spoiler +
Space: Spell you need in the heat of the battle
R: 2nd important spell
D: Spell you never ever really use (but still comfortable to reach)
X: Rapid fire key, for spells you might want to use with rapid fire on (like spawn infested terrans, or spread creep)
4: Burrow
5: Unburrow

The spells and abilities are placed such, that after selecting a control group, you can easily select the spell/ability with an other finger.

Some spells can be autocasted by using the keyboard. The keyboard shortcut to do so is: ALT+key. So for example, when you burrow some banelings, you can set unburrow on autocast (press ALT+5), making them landmines. You can also deactivate the spawn locust ability from the swarm hosts by pressing ALT+R or ALT+SPACE. This way you can synchronize the spawning of locusts.

The creep tumor has 3 bindings to spread its creep, D (to make it the same key as creep spread for queens), X (to let it spread creep with the rapid fire key) and SPACE (to let you spread creep easily when doing the creep spread by cam method)


Movements:
+ Show Spoiler +
F: Attack move
T: Patrol
G: Hold position
S: Stop
B: Move
C: Cancel

You can easily queue commands, like a move and hold command, when you want to block your ramp. Or use the stop or hold command to kite your roaches into safety.


Easy microing:
Well, easy...
+ Show Spoiler +
The benefit is that your control groups are closer to your base location of your fingers. Also, the abilities you want to use in battle are on the space bar or on the index finger. So it can be as easy as: Q SPACE, E SPACE, W SPACE. Stutter moving or kiting are also easy with either the stop command or the hold command, readily available. Also all spells and abilities can be queued, making patrol splitting easy to do.



Other:
+ Show Spoiler +

Grab some workers, press and hold D to quickly spam Spore Crawlers
Grab some workers, press and hold SPACE to quickly spam Spine Crawlers
You can also select your buildings tab using the D key, or by the SPACE bar.
To build a new hatchery, press D,F
` to select your whole army
TAB to select idle workers
Z to select mineral patch
C to return cargo
Next subgroup: Back mouse button (You know, those side buttons on your mouse), or F1
Previous subgroup: Forward mouse button (You know, those side buttons on your mouse), or F2



How you start your games:
+ Show Spoiler +

On the loading screen:
press D(hold)
click hatchery (builds your first drone)
release D
send overlord away
SHIFT+C: base cam
click hatchery
SHIFT+A: add hatchery to its own control group
ALT+SHIFT(hold)A: create cam 1
click natural on mimimap
ALT+SHIFT(hold)S: create cam 2
click 3rd on mimimap
ALT+SHIFT(hold)D: create cam 3
click 4th on mimimap
ALT+SHIFT(hold)F: create cam 4
click 5th on mimimap
ALT+SHIFT(hold)G: create cam 5
Press A,S,D to create your second drone

Use ALT+A-G to recall these cams.
ALT+SHIFT centers the camera on the current selection.
Cams 4 and 5 can also be created by CTRL+F,G. Making them also free cams, for example to use them on your rally point.
In the beginning setting 5 camera locations before you have enough minerals to create your second drone might be quite hard. So practice with only setting the first 3 camera locations.





Click here to download YAKS for zerg!
How to install:
- Right click the link
- Select 'Save link as...'
- Save it in the folder '(My) Documents\StarCraft II\Accounts\[some number]\Hotkeys'
- Start SC2
- Go to 'Menu->Options->Hotkeys'
- Under 'Selected Profile', select YAKS



The old YAKS:
+ Show Spoiler +

This layout is for QWERTY keyboards, so please adjust it to your own keyboard layout when reading and before using.

I present to you: Yet Another hotKey Setup (YAKS) for zerg.

It is a new hotkey setup for zerg. The idea was to make a hotkey layout, which would feel natural, not hard to learn and would be extremely efficient. For this we wanted all commands maximally 1 finger away from it's resting position. Also we wanted to minimize the reaching from the modifier keys to the other keys.

These were the requirements:

- Comfortable finger positioning
- Minimize finger movemenet
- Super fast larva injects
- Super fast droning
- Make microing easier
- Use the thumb
and also:
- Rapid fire key optimized
- Worker split optimized

Meet YAKS! A 'brand' new hotkey setup that will make your life as a zerg more comfortable.
Here is a short overview of the setup:
[image loading]

The idea:
+ Show Spoiler +
After some testing it turned out that the fingers in the standard typing position for touch typing (ASDF), is the best starting position for the fingers. All keyboards are optimized for this position. Both your index and pinky have space to reach to one adjacent key, effectively increasing the amount of commands you can control. Putting your fingers at the middle row puts it closer to the modifier keys. And the last benefit, is that you will learn touch typing with your left hand for free!

