[D] "Cartesian" Hotkey Setup

Shurafa

United States79 Posts

April 04 2011 23:51 GMT

I really like the “Cartesian” hotkey setup (the Control Groups are both horizontal and vertical like the X,Y planes on a graph.) I started experimenting with this during the PTR when Blizzard enabled custom hotkeys.

I took a few months off soon afterwards however so I did not get to develop the layout much since then. I have been playing again and tweaked my hotkeys. They are still under development and thus are not set in stone. Though I must say I am very happy with them right now as I can already see a big improvement in my play.

Why this setup is so strong?:
With this type of hotkey setup you never have to move your finger more than few inches to reach any hotkey (the majority of the time it is less than one inch). At high levels of play this is crucial as it means you will be that much more efficient and save precious milliseconds during the course of a game. I could definitely see this type of hotkey setup becoming a standard at high levels of play.

My Hotkeys: (I play Random)

General Control Group Hotkeys:
+ Show Spoiler +

` for scouting (next to the 1 key). Later on becomes Control group 4.
Mouse button 4,5 = Control groups 1 and 2
Caps Lock = Control group 3

Protoss Hotkeys:
+ Show Spoiler +

Macro: 1,Q,A,Z (Nexus, Gatway, Stargate, Robo)
Unit Production: 2, Worker
Gateway: W,E,R, 2, 3 Zealot,Senty,Stalker, HT, DT
Stargate: W,E,R Phoenix, Void Ray, Carrier
Robo: W,E,R,2 Observer, Warp Prism, Immortal, Colossus
Unit Control Groups: Mouse 4, Mouse 5, Caps Lock, `, F, G
Unit Control: Attack = Space Bar, Hold Position = S, Patrol = D
Idle Workers: Alt+Space Bar
Camera Positions F1-F5
Spells/Abilities: Typically W,E,R
Load/Unload: X,C

Terran Hotkeys:
+ Show Spoiler +

Macro: 1,Q,A,Z (Command Center, Rax, Starport, Factory)
Unit Production 2, Worker
Barracks: W,E,R, 2, Marine, Marauder, Reaper, Ghost
Starport: W,E,R,2,3 Banshee, Viking, Raven, Medivac, Battlecruiser
Factory: W,E,R Hellion, Tank, Thor
Unit Control Groups: Mouse 4, Mouse 5, Caps Lock, `, F, G
Unit Control: Attack = Space Bar, Hold Position = S, Patrol = D
Idle Workers: Alt+Space Bar
Camera Positions F1-F5
Spells/Abilities: Typically W,E,R
Load/Unload: X,C
Repair: X
Liftoff: V

Zerg Hotkeys:
+ Show Spoiler +

Macro: 1,Q,A,Z (Hatcheries, Queen1, Queens2, Queen3)
Select Larvae 2
Unit Production 2, Worker
3,4,W,E,R,X,C,V Overload, Zergling, Roach, Hydra, Infestor, Muta, Corrupter, Ultralisk
Unit Control Groups: Mouse 4, Mouse 5, Caps Lock, `, F, G
Unit Control: Attack = Space Bar, Hold Position = S, Patrol = D
Idle Workers: Alt+Space Bar
Camera Positions F1-F5
Spread Creep X
Spells/Abilities: Typically W,E,R
Load/Unload: X,C
Burrow/Unburrow: R

Sample Macro Hotkey Usage:
+ Show Spoiler +

Protoss:
1,2 builds Probe (selects Nexus, builds Probe)
Q,W builds Zealot
A,W builds Phoenix
Z,W builds Observer

Terran
1,2 Builds Probe (selects Command Center, Builds SCV)
Q,W Builds Zealot
A,W Builds Phoenix
Z,W Builds Observer

Zerg:
1,2,2 Builds Drone (selects hatchery, selects larvae, builds Drone)
1,2,3 Builds Overlord
1,2,4 Builds Lings

A few key things to note. Using the spacebar to attack means that you can use your thumb to attack while manipulating your control groups with your fingers. This seems to flow really well and allows you to do more than one thing at once with your hand. Also centralizing most spells on a single hotkey (in my case W) is incredibly efficient. (For example banshee research and produce banshee both use the letter W).

