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Camera Rolling
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/KpqcH.jpg)
I define this as the ability to quickly cycle through your camera hotkeys and return to your original location. You accomplish this by incorporating a "save current camera location" hotkey, and then rolling your fingers across the camera keys, beginning with the "save" and ending with "recall".
Introduction
I wanted to Start incorporating camera hotkeys Into my play more because, as zerg, I feel that there iS a premium on maintaining control of your units groups while checking base saturation and Larva injection status. I do these things almost compulsively anyway, but I was looking for a Way I could quickly do it while not detracting from my ability to micro/harass too much.
An example of this would be mutalisk harass in ZvT. If I WanT to Check on my bases, I have the following choices:
- Click the minimap over each base
- Individually bind my hatcheries and click each ONE, deselecting my mutalisk army
- Spam the base camera button and then double tap my army key
- Ignore it until I have a break to Check my macro.
- ????
Typically, I'll opt for option #4 because I don't WanT my mutas to die, and any of the First three options will take critical seconds away from my micro. This leaves me in a pickle, because I WanT to keep up on my injections, Which are still critical at that 10-12 minute period of the game.
So my Issue ultimately iS this: I WanT to Check on the status of my hatcheries very quickly while microing and without sacrificing my ability to harass. If I have to Check the hatcheries and lose my ability to harass AND I undershoot my injection window slightly, I'll waste those Precious moments when I could be destroying a free building/etc.
How to Camera Roll
Essentially, you bind a row of keys and spacebar to camera hotkeys like so:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/BbqtH.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/SdYLE.png)
F = Save Current Location (Camera Location 4)
D = Camera Location 1
S = Camera Location 2
A = Camera Location 3
SPACE = Camera Location 4 (recalls previous location)
I personally have F bound as save location and D S A as main, Natural, third. I also use a second row under it V C X Z for later games and more bases (or earlier game I'll bind it to other things like xel'naga towers or opponent's ramp/scouting OL position etc).
It feels much easier to spam this Way because FDSA row feels more Natural with the size and Arch of my hand on the keyboard.
Please note that you don't need this exact setup and can do this with pretty much any camera key setup. The concept iS that the First key you hit saves your current camera location, then you Check your camera keys, and then finally recall that saved location. Each time you WanT to Check your camera keys, you would save your current location and then recall it at the End.
In the heat of battle, I can quickly spam this with my four fingers and a thumb. I cycle through three bases ON MY SCREEN while maintaining control of my mutalisks on the unit selection area. After this quick spam, I am already back to microing my mutalisks.
Compare this to: (intense MuTa micro) ---> 44 55 66 11. This may take upwards of a game second or two to do, while the camera rolling takes Only a fraction of a second, gives the same information, and doesn't deselect your units or cause you to have to reorient yourself.
Also, in some cases, these units may not be all together, and you may not center back in the same location where you were, causing a much lengthier delay.
Alternatively, you could have F1 F2 F3 F4 bound as camera keys, and use something like:
F4 = Save current
F3 = Location 1
F2 = Location 2
F1 = Recall save
Closing Comments
I'd Really like to discuss the applicability of this concept of camera rolling to other game situations. I've been using it for a Solid month now and Really can't say enough good things about it.
I feel like the ability to not have to move my mouse to the corner of the screen (as much), or relocate my hands twice to Check on my macro while microing iS an increase in efficiency, rather than an increase in hand movement laziness.
Thanks for any and all feedback/suggestions/comments/criticisms. 
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Pretty innovative! Already rebind save camera position / recall camera position (Control-F and Spacebar), but never thought to do that with multiple to get over the problem of deselecting my micro group. Gonna test this out, thanks!
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I've been using camera hotkeys as a way to bounce between my hatches, so this is really nice fir me as a way to help improve the attention I can put towards my muta micro (which is a problem I have been trying to fix).
One thing I can think of that could help would be the use of control to allow more keys to be saved. Then you can add locations like the xel'naga and your rally point in. These would be useful in responding quickly to drops, reinforcing, checking what's in your vision, and so on.
