|
What I would like to talk about is "Which finger do you use for numbers (Units, buildings, hatcheries, etc) and how that correlates to the efficiency of your APM.
I use my middle finger for 1-3 number and index finger for 4-7 or even 8. I sometimes have a problem though, when my index finger goes all the way to 7 or 8, I have harder time to retrace back to 1 and 2 with my middle finger which are used for my main units like most of you.
I believe that if you can implement your "Ring" finger for 1 and still use your middle finger for 2-3 and the index finger for the rest, will give you the better idea of where each button is. My idea was derived from playing the piano. You always use same fingers for same keys, therefore, you can instinctively locate the keys very fast without too much mistakes.
I am also curious how many of you have the same problem and do you think that this will enhance the efficiency of your mechanics and performance of you game?
|
On June 23 2011 01:18 fritos wrote:
What I would like to talk about is "Which finger do you use for numbers (Units, buildings, hatcheries, etc) and how that correlates to the efficiency of your APM.
I use my middle finger for 1-3 number and index finger for 4-7 or even 8. I sometimes have a problem though, when my index finger goes all the way to 7 or 8, I have harder time to retrace back to 1 and 2 with my middle finger which are used for my main units like most of you.
I believe that if you can implement your "Ring" finger for 1 and still use your middle finger for 2-3 and the index finger for the rest, will give you the better idea of where each button is. My idea was derived from playing the piano. You always use same fingers for same keys, therefore, you can instinctively locate the keys very fast without too much mistakes.
I am also curious how many of you have the same problem and do you think that this will enhance the efficiency of your mechanics and performance of you game?
I played piano + violin (asian -.-) too! I do the same thing in terms of finger positioning! :D
|
I am practicing using my ring finger for 1 now but the coordination of that finger just seems so awkward compared to the middle and index finger... I guess I have to get used to it
|
My fingers are far from consistent in which presses what. Normally I have ring-middle-index resting on 2-3-4, but I move my hand around a lot, so I'll move it over and tap 5678 which is nexus-warpgate-robo-star, and then back to micro my army around. I'm trying to avoid using my index finger for everything, but it's so hard when it's just so much more capable than the other 3. I think I'm actually gonna start playing games where I just don't use my index finger, but I'm sure that's going to feel impossible at first.
|
On June 23 2011 01:27 Kovaz wrote:
My fingers are far from consistent in which presses what. Normally I have ring-middle-index resting on 2-3-4, but I move my hand around a lot, so I'll move it over and tap 5678 which is nexus-warpgate-robo-star, and then back to micro my army around. I'm trying to avoid using my index finger for everything, but it's so hard when it's just so much more capable than the other 3. I think I'm actually gonna start playing games where I just don't use my index finger, but I'm sure that's going to feel impossible at first.
Well, the point that I was trying to make is, use 3 fingers instead of 2. And try not to move your fingers around too much because that will cause the time loss and inefficiency . But rather they should be stationed for the same keys.
|
I use all four fingers. Is there a reason you guys do not? Is it inefficient to use your pinky? Pinky for 1/a/f1/ctrl, ring finger is pretty much only for 2/f2, middle finger for e and 3/f3, index for everything else.
Over about 100 games on sc2gears my APM is around 150
|
I use my ring finger for ^-2, middle for 1-4 and F1/F2, index for 2-7 and F1-F3.
It's pretty easy for my left hand to navigate because the ^ key also marks the end of the keyboard (also maybe because I'm a lefty). I guess it's again all about practice.
|
i'm a guitarist and i do the same thing, little finger does ctrl+shift then ring finger does 1, middle 2+3, index 4,5,6,7 and then i have 8,9 and 0 on Q,W and Z respectively for which i use my middle finger.
unit hotkeys basically the same, i use finger according to how far along the keyboard a key is.
|
Maybe I got small hands, but for me Crtl ( with little finger ) + 1 ( with ring finger ) is impossible and takes me atleast 2 seconds try hard. Because of this I do it with the middle finger on 1.
|
France12911 Posts
I only use my index finger (for everything except that I also use my thumb to add stuff in 1-9 groups), not only the numbers.
Apm around 130-150 ig
|
I have no problems retracing back to 123 since I actually started with that kind of key placement in BW (Ring 1, middle 2, index 3). I had problems trying to select between I and O back then due to the distance (Siege tanks and mines).
I solved it by dragging my fingers along the number keys (Not too hard for the keys to register), I would then know where to stop.
In SC2, i dont find similar kinds of hotkey problesm since they are just so at the left lol. If I however need to hotkey 7890, i use the right ctrl with my thumb instead.
|
I have my keyboard slightly slanted (so that the lower number keys are higher than the other ones).
This makes accessing 3, 4, 5 much easier while making 1, 2 harder.
Because of this I have to use my middle finger for all the numbers (my ring finger can't reach 1, 2 without significant hand repositioning).
Never even considered using my ring finger for the other numbers. Maybe I'll give it a go...
|
how exactly do you hit 1a2a3a with middle finger on 1?
|
zerg player-I use index for 5 and 4(hatcheries and queens) and 1 would be ring finger, and 2 and 3 would be middle finger.