Blizzard has not implemented a method of changing the functionality of the Control and Shift keys. Therefore you MUST use these keys as the control group assignment modifiers. This is one of the main reasons I choose the layout I did as it allows for the closest proximity to the Control and Shift keys. Had this not been the case I may have taken a much different approach.

I have also recently started using Mouse 4/5 (Forward and back button) as control groups 2/3 with great success! I find that it has great synergy with using your thumb to attack with spacebar and your finders to macro.

A word of cation to people wanting to give this a try. This is not for the feint of heart. Learning a new set of hotkeys (especially one that is so drastically different than the norm) can take quite some time. However in the long run I believe it is well worth it. Think Tiger Woods changing his swing (He did this when he was already widely considered the greatest golfer in the sport) his consistency suffered in the short term however in the long term it made him a better player. The same is true in Starcraft.

I would love to hear from others who have revamped their Hotkeys to non standard control groups. How has this worked out for you in the long run? Do you feel as though it has made you more efficient?

My Hotkey File as of 041111:
If you want to use it as a template.
1. Copy and paste the spoiler text into notepad/textedit.
2. Save it as Hotkeyname.SC2Hotkeys.
3. Place it in your Hotkeys directory of Starcraft. (Search your documents folder for this)
+ Show Spoiler +

[Settings]
AllowSetConflicts=1

[Hotkeys]
Sound=Control+Shift+Alt+M
PTT=Control+Shift+Alt+Grave
ChatDefault=Enter
MenuAchievements=Alt+F9
StatPanelArmySupply=Control+Alt+I
AlertRecall=O
CameraCenter=Control+Equals
CameraFollow=Control+Shift+Alt+BracketOpen
ControlGroupAppend0=Shift+Z
ControlGroupAppend1=Shift+Grave
ControlGroupAppend2=Shift+BackMouseButton
ControlGroupAppend3=Shift+ForwardMouseButton
ControlGroupAppend4=Shift+CapsLock
ControlGroupAppend5=Shift+ForwardMouseButton
ControlGroupAppend6=Shift+BackMouseButton
ControlGroupAppend7=Shift+1
ControlGroupAppend8=Shift+Q
ControlGroupAppend9=Shift+A
ControlGroupAssign0=Control+Z
ControlGroupAssign1=Control+Grave
ControlGroupAssign2=Control+BackMouseButton
ControlGroupAssign3=Control+ForwardMouseButton
ControlGroupAssign4=Control+CapsLock
ControlGroupAssign5=Control+F
ControlGroupAssign6=Control+G
ControlGroupAssign7=Control+1
ControlGroupAssign8=Control+Q
ControlGroupAssign9=Control+A
ControlGroupRecall0=Z
ControlGroupRecall1=Grave
ControlGroupRecall2=BackMouseButton
ControlGroupRecall3=ForwardMouseButton
ControlGroupRecall4=CapsLock
ControlGroupRecall5=F
ControlGroupRecall6=G
ControlGroupRecall7=1
ControlGroupRecall8=Q
ControlGroupRecall9=A
IdleWorker=Alt+Space
QuickSave=Control+Shift+Alt+Q
StatusAll=Control+BackSlash
StatusOwner=BracketClose
StatusEnemy=Alt+SemiColon
TeamResources=Alt+W
TownCamera=Alt+Grave
WarpIn=Alt+1,Alt+Q
CameraSave0=Control+F1
CameraSave1=Control+F2
CameraSave2=Control+F3
CameraSave3=Control+F4
CameraSave4=Control+F5
CameraSave5=Control+F6
CameraSave6=Control+F7
CameraSave7=Control+F8
CameraView0=F1
CameraView1=F2
CameraView2=F3
CameraView3=F4
CameraView4=F5
CameraView5=F6
CameraView6=F7
CameraView7=F8