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If I'm not mistaken you can use the backspace key to cycle bases. Sorry if I'm mistaken X.X"
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On September 25 2011 19:23 d00fuz wrote:
If I'm not mistaken you can use the backspace key to cycle bases. Sorry if I'm mistaken X.X"
You can do that but it cycles randomly and you would have to either bind multiple keys to that or spam that key repeatedly with the same finger which is no more efficient than just spamming individual hatchery keys.
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I am using F1-F4 to select my hatchery locations. With A S D looks like you need to completelly change most zerg hotkeys, cause no a-move, select larva, and so and so on. But overall good tip, I think will help for a lot of players.
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I pretty much like the idea of substituting only one key (like F) to the initial Ctrl + F, and then attribute another key to come back to the camera location. So basically substituting a X/Y system to a Ctrl+X / X system. That could probably help to define temporary camera location u need to come back to, instead of durable ones. (I am used to F5 as the front of the opponent base, but I have to change all along the game, and with the Ctrl Key, it is really slow, so in the end i don't do it much...
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When I play as Zerg, my hotkeys don't change. I have all queens on one hotkey, all hatches on another. If I want to do my injects, I just select my queens and hit caps lock to cycle through my bases. Why do people have separate hotkeys for queens and hatches if this could be accomplished by just having all hatches on one key and using base camera to cycle through hatches and inject?
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On September 29 2011 05:41 DoctorFunk wrote:
When I play as Zerg, my hotkeys don't change. I have all queens on one hotkey, all hatches on another. If I want to do my injects, I just select my queens and hit caps lock to cycle through my bases. Why do people have separate hotkeys for queens and hatches if this could be accomplished by just having all hatches on one key and using base camera to cycle through hatches and inject?
Because it ain't very effective. Imagine I have main base location on F1 and expansion location on F2. Suddenly drop come to my base and all I need is F1 -> grab drones -> F2 click to minerals. That gonna take 2 sec max. You gonna take more time for sure.
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On September 29 2011 05:41 DoctorFunk wrote:
When I play as Zerg, my hotkeys don't change. I have all queens on one hotkey, all hatches on another. If I want to do my injects, I just select my queens and hit caps lock to cycle through my bases. Why do people have separate hotkeys for queens and hatches if this could be accomplished by just having all hatches on one key and using base camera to cycle through hatches and inject?
I used the towncamera (backspace default) injection method for over a year before finally switching out, and the reason it's bad is because it's unreliable.
In theory it's awesome, and it feels really pro when you can inject all your hatcheries in under a second. The problem is that if you're in a real game, and things get tense, if you have to use queens for something, if you take a hidden expo, etc... you may have to cycle your injects 3-4 times just to inject everything, and you run a high risk of a queenor queens running across the map. You may issue double orders to multiple queens who end up trying to inject the same hatcheries, etc.
Probably the biggest underlying issue though is that towncamera is an unreliable key in that it doesn't perform the same function every time you press it. It doesn't progress in a set order, but merely begins by proximity to where you press the key. It may begin by cycling your 4th base first, then go to your main, then your macro hatchery, then third, then second base. But you will only have 3-4 queens at most for these 5 hatcheries. You can't just spam the keys or the queens will go nuts.
As silly as it looks, using camera hotkeys and/or BW style of 1 hatch per key, or just binding queens individually are far more efficient methods to consistently inject.
All that said, the focus of this tactic is more for the benefit of being able to scan bases as you micro, with most of the benefit being in the early mid-game when your mutas are out and injects are still important, and then toward the late game when you have several hatcheries and may have pushes that break your unified rally points or you need to manage drops more quickly/etc. And I'm sure there are other utilities, but I posted here because I'm not sure what they might be yet. I feel like it's a useful tactic that deserves to be explored more.