Apm is around 130-150(estimate, i dont spam apm at the beginning)
|
Am I the only idiot that uses my index finger for the hotkey and my thumb for the letter keys? Like hatch or cc on 2 and thumb on S for larva or scv. I've tried really hard to switch to the norm but half way through the games when the APM gets going my thumb just sneaks its way back up. I'm at the point where I'm just going to accept it the way it is, it doesn't really limit me at all anyways.
|
On June 23 2011 01:32 gogatorsfoster wrote:
I use all four fingers. Is there a reason you guys do not? Is it inefficient to use your pinky? Pinky for 1/a/f1/ctrl, ring finger is pretty much only for 2/f2, middle finger for e and 3/f3, index for everything else.
Over about 100 games on sc2gears my APM is around 150
I use my pinky on a, shift and control. I don't use it on F1, esc, `, tab and 1 because it creates a sort of arc towards the top left corner of the Keyboard which makes it fairly difficult to utilize the funcitons on the left side of the keyboard quickly. By using the ringfinger you really only need to open up your hand, so your pinky is still in a decent position to hit a, shift, caps lock, and control.
I usually use my ring on 1,2, middle on 3, and index on 4+, though I overlap my middle finger onto 2 and 4 sometimes. I'm used to doing things like that from guitar.
|
I have 1/2/3 for units I am currently microing, whether that be my scouting probe, army, or a group of phoenixes I am harassing with.
I have my Ring, Middle and Index finger so that Ring-1 Middle-2 Index - 3, unit abilities I hit with my thumb and shift with my pinky.
I have 4 set to my production - Robotics/Stargates, which I hit with my Index, Voidray I hit V with my thumb, phoenix I use my index so I don't accidentally hit carrier, also I can quick chrono with C.
For wargates I hit W with my middle finger, Sentry/Tempar with Index, Middle for Stalker/DT/Zealot
And I have all my nexuses hotkeyed to 5, although I used to hotkey my nexus 5,6,7,8 and I would hit those with my index.
I used to play piano as well. Playing the piano for many years gives you a certain dexterity and strength in the Pinky/Ring fingers many people may not have developed, since it is never used. My apm spikes to 300 but I only usually play at 70-90 (ingame apm)
|
On June 23 2011 01:32 gogatorsfoster wrote:
I use all four fingers. Is there a reason you guys do not? Is it inefficient to use your pinky? Pinky for 1/a/f1/ctrl, ring finger is pretty much only for 2/f2, middle finger for e and 3/f3, index for everything else.
Over about 100 games on sc2gears my APM is around 150
I do this. Only real reason is that I played P in bw. (Have to have large hands to be able to use the 0 and P keys all the time).
My apm is ~120 in sc2, 170 bw, 160-200 hon.
|
I hit 1 with my ring finger and 2 with my middle finger and 3-6 with my index finger and the pinky for ctrl and shift stuff.
I have units for 3-6 and i use 1 for CC/Nexus/Hatch and 2 for production facilitys or queens. I use my pinky for hitting A and Z, Middle finger reaches S and my index finger will reach anything to the right of S.
My apm average is around 200-220ish, if its a good game ill have 250 apm which rarely happens.
|
There was a really good post here a few years ago with pics and gifs about the most effecient way to use the keyboard. I can't find it but I will try to explain, but it'll be kinda hard.
The spoiler is a diagram of a hand with the fingers labelled to avoid confusion
+ Show Spoiler +
anyway the jist of it is that when you do the 1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a stroke, you strike 1 and 2 with your ring finger, and then switch to 3 and four with your middle finger, and then strike numbers 5 and up with your index finger, with your pinky obviously hitting A.
After that, the way many terran players set up is to have their cc's set to 1, their production set to 2, army is 3-7 or 8, and the upgrade buildings or special stuff in 8,9, and 0. to build SCVs, you use your middle finger on one, and your index finger for S. You can also span this early and easily get your apm to 300 sc2, and never miss an early scv. When I tab through my production, i'll hit 2 with my middle finger, tab with my ring finger, and the A and S with my middle finger and D, E, R, G and T with my index finger (i think that covers everything.).
the reason why I assign production to 1 and 2 is because even though I can move my hands quickly (my apm is like 120 - 140 SC2) my hands are fat and it's difficult for me to hit 1a2a quickly and effeciently. if I start with my army at 3, 3a4a5a6a7a8a9a is really easy to hit, even though I never have that many control groups for my army, I think the highest I ever go is 7.
Protoss is a little different since you can select all of your warpgates with W. I usually select my gateways to 1 before they morph, and hit 1 with my middle finger, and Z,S, and E with my index finger. Nexus are always 2, since 2e2c is a very easy keystroke. Army is again 3- whatever, and ups are the higher keys, which is inefficient, but you're aren't selecting those buildings nearly as often as the others, so I think it's ok. When you have warpgates, your stargates and robos will likely change. I hit W with my ring finger, Z with my pinky, S with my ring finger, and E with my middle finger, so the keystroke goes: wzse for warpgate, Zealot, Stalker, Sentry, but will probably look more like: wzzzzssssssssseeeeee or wsssssssszzzzzzzzzzeeee or weeeeeesssssssssszzzzzzz depending on the situation of course.
EDIT: Oh yeah, check out this Day[9] podcast about hotkeys and mechanics. It was made a few years ago, so it focuses on BW, but everything he talks about is directly applicable to SC2.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=89581
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT![[image loading]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/handstop2.jpg/)
