Same. If they ever stop making nostromos I have to give up mmos. My wife is the same way.
Movement to the regular asdf keys, the d-pad for 1-4 skills, rest of the buttons mapped to extra keys on the nostromo and an mmo mouse (2013 naga or g600) and there's nothing I can't do on the move. I never touch the keyboard unless I'm chatting.
This is the most efficient way to play, IMO. I have the Nostromo and love it, but I found out that I still needed more buttons, so I got the Orbweaver.
Nostromo:
Pros:
--cheaper than Razer Orbweaver
--The more distinct D-pad (the circle cap can be removed) is better for my style than the Orbweaver's
--I like its space button more than the newer Orbweaver's
Cons:
--replaced by the Tartarus
--scroll wheel is useless to me. I used its click for the Elite skill. Bright shiny lit button = Elite skill. But I preferred all my skills on the mouse.
--not enough buttons!
Orbweaver:
20 face buttons versus Nostromo's 15.
My keybindings, from key 1 through 20:
Settings window, Guild window, Trading Post, PvP window, Hero Panel
Map screen, Look behind,
move forward, Call Target, Auto-run
Item window,
strafe left, move backwards, strafe right, Function key
Next target, Previous target, Go to Called Target, Show all tags on screen, Loot All
My thumb button is 4-way, and used for emote macros (wave, bow, "ty," "np"). That button above the directional thumb button is reserved for microphone. I'm still missing keys for the WvW window, Sheath/unsheath weapons, and F12 shortcut, but I can live with that for now.
Now pair that with an MMO mouse. I use the Naga 2013 because of the new scroll-wheel side switches.
The tacky logo light can be turned off. I did.
Thumb buttons 1-12:
F1, F2, F3
Skill 1, 2, 3
Skill 4, 5, F4
Utility 7, 8, 9
Scroll wheel click is for dodge. Scroll wheel right is to switch weapon. Scroll wheel left is to for Heal skill.
The two buttons underneath the scroll wheel are the game changers for me. Due to the side switches on the scroll wheel on the newer Nagas I can now dedicate these two buttons to Esc and Elite skill.
It's the Esc key which is the greatest key of all time bound to a mouse for this game. Why? Because Esc is defaulted to close ALL in-game windows. Have the TP, WvW, Hero panel windows all up? No problem, click the Esc button 3 times. All those Vendor windows? Gone. Worthless NPC chat windows and you're too lazy to click on a reply choice? Gone. Click Esc with NO windows on screen? It then brings up the window to change characters or close the game. Marvelous. GOAT.
Downsides of Razer products are of course their reliability and costs. I had to return my first Naga 2013 to Amazon due to a defective scroll wheel but that was thankfully exchanged for free. I've had no problems with the keypads.
I used to think the software that goes with the Razer products was also a downside (I need another program to play? Noooo....), but then I found out that I can turn off the network-nibbling cloud functions. Plus their free 3D virtualized sound program for headphones is actually pretty good, even better than Dolby Headphone if youtube comparisons are to be believed.
Logitech are great alternatives to the Razer set and these two match them key-for-key and more:
G13. Someone in this guild said that the HUD on this can tell you who's talking in Mumble.
G600. All the same keys as the Naga 2013, but also includes a ring-finger shift key. Meh, I don't like shift-hold keys and would probably turn that off. One button, one shortcut for me.
If my Razer kits break I might switch over to Logitech's.
With this much control at your fingertips, you'd be crazy to use a controller. The mere thought of using a controller, then going to the keyboard for non-combat shortcuts, or worse,
using a trigger button as a shift key, literally perforates my stomach from the stress gastritis.