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what did you do with all of the keys that were bound to those keys? attack, stop etc. just curious, seems like they would be more important to be in the position of those keys... but still seems like a great idea with the f keys maybe, i may have to try this out
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On September 29 2011 09:35 TheOGBlitzKrieg wrote:
what did you do with all of the keys that were bound to those keys? attack, stop etc. just curious, seems like they would be more important to be in the position of those keys... but still seems like a great idea with the f keys maybe, i may have to try this out
One plus about zerg in terms of hotkeys is that the race has fewer units, abilities, and structures than the other two races. As such, it's easier to truncate the keys. Almost every key I use is on Q W E R T (and then I put a few on Y H G B). It's somewhat modified from the grid setup, although there is a focus on unit abilities being QWER like dota style. Attack is still T, hold positoin is H, and I rarely use stop, and never have a use for "move" as a keyboard function.
I really like the setup, but not enough to forward it over any number of other customized setups. I feel like I have the ability to emphasize camera hotkeys more easily without losing any functionality in the game. I certainly don't think its necessary to utilize camera rolling though.
+ Show Spoiler +[Settings]
AllowSetConflicts=1
[Hotkeys]
PTT=Apostrophe
MenuHelp=F8
ObservePreview=V,Space
AlertRecall=SemiColon
ControlGroupAppend0=Shift+0,Shift+Grave
ControlGroupAssign0=Control+0,Control+Grave
ControlGroupRecall0=0,Grave
ReplayRestart=Minus
ReplaySpeedDec=NumPadMinus
TeamResources=F12
WarpIn=Equals
CameraSave0=Shift+D
CameraSave1=Shift+S
CameraSave2=Shift+A
CameraSave3=Shift+V
CameraSave4=Shift+C
CameraSave5=Shift+X
CameraSave6=Shift+Z
CameraSave7=F
CameraView0=D
CameraView1=S
CameraView2=A
CameraView3=V
CameraView4=C
CameraView5=X
CameraView6=Z
CameraView7=Space
[Commands]
250mmStrikeCannons/Thor=E
AWrp=Q
ArchonHallucination/Sentry=G
Armory/SCV=W
AssaultMode=W
Assimilator/Probe=T
Attack=T
AutoTurret/Raven=Q
Baneling/Zergling=Q
BanelingNest/Drone=E
Banshee/Starport=G
Barracks/SCV=W
Battlecruiser/Starport=H
Blink/Stalker=E
BroodLord/Corruptor=W
BuildCreepTumor/Queen=Q
BuildCreepTumorPropagate/CreepTumorBurrowed=Q,R
BuildTechLabFactory/FactoryFlying=T
BuildTechLabStarport/StarportFlying=T
Bunker/SCV=R
BunkerLoad=W
BunkerUnloadAll=R
BurrowDown=G
BurrowUp=G
CalldownMULE/OrbitalCommand=W
Carrier/Stargate=E
Charge/Zealot=E
CloakOff=G
CloakOnBanshee=G
Colossus/RoboticsFacility=R
ColossusHallucination/Sentry=W
CommandCenter/SCV=Q
CommandCenterLoad=W
CommandCenterUnloadAll=R
Contaminate/Overseer=R
CorruptionAbility/Corruptor=Q
Corruptor/Larva=Y
CyberneticsCore/Probe=G
DarkShrine/Probe=G
DarkTemplar=R
Drone/Larva=R
EngineeringBay/SCV=B
EvolutionChamber/Drone=B
EvolveCentrificalHooks/BanelingNest=Q
EvolveChitinousPlating/UltraliskCavern=Q
EvolveGlialRegeneration/RoachWarren=Q
EvolveInfestorEnergyUpgrade/InfestationPit=Q
EvolveTunnelingClaws/RoachWarren=W
EvolveVentralSacks=Y
Explode/Baneling=R
Explode/BanelingBurrowed=R
Extractor/Drone=T
Factory/SCV=E