[Commands]
250mmStrikeCannons/Thor=W
AWrp=R
ArchonHallucination/Sentry=E
Armory/SCV=X
AssaultMode=E
Assimilator/Probe=4
Attack=Space
AutoTurret/Raven=W
Baneling/Zergling=W
BanelingNest/Drone=C
Banshee/Starport=W
Barracks/SCV=W
Battlecruiser/Starport=3
Blink/Stalker=W
BroodLord/Corruptor=E
BuildCreepTumor/Queen=X
BuildCreepTumorPropagate/CreepTumorBurrowed=X
BuildPointDefenseDrone/Raven=
Bunker/SCV=E
BunkerLoad=X
BunkerUnloadAll=C
CalldownMULE/CommandCenter=
CalldownMULE/OrbitalCommand=W
Carrier/Stargate=R
Charge/Zealot=W
CloakOff=E
CloakOnBanshee=W
Colossus/RoboticsFacility=2
CommandCenter/SCV=2
CommandCenterLoad=X
CommandCenterUnloadAll=C
CorruptionAbility/Corruptor=W
CyberneticsCore/Probe=X
D8Charge/Reaper=
DarkShrine/Probe=4
DarkTemplar=3
DefensiveMatrix=
Domination/Nova=L
Drone/Larva=2
EMP/Ghost=C
EngineeringBay/BarracksTechLab=
EngineeringBay/SCV=X
EvolutionChamber/Drone=E
EvolveAnabolicSynthesis2/UltraliskCavern=
EvolveCentrificalHooks/BanelingNest=W
EvolveChitinousPlating/UltraliskCavern=W
EvolveGlialRegeneration/RoachWarren=W
EvolveInfestorEnergyUpgrade/InfestationPit=W
EvolveOrganicCarapace/RoachWarren=
EvolveTunnelingClaws/RoachWarren=E
EvolveVentralSacks=C
ExperimentalPlasmaGun/Raynor=Comma
Explode/Baneling=W
Explode/BanelingBurrowed=C
Extractor/Drone=4
Factory/SCV=W
Feedback/HighTemplar=W
FighterMode=W
FleetBeacon/Probe=X
ForceField/Sentry=W
Forge/Probe=C
FungalGrowth/Infestor=E
Gateway/Probe=W
GatherProt=C
GenerateCreep/Overlord=E
Ghost/Barracks=R
GhostAcademy/SCV=2
GhostHoldFire/Ghost=T
Goliath/Factory=
GravitonBeam/Phoenix=W
GravitonBeam/Urun=Comma
GreaterSpire/Spire=R
GuardianShield/Sentry=E
Hallucination/Sentry=R
Halt=V
Hatchery/Drone=2
Heal/Medivac=R
Hellion/Factory=W
HighTemplar=2
HighTemplarHallucination/Sentry=W
HireDevilDogs/MercCompound=L
HireHelsAngels/MercCompound=BackSlash
HireSiegeBreakers/MercCompound=Comma
Hive/Lair=E
Hydralisk/Larva=E
HydraliskDen/Drone=2
Immortal/RoboticsFacility=R
ImmortalHallucination/Sentry=5
InfestationPit/Drone=3
InfestedTerrans/Infestor=W
InfestedTerrans/InfestorBurrowed=C
Infestor/Larva=R
Interceptor/Carrier=W
Lair/Hatchery=E
Land=V
Larva=2
Lift=V
Lower/SupplyDepot=X
Marauder/Barracks=E
Marine/Barracks=W
MassRecall/Mothership=W
Medic/Barracks=
Medivac/Starport=2
MissileTurret/SCV=R
MorphBackToGateway/WarpGate=C
MorphMorphalisk/Queen=W
MorphToOverseer/Overlord=W
Mothership/Nexus=3
Move=BackSlash
MoveHoldPosition=S
MovePatrol=D
Mutalisk/Larva=X
NeuralParasite/Infestor=C
Nexus/Probe=2
NukeArm/GhostAcademy=X
NukeCalldown/Ghost=R
NydusNetwork/Drone=E
Observer/RoboticsFacility=W
OrbitalCommand/CommandCenter=W
Overlord/Larva=3
PhasingMode/WarpPrism=W
Phoenix/Stargate=W
PhoenixHallucination/Sentry=T
PhotonCannon/Probe=E
PlantC4Charge/Raynor=L
PointDefenseDrone/Raven=E
Probe/Nexus=2
ProbeHallucination/Sentry=2
ProtossAirArmorLevel1/CyberneticsCore=E
ProtossAirWeaponsLevel1/CyberneticsCore=W
ProtossBuild/Probe=W
ProtossBuildAdvanced/Probe=E
ProtossGroundArmorLevel1/Forge=E
ProtossGroundWeaponsLevel1/Forge=W
ProtossShieldsLevel1/Forge=R
PsiStorm/HighTemplar=E
Pylon/Probe=3
Queen=W
Raise/SupplyDepotLowered=C
Rally=8
RallyEgg=H
Reaper/Barracks=2