Larva Injects Larva injects are the most important thing for a zerg player. Making it as easy as possible, is therefor important. Putting it at SHIFT+Z+X+C makes it a very easy sequence to perform.

Droning When you have larva, you need to turn them into drones. And you will do it! Using A+S+D, it will be very quick.

Control groups I always found it strange that the most important keys are always so far away (1-0). Putting them on 1-3,Q-E and CAPS makes them much easier to reach. It also gives you the control over 7 easily reachable control groups.

Spells and abilities As you use your control groups with your pinky, ring finger and middle finger, you have the index finger and thumb always available to give commands and do spells. This makes microing a lot easier.

The thumb When you control your units, you quickly want to cast your favorite spells, or quickly enable your favorite abilities. Using SPACE that just became very easy. Also, using the thumb to hit ALT and create control groups or check your production buildings, gives it another good use.

Natural pose All keyboards are made for touch typing, and thus also for this hotkey setup. You don't need to turn your keyboard, or put your hand in awkward positions, while executing commands. Also, we minimized the use of the pinky, by having ALT creating control groups.

Touch typing Did I already mention that your left hand will automatically learn touch typing, just by playing SC2, if you use this hotkey setup? And the other way around is also true, if you do touch typing you actually practice your fingers for sc2.



Larva Injects:
SHIFT(hold) Z,X [repeat:C,X] (release shift) Z
+ Show Spoiler +
What this does:
SHIFT+Z select queens,
X Select spawn larva
SHIFT+C base camera
X Rapid fire key (could also be click)
S Hold your queens from wandering around the field


Build Drone
A,S,D
+ Show Spoiler +
What this does:
A select your hatcheries
S Select larva
D Build drone


Spread creep like a boss:
Select creep tumors, hold X and wave with your mouse
+ Show Spoiler +
or use D to have more control


Spawn infested terrans like a boss:
Select infestors, hold X and wave with your mouse
+ Show Spoiler +
or use R to have more control


More rapid fire:
+ Show Spoiler +
All rapid fire keys are optional, so you can use rapid fire, but can also decide to not use rapid fire, thus giving you full control over your rapid fire.
Other rapid fire spells are:
Consume (Viper, normal key is D)
Corruption (Corruptor, normal key is SPACE)
Contaminate (Overseer, normal key is R)


Control groups:
+ Show Spoiler +
Armies:
1: CAPS (create ALT+CAPS or CTRL+CAPS, add SHIFT+CAPS)
2: Q (create ALT+Q or CTRL+Q, add SHIFT+Q)
3: W (create ALT+W or CTRL+W, add SHIFT+W)
4: E (create ALT+E or CTRL+E, add SHIFT+E)
5: 1 (create ALT+1 or CTRL+1, add SHIFT+1)
6: 2 (create ALT+2 or CTRL+2, add SHIFT+2)
7: 3 (create ALT+3 or CTRL+3, add SHIFT+3)
Hatcheries:
8: A (create ALT+A or CTRL+A, SHIFT+A)
Queens:
9: SHIFT+Z (create ALT+SHIFT+Z, add ALT+Z)
Production buildings, or more armies:
10: ALT+V (create ALT+SHIFT+V, add SHIFT+V)

I would put my tech buildings on V. There are 7 control groups readily available for your use during battle.
Using the ALT key to create the control groups, instead of CTRL, makes your hands more comfortable on the keyboard.


Cameras:
+ Show Spoiler +
Cam 1: TAB (create CTRL+TAB) main
Cam 2: ALT+S (create CTRL+S) 2nd
Cam 3: ALT+D (create CTRL+D) 3rd
Cam 4: ALT+F (create CTRL+F) 4th
Cam 5: ALT+G(create CTRL+G) 5th
Cam 6: C (create CTRL+C) whatever you want
Cam 7: V (create CTRL+V) whatever you want
Cam 8: B (create CTRL+B) whatever you want

Center camera on current selections: CTRL+SPACE

Having the cameras quickly at hand makes things like worker transfer much easier.


Spells and abilities:
+ Show Spoiler +
Space: Spell you need in the heat of the battle
R: 2nd important spell
D: Spell you never ever really use (but still comfortable to reach)
X: Rapid fire key, for spells you might want to use with rapid fire on (like spawn infested terrans, or spread creep)
4: Burrow/Unload (it is for moving your units down...)
5: Unburrow/Load (it is for moving your units up...)