Feedback/HighTemplar=R
FleetBeacon/Probe=B
ForceField/Sentry=E
Forge/Probe=R
FungalGrowth/Infestor=W
FusionCore/SCV=T
Gateway/Probe=E
GatherProt=L
GenerateCreep/Overlord=E
GhostAcademy/SCV=Q
GhostHoldFire/Ghost=W
GravitonBeam/Phoenix=E
GreaterSpire/Spire=R
GuardianShield/Sentry=R
Hallucination/Sentry=Q
Halt=M
Hatchery/Drone=Q
Hellion/Factory=Q
Hive/Lair=G
HydraliskDen/Drone=Q
Immortal/RoboticsFacility=E
ImmortalHallucination/Sentry=R
InfestationPit/Drone=W
InfestedTerrans/Infestor=Q
InfestedTerrans/InfestorBurrowed=Q
Infestor/Larva=B
Lair/Hatchery=G
Larva=Q
Marauder/Barracks=W
Marine/Barracks=Q
Medivac/Starport=W
MissileTurret/SCV=Y
MorphBackToGateway/WarpGate=P
MorphMorphalisk/Queen=R
MorphToOverseer/Overlord=Q
Move=P
MovePatrol=Y
Nexus/Probe=Q
NukeArm/GhostAcademy=R
NukeCalldown/Ghost=Q
NydusNetwork/Drone=R
Observer/RoboticsFacility=Q
OrbitalCommand/CommandCenter=E
Overlord/Larva=W
PhasingMode/WarpPrism=Q
Phoenix/Stargate=Q
PhoenixHallucination/Sentry=Q
PhotonCannon/Probe=Y
PointDefenseDrone/Raven=W
Probe/Nexus=Q
ProbeHallucination/Sentry=P
ProtossAirArmorLevel1/CyberneticsCore=W
ProtossAirWeaponsLevel1/CyberneticsCore=Q
ProtossBuild/Probe=Q
ProtossBuildAdvanced/Probe=W
ProtossGroundArmorLevel1/Forge=W
ProtossGroundWeaponsLevel1/Forge=Q
ProtossShieldsLevel1/Forge=E
PsiStorm/HighTemplar=E
Pylon/Probe=W
Queen=W
Rally=O
RallyEgg=P
Raven/Starport=E
Reactor/Barracks=R
Reactor/BarracksFlying=R
Reactor/Factory=R
Reactor/FactoryFlying=R
Reactor/Starport=R
Reactor/StarportFlying=R
Reaper/Barracks=E
ReaperSpeed/BarracksTechLab=R
Refinery/SCV=T
ResearchBansheeCloak/StarportTechLab=T
ResearchBattlecruiserEnergyUpgrade/FusionCore=W
ResearchBattlecruiserSpecializations/FusionCore=Q
ResearchBurrow=T
ResearchCharge/TwilightCouncil=Q
ResearchDurableMaterials/StarportTechLab=W
ResearchGhostEnergyUpgrade/GhostAcademy=W
ResearchGraviticBooster/RoboticsBay=Q
ResearchGraviticDrive/RoboticsBay=W
ResearchHallucination/CyberneticsCore=E
ResearchHiSecAutoTracking/EngineeringBay=E
ResearchHighCapacityBarrels/FactoryTechLab=Q
ResearchInterceptorLaunchSpeedUpgrade/FleetBeacon=Q
ResearchMedivacEnergyUpgrade/StarportTechLab=Q
ResearchNeosteelFrame/EngineeringBay=R
ResearchNeuralParasite/InfestationPit=W
ResearchPersonalCloaking/GhostAcademy=Q
ResearchPunisherGrenades/BarracksTechLab=E
ResearchRavenEnergyUpgrade/StarportTechLab=R
ResearchSeekerMissile/StarportTechLab=E
ResearchShieldWall/BarracksTechLab=Q
ResearchSiegeTech/FactoryTechLab=W
ResearchStalkerTeleport/TwilightCouncil=W
ResearchStrikeCannons/FactoryTechLab=E
ResearchWarpGate/CyberneticsCore=R
ReturnCargo=E
Roach/Larva=G
RoboticsBay/Probe=R
RoboticsFacility/Probe=E
SCV=Q
Salvage/Bunker=G
SapStructure/Baneling=W
Scan/OrbitalCommand=R
SelectBuilder=P
SensorTower/SCV=H
Sentry=W
SetBunkerRallyPoint/Bunker=O
SiegeTank/Factory=W
SpawnChangeling/Overseer=Q
SpawningPool/Drone=W
SpineCrawler/Drone=Y
Spire/Drone=E
SporeCrawler/Drone=G
Stalker=E
StalkerHallucination/Sentry=Y
Stargate/Probe=W
Starport/SCV=R
Stim=Q
Stimpack/BarracksTechLab=W
Stop=F2
StopGenerateCreep/Overlord=E
SummonNydusWorm/NydusNetwork=Q
SupplyDepot/SCV=E
SupplyDrop/OrbitalCommand=E
TechLabBarracks/Barracks=T
TechLabBarracks/BarracksFlying=T
TechLabFactory/Factory=T
TechLabStarport/Starport=T