ReaperSpeed/BarracksTechLab=T
Refinery/SCV=4
Repair=X
ResearchBansheeCloak/StarportTechLab=W
ResearchBattlecruiserEnergyUpgrade/FusionCore=E
ResearchBattlecruiserSpecializations/FusionCore=W
ResearchCharge/TwilightCouncil=W
ResearchDurableMaterials/StarportTechLab=3
ResearchExtendedThermalLance/RoboticsBay=R
ResearchGhostEnergyUpgrade/GhostAcademy=E
ResearchGraviticBooster/RoboticsBay=W
ResearchGraviticDrive/RoboticsBay=E
ResearchHallucination/CyberneticsCore=3
ResearchHiSecAutoTracking/EngineeringBay=X
ResearchHighCapacityBarrels/FactoryTechLab=W
ResearchHighTemplarEnergyUpgrade/TemplarArchive=E
ResearchInterceptorLaunchSpeedUpgrade/FleetBeacon=E
ResearchMedivacEnergyUpgrade/StarportTechLab=2
ResearchNeosteelFrame/EngineeringBay=C
ResearchPersonalCloaking/GhostAcademy=W
ResearchPsiStorm/TemplarArchive=W
ResearchPunisherGrenades/BarracksTechLab=R
ResearchRavenEnergyUpgrade/StarportTechLab=5
ResearchSeekerMissile/StarportTechLab=4
ResearchShieldWall/BarracksTechLab=W
ResearchSiegeTech/FactoryTechLab=E
ResearchStalkerTeleport/TwilightCouncil=E
ResearchStrikeCannons/FactoryTechLab=R
ResearchVoidRaySpeedUpgrade/FleetBeacon=W
ResearchWarpGate/CyberneticsCore=2
ReturnCargo=T
Roach/Larva=W
RoachWarren/Drone=X
RoboticsBay/Probe=C
RoboticsFacility/Probe=W
SCV=2
Salvage/Bunker=E
SapStructure/Baneling=E
Scan/OrbitalCommand=E
Scourge/Larva=
SelectBuilder=5
SensorTower/SCV=C
SiegeMode=W
SiegeTank/Factory=E
Snipe/Ghost=X
SpawnChangeling/Overseer=W
SpawningPool/Drone=W
SpectreHoldFire/Spectre=Comma
SpectreWeaponsFree/Spectre=L
SpineCrawler/Drone=V
SpineCrawlerRoot/SpineCrawlerUprooted=E
SpineCrawlerUproot/SpineCrawler=W
Spire/Drone=W
SporeCrawler/Drone=R
SporeCrawlerRoot/SporeCrawlerUprooted=C
SporeCrawlerUproot/SporeCrawler=X
Stalker=R
StalkerHallucination/Sentry=4
Stargate/Probe=E
Starport/SCV=E
Stim=W
Stimpack/BarracksTechLab=E
Stop=H
StopGenerateCreep/Overlord=R
SummonNydusWorm/NydusNetwork=W
SupplyDepot/SCV=3
SupplyDrop/OrbitalCommand=R
TemplarArchive/Probe=3
TerranBuild/SCV=W
TerranBuildAdvanced/SCV=E
TerranInfantryArmorLevel1/EngineeringBay=E
TerranInfantryWeaponsLevel1/EngineeringBay=W
TerranShipPlatingLevel1/Armory=C
TerranShipWeaponsLevel1/Armory=X
TerranVehiclePlatingLevel1/Armory=E
TerranVehicleWeaponsLevel1/Armory=W
Thor/Factory=R
TimeWarp/Nexus=W
Transfusion/Queen=E
TransportMode/WarpPrism=E
TwilightCouncil/Probe=2
Ultralisk/Larva=V
UltraliskCavern/Drone=X
Unsiege=E
UpgradeBuildingArmorLevel1/EngineeringBay=2
UpgradeToPlanetaryFortress/CommandCenter=E
UpgradeToWarpGate/Gateway=X
VikingFighter/Starport=E
VoidRay/Stargate=E
VoidRayHallucination/Sentry=R
VoodooShield/Tosh=Comma
Vortex/Mothership=E
WarpInScout/Stargate=
WarpPrism/RoboticsFacility=E
WarpPrismHallucination/Sentry=X
WeaponsFree/Ghost=Y
Wraith/Starport=
YamatoGun=W
Zealot=W
ZealotHallucination/Sentry=3
ZergBuild/Drone=W
ZergBuildAdvanced/Drone=E
Zergling/Larva=4
hydraliskspeed/HydraliskDen=W
overlordspeed=X
zergflyerarmor1=E
zergflyerattack1=W
zerggroundarmor1/EvolutionChamber=R
zerglingattackspeed/SpawningPool=E
zerglingmovementspeed/SpawningPool=W
zergmeleeweapons1/EvolutionChamber=W
zergmissileweapons1/EvolutionChamber=E