The spells and abilities are placed such, that after selecting a control group, you can easily select the spell/ability with an other finger.

Some spells can be autocasted by using the keyboard. The keyboard shortcut to do so is: ALT+key. So for example, when you burrow some banelings, you can set unburrow on autocast (press ALT+5), making them landmines. You can also deactivate the spawn locust ability from the swarm hosts by pressing ALT+R or ALT+SPACE. This way you could synchronize the spawning of locusts.


Movements:
+ Show Spoiler +
F: Attack move
T: Patrol
G: Hold position
S: Stop
7: Move

You can easily queue commands, like a move and hold command, when you want to block your ramp. Or use the stop or hold command to kite your roaches into safety.


Easy microing:
Well, easy...
+ Show Spoiler +
The benefit is that your control groups are closer to your base location of your fingers. Also, the abilities you want to use in battle are on the space bar or on the index finger. So it can be as easy as: Q SPACE, E SPACE, W SPACE. Stutter moving or kiting are also easy with either the stop command or the hold command, readily available. Also all spells and abilities can be queued, making patrol splitting easy to do.


Rapid worker split:
+ Show Spoiler +
In case of banelings or hellions running to your mineral line, you might want to split your workers. The worker split can be done as follows:
CTRL+click on your workers.
S (stops them from working)
CTRL+ZX (at the same time, press ZX with the same finger, make sure the finger is in the split in between the keys before pressing down. CTRL+Z is select idle worker. CTRL+X is the smart command).
wave with your mouse.

More background information, and to check if your keyboard is compatible, check this video:



Building tricks:
+ Show Spoiler +
Grab some workers, press and hold S to quickly spam Spore Crawlers
Grab some workers, press and hold SPACE to quickly spam Spine Crawlers
You can also select your buildings tab using the SPACE bar.


How to start your match
+ Show Spoiler +
Click hatchery
S D (create drone)
send overlord away
SHIFT+C (center camera above hatchery)
click hatchery
CTRL(hold)+A (bind hatchery to control group)
CTRL(hold)+TAB (create cam location above your main)
as you want, create more camera groups (for example, your natural, third and ramp) This can all be done before you make your second drone, but it needs a little practice.







Click here to download YAKS for zerg!



More info on the subjects:
+ Show Spoiler +

Disable the windows keys and ALT+TAB ingame
Best way to get to windows: CTRL+ESC
Why to use screen hotkeys: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/sc2-strategy/332888-screen-hotkeys-an-easy-way-to-improve



Please let me know your opinion about it, I am actively developing it, so any feedback is welcome.
ZedraC
Profile Joined February 2011
South Africa109 Posts
July 24 2014 09:22 GMT
#2
Please let me know your opinion about it


Hi,

Not bad, I like your thought process behind it and so on, I do like the way your setup works for your injects, but all-in-all YAKS is not for me because I am starting to experiment with playing random.

I do however thought I'll say the following to maybe give you an idea I have been pondering about for a few days. I am in three minds on Hotkeys setups atm.

I am currently using Fleet Keys. I am right handed FYI.

Now referring to your YAKS, FK and grid: I find it a pain in the butt to tilt your hand to press shift and control. These two buttons you use a lot, and it's silly to me to "struggle" to press these. I struggle anyway, maybe it's just me.

Then I saw TheCore and thought: "Hey problem solved..." But yes the tilting of the keyboard thing irritated me to much. It is however a bloody clever layout, no denying that.

Now back to what I was pondering about:

Why not move the setup of grid or FK - which I am going to play with this weekend - or in your case the YAKS to the right hand side of the keyboard so you can have access to the right hand side shift and ctrl with your thumb like TheCore, but not tilting the keyboard? thus YAKS' QWER would be on either UIOP or IOP{ depending on the size of your hand...

I personally then have a problem with where the alt sits in this setup... maybe i'll just use a spare mouse button for alt perhaps...

I then suggest the spacebar hotkeys you used could maybe be something else close to you thumb, or whatever.. need to think about it and play with it a bit before making a commitment.