TerranBuild/SCV=Q
TerranBuildAdvanced/SCV=W
TerranInfantryArmorLevel1/EngineeringBay=W
TerranInfantryWeaponsLevel1/EngineeringBay=Q
TerranShipPlatingLevel1/Armory=R
TerranShipWeaponsLevel1/Armory=E
TerranVehiclePlatingLevel1/Armory=W
TerranVehicleWeaponsLevel1/Armory=Q
Thor/Factory=E
TimeWarp/Nexus=E
Transfusion/Queen=E
TransportMode/WarpPrism=E
TwilightCouncil/Probe=Q
Ultralisk/Larva=Q
UltraliskCavern/Drone=T
Unsiege=W
UpgradeBuildingArmorLevel1/EngineeringBay=T
UpgradeToPlanetaryFortress/CommandCenter=T
VikingFighter/Starport=Q
VoidRay/Stargate=W
VoidRayHallucination/Sentry=E
Vortex/Mothership=E
WarpPrism/RoboticsFacility=W
WarpPrismHallucination/Sentry=B
WeaponsFree/Ghost=W
YamatoGun=E
Zealot=Q
ZealotHallucination/Sentry=H
ZergBuild/Drone=Q
ZergBuildAdvanced/Drone=W
Zergling/Larva=E
hydraliskspeed/HydraliskDen=Q
overlordspeed=H
zergflyerarmor1=W
zergflyerattack1=Q
zerggroundarmor1/EvolutionChamber=E
zerglingattackspeed/SpawningPool=W
zerglingmovementspeed/SpawningPool=Q
zergmeleeweapons1/EvolutionChamber=Q
zergmissileweapons1/EvolutionChamber=W
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I really like this idea; I always set my camera locations but I never actually use them because they are out of the way and I can sometimes lose my Starcraft home-row when I move my hand.
Instead of remapping any production hotkeys, though, I think I'm going to try using an additional layer of modifier keys.
ALT+ ~ or ALT+w to set camera 8
ALT+letter to recall the camera location
CTRL+ALT+letter to set the cameras 1-7
It might be a little more awkward setting camera positions, but shouldn't be any harder to scroll through them (it does make me wish there was a way to make a non-modifier key into a modifier key, so I could do W+E as a hotkey... maybe remapping the Right CTRL to W would work?)
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On September 29 2011 09:02 michaelhasanalias wrote:
Probably the biggest underlying issue though is that towncamera is an unreliable key in that it doesn't perform the same function every time you press it. It doesn't progress in a set order, but merely begins by proximity to where you press the key.
You might want to double check this. I'm quite certain the 'Backspace' cycles through in a set order and always starts the cycle where it left off the previous time, regardless of where your current camera location is.
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Thank you, great idea! I play P and Z right now so I'm going to have to make my own custom version of this, but I'll definitely be using the technique soon.
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On September 30 2011 04:12 Kaitlin wrote:Show nested quote +On September 29 2011 09:02 michaelhasanalias wrote:
Probably the biggest underlying issue though is that towncamera is an unreliable key in that it doesn't perform the same function every time you press it. It doesn't progress in a set order, but merely begins by proximity to where you press the key.
You might want to double check this. I'm quite certain the 'Backspace' cycles through in a set order and always starts the cycle where it left off the previous time, regardless of where your current camera location is.