HeadDesk

United States171 Posts

April 05 2011 00:00 GMT

Wow, must respect for you in changing all of this... it looks extremely thought out.

Only thing I've done really is change the Camera Positions to F2-F5, and then changed the 9 and 0 hotkeys to ones on my mouse.

I do really like the idea of changing the attack-move to the spacebar though, I might have to try that out among other things as I look through what you've done.

Impressive nonetheless.

kzn

United States1218 Posts

April 05 2011 00:10 GMT

where does your hand rest when you use this setup? it seems uncomfortable with my hand resting on wasd

Shurafa

United States79 Posts

April 05 2011 00:39 GMT

On April 05 2011 09:10 kzn wrote:
where does your hand rest when you use this setup? it seems uncomfortable with my hand resting on wasd

Caps Lock, Q, W, S with the thumb on Spacebar.

hoTspur

United States7 Posts

April 05 2011 03:27 GMT

On April 05 2011 08:51 Shurafa wrote:
Unit Production 2, Worker
3,4,W,E,R,X,C,V Overload, Zergling, Roach, Hydra, Infestor, Muta, Corrupter, Ultralisk

Can you clarify how you have this working out? It's just a tad confusing for me.
Also, what did you have for select larvae?

Najda

United States3765 Posts

April 05 2011 05:19 GMT

Sounds like the thought process behind using Grid keys. Why did you decide to make your own instead of just using grid?

LocsomFKC

Peru44 Posts

April 05 2011 05:32 GMT

I cant do that, and i think many of we cant either. Lots of years playing BW and now SC2 with same hot-keys (from broodwar). Impossible for me.

spbelky

United States623 Posts

April 05 2011 05:36 GMT

Using spacebar as attack key sounds great, it would take a lot of retraining though... but still an idea that I never thought of. What's spacebar do by default? Move camera to last notification?

Hoku

United States129 Posts

April 05 2011 05:48 GMT

I do see the benefit, but, it seems like a huge huge change for those of us who have been playing since SC:BW launch. I do think this would be a great idea to teach a new/newer SC2 player.

zylog

Canada943 Posts

April 05 2011 05:49 GMT

#10

I like some of your ideas, with the unit producing structure hotkeys running down vertically instead of horizontally. I probably won't be changing my hotkeys to this though just because it takes some time to adapt to the changes.

I've been doing the spacebar as attack move since patch 1.2, and I really liked it right from the start. To the person that was asking, this change feels very intuitive and thus easy to adapt to.

One more thing, I have a couple of other functions attached to the spacebar. Shift+space is my town centre key, and ctrl-space is the last event key.

Frozenhelfire

United States420 Posts

April 05 2011 05:52 GMT

#11

Do you find it detrimental to have all of your abilities primarily on W? It seems like you could mess up a lot of spell casts by mistakenly using different spells. When I tried grid I would sometimes run into this where I would be intending to use a High Templar spell with sentries selected, and the spell would still fire because spells shared hotkeys.

I can't tell if I'm reading this correctly, but as protoss you hit 1 and you select all of your unit producing structures and then the corresponding letter to select a specific type? How does that work with hitting 2 for your building worker and having to hit 2 for a High Templar on the gateways? Is there any way you could include the hotkey setup file, more clear explanation, or an in game screenshot/gif/video of the hotkey setup? I'm not quite understanding it.