Anyway, just thought I share that with you.
"What am I supposed to build to kill the things that look like giant dung beetles that eventually show up?" - beginner on battlenet forums. LMAO
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 24 2014 13:54 GMT
#3
On July 24 2014 18:22 ZedraC wrote:
Show nested quote +
Please let me know your opinion about it


Hi,

Not bad, I like your thought process behind it and so on, I do like the way your setup works for your injects, but all-in-all YAKS is not for me because I am starting to experiment with playing random.

I do however thought I'll say the following to maybe give you an idea I have been pondering about for a few days. I am in three minds on Hotkeys setups atm.

I am currently using Fleet Keys. I am right handed FYI.

Now referring to your YAKS, FK and grid: I find it a pain in the butt to tilt your hand to press shift and control. These two buttons you use a lot, and it's silly to me to "struggle" to press these. I struggle anyway, maybe it's just me.

Then I saw TheCore and thought: "Hey problem solved..." But yes the tilting of the keyboard thing irritated me to much. It is however a bloody clever layout, no denying that.

Now back to what I was pondering about:

Why not move the setup of grid or FK - which I am going to play with this weekend - or in your case the YAKS to the right hand side of the keyboard so you can have access to the right hand side shift and ctrl with your thumb like TheCore, but not tilting the keyboard? thus YAKS' QWER would be on either UIOP or IOP{ depending on the size of your hand...

I personally then have a problem with where the alt sits in this setup... maybe i'll just use a spare mouse button for alt perhaps...

I then suggest the spacebar hotkeys you used could maybe be something else close to you thumb, or whatever.. need to think about it and play with it a bit before making a commitment.

Anyway, just thought I share that with you.


Hey ZedraC,

Thanks for your post. I agree with you on the overuse of the pinky to touch the SHIFT and CTRL buttons. I realized that YAKS is also intensive on that, as you use the pinky to both select your hatcheries and your CTRL and SHIFT button. That's why I went puzzling, and found the solution. I put the hatcheries control group on F, and for my main armies I use R, then E, then W and finally Q. this way the pinky can stay more on the SHIFT and CTRL button and there is much left lifting.

Also, I decided to make another change, I was using TGVB (around the index) for building structures and units. But this happens not so often. So I decided to make them available for Control groups or camera locations (whichever you use the most).

I also made a version for lefties. and thanks alot for your response!
velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
July 24 2014 14:04 GMT
#4
Nice work you did there! I see a lot of good stuff here that is well worked out, the concept is very clear and it seems quite easy-to-learn. How long did it take you to make? For how long have you been playing with this?

The majority of players will probably be bewildered by the fact that you seem to prefer having control groups on Alt+Q, Alt+W etc. over 1, 2, 3 etc. I kind of see where you're coming from, even if I still wouldn't consider control groups with Alt for myself. At least you don't have production buildings on these control groups.

Small mistake I spotted: your post says F for hatcheries, but in the file it is A. I assume the latter is the correct binding since it makes more sense.

Okay, it seems you updated the link in the meantime and I'm looking at the wrong version now in-game. Gotta re-download now. I'll update later.
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 24 2014 14:34 GMT
#5
On July 24 2014 23:04 velvex wrote:
Nice work you did there! I see a lot of good stuff here that is well worked out, the concept is very clear and it seems quite easy-to-learn. How long did it take you to make? For how long have you been playing with this?

---

Okay, it seems you updated the link in the meantime and I'm looking at the wrong version now in-game. Gotta re-download now. I'll update later.


Hey,

Thanks alot! It took me quite some time to iterate to this result. Yes, I updated it. As i try to use camera locations, I had my thumb all the time on alt, making it very cramped. Also, I was not happy with the overuse of the pinky (as it is used for modifiers). And i decided to use the buttons on the right of the index finger for Camre groups (or control groups, if you are a double tapper).

PS. I do hope you didn't download the version with the Build Hatchery on Z, as it will hold your drone from producing a hatchery. Building hatchery is preferred on TAB.

velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
July 24 2014 16:31 GMT
#6
On July 24 2014 23:34 Geert wrote:
PS. I do hope you didn't download the version with the Build Hatchery on Z, as it will hold your drone from producing a hatchery. Building hatchery is preferred on TAB.


I just downloaded again and have the right version now.

Did you ever consider using the part of the palm right under the pinky finger to hit Control? With a keyboard with non-flat keys (like mechanical keyboards) you can comfortably press Ctrl+1, +2 and such. To me, this is actually even more comfortable than the likes of Ctrl+W or Ctrl+S. I even replaced these with other bindings because I find all kinds of combinations with Control straining when hit with the pinky, even with the closer keys like Q or W.