Hmm, you're correct that it doesn't depend on camera location, but I just tested it now, and although it cycles in a general order, it doesn't necessarily adhere to the order you build hatches. I built four hatches and the order cycled was 1 2 4 3. I can't explain the logic behind the button, but I started the fourth hatchery when the third was at 60% completion.
The issue you run into though even if it was completely accurate every time is that the same button has increasing demand the longer the game goes on.
If you have four hatches and only inject the first three, then the next time you need to use the button to position over your main again for the next inject. Or, if you don't, you run the risk of injecting the fourth hatchery and causing all your queens to run around. Or, you can position the camera in advance, or if you have your queens not in the perfect positioning due to harassment, your queens may run around anyway. All of these circumstances require different responses for a setup that's designed to be faster than conscious decision-making can be, so as to automate the process. But when you have to stop and deal with any situation that requires a decision (very often) it ends up taking longer than if you had injected almost any other possible way.
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I've been playing around with this setup and I think I've found a way to camera roll and inject larva on multiple hatches. This setup also allows an intuitive way to remap camera locations midgame.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/DfER1.jpg)
I've set hotkeys for saving camera locations alt + q, w, e, r, t, y while setting alt as "center on current selection".
I can then simply click on a hatch and alt + q, which automatically centers on the hatch whilst saving camera location 1. Repeat for the hatches which are accompanied by a queen; leave the far expos with no queens out. Have all queens on 1 hotkey.
Shift + q, w, e, r, t, y cycles through your saved camera locations 1~6
shift+tab sets anchor, shift+space returns to anchor.
Say your currently babysitting mutas:
You can quickly roll through your locations by holding shift, roll through the row: caps, q, w, e, r, t, y, then space to return to anchor.
Camera Injecting:
Steps:
1) Select queens hotkey, hold shift and press v as you would with the shift inject method,
2) While still holding down shift: roll through tab/qwerty to cycle through your hatches while clicking to inject, then press space to return to the camera anchor.
This takes advantage of the fact you need shift to inject, set the camera anchor, cycle through the hatcheries WITH queens while injecting then finally returning to the anchor.
Pros:
- Lets you camera roll, and lets you shift + v inject multiple hatcheries
- no queen meltdown, simply overwrite camera hotkey if a queen gets sniped.
- when not using shift + tab/space as anchors for mutas, use them for creep tumours
Cons:
- Shift queing for some commands conflict, most notably: shift burrow and shift infested terrans, just remap these. (also shift build extractor for next bases, I remap to g for gas).
- Can't use alt to show life bars: remap, everyone seen plays with life bars on anyway.
It might take a few games to get this into muscle memory but its very intuitive once you have it down.
With alt+qwerty its easy to redo camera hotkeys mid game if a queen gets sniped.
You can even start off with the 1 hatch/queen per hotkey 1,1, v, click method then alt+q whenever you place a hatch down and eventually transition in camera injecting, just spare a hotkey for queens and shift add them in as you build them.
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United States1823 Posts
Hmmm this looks very interesting. I'm not a zerg player but I think this hotkey setup can be used for any race. I'm going to give it a shot and report back.
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Some really cool stuff here. I have to say that using shift + letter keys in a rolling sequence is far superior to the old town hall button method when it comes to injecting hatcheries. No wandering queens to worry about, you always inject your hatches in the same order.
I'll have to experiment with the quick save for a map position, it has potential though I will have to find an unused keystroke that is convenient as well as figure out which scenarios would benefit best from it.
Also, thanks to n6378056 for his idea of having alt as a centre camera button, I'll be making that change for sure. Previously I would hotkey a morphing hatch, double tap the hotkey, then alt-1,2,3,4 to save the camera location. This way I can make the process just a little bit quicker and smoother.
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Having alt as 'center on selection' also makes creep spread quite easy. This fixes inconsistent camera positioning which made camera hotkeys cumbersome.
Add alt+caps as alternative hotkey to set anchor camera.
1) spread tumors, select the morphing tumors and alt + caps.
2) go through your inject cycle of shift + qwezxc ending with space which brings you to your tumors. Repeat.
This synchronizes tumors with inject cycle everytime you roll through your injects, similar in idea to this thread:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=274298
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