Hoku

United States129 Posts

April 05 2011 05:52 GMT

#12

On April 05 2011 12:27 ersatz wrote:

Show nested quote +

Can you clarify how you have this working out? It's just a tad confusing for me.
Also, what did you have for select larvae?

I think it's the order they appear on the grid.

overlord is the first picture displayed, zergling is the second, and so forth.
it moves from 34,er,df,cv. These hotkeys have been changed from the other races because zerg has all of the units from one structure, thus increasing the amount of hotkeys you would need.

Reason.SC2

Canada1047 Posts

April 05 2011 05:52 GMT

#13

This is very similar to my hotkey setup... except I prefer to keep A for attack, S for hold position, D for patrol.

Spellcasting is on QWER with some on F (i.e. morph archon, baneling detonate, Nuke - basically stuff that I definitely don't want to click by accident).

Cool stuff

skp

Canada134 Posts

April 05 2011 07:40 GMT

#14

Really cool idea and it's similar to the concept of grid keys.
The space bar for attack seems it would be really useful. I use my ring finger for 1 and a normally

Pros who's been used to default or BW hotkeys would have a really hard time switching though..

Golgotha

Korea (South)8418 Posts

April 05 2011 07:45 GMT

#15

great layout. im sure you put a lot of thought into it and it works great for you. I tried using grid and other setups but everytime i think of a zergling i press Z. Or D for drone. Or R for roach, etc. Brood war has a stranglehold on my brain.

ZenDeX

Philippines2916 Posts

April 05 2011 07:47 GMT

#16

Can anyone make a visual or a graphical diagram of this? My mind is gonna explode of thinking how this will turn out lol

Shurafa

United States79 Posts

April 07 2011 02:06 GMT

#17

On April 05 2011 12:27 ersatz wrote:

Show nested quote +

Can you clarify how you have this working out? It's just a tad confusing for me.
Also, what did you have for select larvae?

Select larvae is the 2 key (this has great synergy with creating workers as 2,222 will select larva and then create 3 workers).

As for the rest of the hotkeys its basically a modified grid format for zerg since there are just so many units produced form the hatchery I dont see any other way to do it efficiently. (drone, overlord, lings, roach and hydra get the prime 3-E hotkeys).

Does that make sense?

Shurafa

United States79 Posts

April 07 2011 02:16 GMT

#18

On April 05 2011 14:32 LocsomFKC wrote:
I cant do that, and i think many of we cant either. Lots of years playing BW and now SC2 with same hot-keys (from broodwar). Impossible for me.

Tyga woods was 25 when he first changed his swing. He then went on to win several major championships the next year and is widely considered the greatest golfer of all time!

JSH

United States4109 Posts

April 07 2011 02:22 GMT

#19

On April 07 2011 11:16 Shurafa wrote:

Show nested quote +

Tyga woods was 25 when he first changed his swing. He then went on to win several major championships the next year and is widely considered the greatest golfer of all time!

But Tiger Woods is really really good at golf
Most people are not like Tiger Woods

But you probably can get used to it, if you stick with it enough

Shurafa

United States79 Posts

April 07 2011 02:24 GMT

#20

On April 05 2011 14:52 Frozenhelfire wrote:
Do you find it detrimental to have all of your abilities primarily on W? It seems like you could mess up a lot of spell casts by mistakenly using different spells. When I tried grid I would sometimes run into this where I would be intending to use a High Templar spell with sentries selected, and the spell would still fire because spells shared hotkeys.

I can't tell if I'm reading this correctly, but as protoss you hit 1 and you select all of your unit producing structures and then the corresponding letter to select a specific type? How does that work with hitting 2 for your building worker and having to hit 2 for a High Templar on the gateways? Is there any way you could include the hotkey setup file, more clear explanation, or an in game screenshot/gif/video of the hotkey setup? I'm not quite understanding it.

I like having most of the abilities on the W key. If you use multiple control groups you rarely have to worry about tabbing through units to cast different spells (this really goes with any hotkeys right?)

Sample Hotkeys (I will add this to the main post for clarification).

Protoss:
1,2 builds probe
q,w build zealot
a,w build pheonix
z,w build observer

Zerg:

1,2,2 Build drone (select hatchery, select larvae, build drone)
1,2,3 Build overlord
1,2,4 Build lings

Make sense?

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[D] "Cartesian" Hotkey Setup

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