What I also noticed, is the order of control groups: R, E, W, Q. Why not just the other way around? Would make it way easier to handle.

For the building morphs, I'd use the close keys S and D for spines and spores since you often make these in greater quantities than roach warren and baneling nest. Extractor would be slightly better on the rapid fire key because that would avoid accidental placements. You can also double-bind the Basic Mutation key and use these keys for spine and spore. Then you can hold down either of these keys to make a lot of static defence very quickly.
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 24 2014 18:15 GMT
#7
Hey Velvex,

What do you think of the changes compared to the first version?

I myself indeed have a flat keyboard. The current version really reduces the stress on my pink, that's also why I suggest using the R as control group 1, E as control group 2, etc, instead of the other way around. CTRL+Q is not so easy to hit Anyway, most of the times I prefer to use the SHIFT key to add/create to my control groups. How do you press SHIFT when your palm is on CTRL key?

I like your suggestions for the build morphes. Building pallet can be opened by S and SPACE, Spore on S and Spine on SPACE would be my preferred way, this way they are double binded and easy to use.
I will experiment with the Extractor on X. But I am afraid X is a little hard to reach. I myself have no problem with accidentally producing too many buildings when pressing X, but I didn't test it out yet. It would be cool to just grab some workers press X and wave your mouse above the gas.
igay
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
Australia1178 Posts
July 24 2014 19:56 GMT
#8
I'm in the middle of switching races to zerg so i'm pretty siked on this, thanks!
MVP <3 MKP <3 DRG <3
velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-24 20:13:15
July 24 2014 20:09 GMT
#9
On July 25 2014 03:15 Geert wrote:
I myself indeed have a flat keyboard. The current version really reduces the stress on my pink, that's also why I suggest using the R as control group 1, E as control group 2, etc, instead of the other way around. CTRL+Q is not so easy to hit Anyway, most of the times I prefer to use the SHIFT key to add/create to my control groups. How do you press SHIFT when your palm is on CTRL key?


I can hit Shift+1, Shift+2 etc. pretty comfortably with pinky + middle or index. It feels much better than Ctrl+W or Ctrl+S, for instance, because it's right under my hand and I don't have to awkwardly retract my arm. Most combinations with Shift approximately between 1 and V are fine for me, actually. I imagine it's similar for your setup with the Control key, and you're simply one row lower than me.

I would still look for good uses for 1 to 4 though because they are still relatively good keys; if the F keys on my keyboard were attached to 1 to 4 like 1 to 4 is attached to the letters, I'd use them all the time.

Do you always inject with base cam? Or do you also use camera locations?

Edit: Forgot about your first question. I can't really judge your earlier version because I deleted it when I downloaded the updated one. Only thing I can say is, I think I like hatcheries on A a bit more. ASD to make a drone looks pretty neat.
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 24 2014 20:34 GMT
#10
@igay, great! let me hear how you like it

@velvex, currently 1-3 is still free. so to hotkey those numbers, that would be no problem, you could for example use:
1,2,3 and R armies armies, on B (ALT+R) tech buildings, and QWE for your hatches, or more army. with the camera hotkeys, the need to bind your hatches to hotkeys is not so big...

I tend to do the injects with camera locations in the first 8 minutes, so I can hit the inject on every queen every time, and make sure they don't wander around. After that I switch to the backspace method, as it is faster. I don't dare to do the super fast inject method (SHIFT+Z,X, CX hit at exactly the same time) as sometimes I miss press it, but it is possible. I do the SHIFT+Z,X,C,X(or click),C,X(or click)
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-25 09:29:41
July 25 2014 08:28 GMT
#11
OK, a small update,

I thought about your remarks, velvex, and I really liked them. So I implemented your building suggestions (S hold for spores, SPACE hold for spines, reactor on X)

I also changed back the hatcheries CG to A, but I introduced the ALT key to use it to append to CG's. It makes life alot easier, as your pinky can almost always stay on top of the CG's.
Also I added the keys 1-3 as control groups (can also be reached from ALT+VGT). This way you can have 7 easily reachable CG's. You could use it to add7 army groups, all readily accessible.
Further I changed the mutate to Hive from TAB to CAPS so you can't accidentally mutate Hatcheries into Lairs while you wanted a Hive.
Finally I want to tell once more that you can switch cams 1-3 with control groups 7-9. Just as is your style of play.

I am curious about your thoughts again!
velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
July 25 2014 14:25 GMT
#12
Sounds like these are good changes. You'll need some time to test these, of course. Once the setup has stabilised again, you should post it again. (It's somewhat hard to grasp every single change if you don't know the setup very well.)

If you're interested, I can upload my own setup. Maybe it can give you an idea or two.
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 25 2014 14:50 GMT
#13
Hey,

I understand, I just had a test with it, and was eager to share it. The way it is now, is pretty stable. I just put the control groups in a normal order, as making it from 4-1 instead of 1-4 makes not alot of sense.

I am pretty curious how you have set it up, so, if you can show it, that would be great!
velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
July 25 2014 16:39 GMT
#14
Zerg Hotkey Setup

Notice it's for a German keyboard, so you'll have to flip Y and Z in your mind, and some of the smaller stuff won't be accurate. Feel free to ask questions; some bindings might not make sense without explanation.
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 25 2014 18:01 GMT
#15
Hey velvex,

I really like some stuff of your setup. Especially, the use of SHIFT to create control groups. I translated it by making ALT to create control groups in YAKS. But for me the general positioning of your setup is too high. with YAKS I can always practice starcraft because it uses the same positioning as touch typing. So all day I am practicing my finger muscles how I use them in SC.
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
July 30 2014 11:53 GMT
#16
Hey guys,

On saturday i decided to adjust things a little bit, and after playing alot of games with it, I am now pleased to update the topic.

Changes:
- Commands and queuing: Putting the commands and abilities right of the control groups makes it much easier to use them. You can press a control group with one finger, and issue the command with your index finger or thumb. This should make ingame microing easier. Also queueing commands is easier to do. So Patrol splitting or kiting have become quite easy.
- Camera locations: Putting the camera locations on the bottom row makes it easier to set them and remember them.
- Easier to learn: All with all, I think it looks more logical and should be easier to learn.

Please share your thoughts about it, or give it a try!
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-08-10 17:08:49
August 10 2014 17:08 GMT
#17
Hi all,

I have done a big update on YAKS. Most notable changes:

easier drone creating
when there are no larva, you can still create drones, by simply holding D. So you don't need to press S,D repeatedly anymore, like a crazy guy. The same is true for overlords (F)

creep cam
This relies heavily on the camera locations. Don't release CTRL!
CTRL(hold)
CTRL+A (jumps to creep cam 1)
click tumor
SPACE click to spread them
CTRL+Z (set creep cam 1 on new location)

CTRL+S (jumps to creep cam 2)
click tumor
SPACE click to spread them
CTRL+X (set creep cam 2 on new location)

CTRL+D (jumps to creep cam 3)
click tumor
SPACE click to spread them
CTRL+C (set creep cam 3 on new location)

And your done. Practice this and you will never want to go back.

Switching CTRL and SHIFT
so now, CTRL (or ALT) adds to a control group, and SHIFT creates a control group. This is easier when adding units to your control groups, after you created them at your hatchery

Self centering camera locations
It is awesome! you can now just select your hatchery and press ALT+SHIFT+ the key you want the camera location to be at. And it makes a nice camera location over your hatchery. Just make sure you set at least your first 3 camera locations before you produce your first drone.

Unload
The key for unloading your nydus or ovie, has been changed from 4 to R, making it much better to reach.
velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
August 10 2014 21:51 GMT
#18
I'd flip create and jump functions for creep cams because that would make for a nicer progression when cycling through all creep cams: A-X-Space instead of Z-S-Space (for create1-jump2-tumour) and S-C-Space instead of X-D-Space (for create2-jump3-tumour).
Geert
Profile Joined July 2014
Netherlands26 Posts
August 11 2014 13:46 GMT
#19
Hey Velvex,

I think I understand your point. It would give more flow to your movement. But it is just how you look at the progression. In the current solution there is also a very logical progression. You go from

A (ring finger)
SPACE (thumb)

Z (ring finger)
S (middle finger)
SPACE(thumb)

X (middle finger)
D (index finger)
SPACE (thumb)

C (index finger)

This has a lot of flow into it, as you are constantly moving to the right of the keyboard. Pressing 2 keys that are adjacent is very intuitive and hitting the SPACE bar is comfortable in this situation. You should try it out
velvex
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany226 Posts
August 11 2014 18:37 GMT
#20
You really find Z-S-Space more comfortable than A-X-Space (with middle-index-thumb)? Do you have relatively small hands by any chance? Z-S feels quite cramped for my ring and middle – surely doable, but a bit tight.
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