Keybinding - key mapping

[TenForward]

Updated on 7/30/2014

Setting up your Key Bindings / key mappings for Allegiance:

I adjusted my Allegiance key bindings daily during the first year of play. It's been 2 years now and for the last year I've been pretty happy with what I settled with in the process of finding an easily remembered, easy-to-access keyboard arrangement, so I thought to share the final considerations I used in defining my own keys. Also I've included my inputmap1.mdl file which you may use immediately by replacing the file of the same name as found in your "program files (x86)/microsoft games/allegiance 1.2/production/artwork" directory.

If you keep your old file by renaming it you can try out my keymap and if you don't like my version you can restore the defaults - or you can restore your own file and map keeping what you like about this one with your own. Keyboard Map - download by right clicking

I used autohotkey to get double duty of some keys like the capslock key. To use my autohotkey file you'll need to go to autohotkey.com and install the program.

Then replace your default autohotkey file found usually in your "my documents" directory with the file below:

Right click here to download my autohotkey file

Here's a link to get the file in case the one above doesn't work for some reason: Right click here to download the autohotkey installer

The autohotkey file primarily sets up your caps lock to cut forward thrust if it's on by pressing backspace - and then "reverse thrust" (which is mapped to the unused "u" key) and it's held in reverse as long as you hold down the caps key. It also maps your "windows key" to "control 0" which toggles your mine / probe dropper.

The most important consideration for me - was the realization that the WASD model for thrusting up down left and right caused confusion since I touch type. If you are also a touch typist you may find your fingers homing on the keys asdf as typists tend to do. For the reason that my index finger is the most nimble and up and down thrust are most important in battle - I've mapped ESDF as my up down left and right thrusting keys. "E-up D-down S-left F-right, and my roll keys are W-roll left and R-roll right. Also important (very important) are the ability to control forward and reverse. For quite some time I was using the A key for Boost and the spacebar for forward thrust and the cap lock key for reverse thrust give me what I need, however I recently reversed the A and spacebar such that spacebar is boost and A is forward thrust.

It's possible with autohotkey.com to setup your capslock key so that it first zeros the forward thrust and then reverse thrusts until you release the key. This has been very helpful to me since prior I was always crashing into things. Now that I have a way to simultaneously kill forward thrust and start reversing, things have been much easier. Having my thumb on the spacebar for forward thrust leaves other fingers available to do other important things while forward thrust is applied, and it makes it easy to pace a miner or stay where I want to behind a bomber.

Previously I had T set to Teleport but I kept hitting T by accident since it was so close to the other keys so now I use T for targeting and I moved teleport to Y.

Q is in a convenient place to enable cloak (or your choice of important functions)

G is for mine dropping since it's close and we need to use it so often. Since I have a 5 button mouse I also put mine dropping on one of the side mouse keys and chaff dropping on the other.

BabelFish told me that he uses spacebar to toggle mouse and that might work for you but I'm using Z to toggle the mouse on and off.

X is reload for easy access.

C is "target nothing" which in the game targets the nearest enemy. I use this key for general targeting. Note that this won't work in the practice area.

Mouse wheel pressed" "targets center" and this allows me to target what I see directly in front of me.

Other mnemonic targeting keys are as follows:

Friendly

B for Base
N for coNstructor
M for Miner
I for fIghter
O for bOmber

The shifted version of each of the above keys targets the nearest enemy Base, Constructor, Miner, Fighter, and Bomber
Since each of the keys have the letter contained - it makes them easier to remember.

/ is "drop selected cargo"
. rotates cargo for dropping
; matches speed
* targets self
p is autopilot (also available on left hand using "shift A")
l lock vector
h target hostile

I remapped the voting response for "Yes" to "Control F1" or "shift keypad plus" - and "No" to "Control F2" or "shift keypad minus".
The benefit here is I get to use N for "constructor" mnemonically. Plus I think it's better use of primary keys in a game where so many keys are used and the response "yes or no" is so infrequently required.

I've remapped my keypad numbers to their control equivalents so that for example "Numpad 5" loads or toggles missiles and "Numpad 7" loads or toggles shields (so often used). It's easier to hit one key than a combination especially when you are keeping your finger on forward thrust as you must when bombing.

The function keys are far from the left hand so I needed a way to toggle F3, F5, F6 and F8 functions easily, so I mapped F3 to "Shift-S", F5 to "Shift-D", F6 to "Shift-F" and F8 to "Shift-G". This way I can keep all of those very important functions, (especially for commanding) - available instantly without taking my home fingers from ASDF - and G, in order left to right for memory reasons.

Note that I'm using the Cortui modification so I don't need F4 or F7 as those info screens are always available when needed. I believe Cortui can still be found with a search in this forum.

I setup my scroll lock key as a push to talk for "Mumble" since autohotkey allowed me to control that button's functions. For this you may need my autohotkey file, downloadable above.

I just setup my "right left up and down" buttons to give me "right, left", and other view controls. Not sure if I'll remember or be able to use them in battle effectively but I have it in a place I can find it anyway. I'm looking forward to getting skilled in using those. Babel says he's configured those buttons in a sophisticated way to view a panorama by combinations of those buttons. He says he uses this to great advantage, however acknowledges that it takes a lot of practice to interpret what you see and use it effectively.

I mapped "mouse wheel forward" to "throttle up" and "mouse wheel back" to "throttle down". I use this all the time when I'm flying for throttle control. However slowing down this way requires several strokes on the wheel so it's easier to slow down fast with the Capslock key (requiring autohotkey installed). This arrangement on the wheel can work well when you are in a turret, if you can manage to twist the wheel without taking your finger off the firing button. Babel has since told me that he uses the bracket keys for zooming and the - and = keys for targeting when he's in a turret. I've yet to figure out how he has made the zoom effective since for me it zooms too fast to be useful. When I figure it out I'll mention it here. I believe that he is right that keyboard controls are probably going to be more useful for zooming in the turret since you really can't take your finger off the left mouse button to make those visual adjustments. I may discover or think of a better way to do these things or perhaps you will share what you think?

it's a good suggestion to use the down arrow to target nearest enemy when in the turret and the bracket keys for zooming since they should already do that by default. That may be helpful if you can remember to do it.

J is still used to find pods
k is still mapped to cloak - but I will be using Q mostly for this as it is next to my home fingers

I remapped the "windows key" using autohotkey to "Toggle Mine" ("control 0") since mines are used so often and toggling them is so important. Also I wanted to leave numpad zero on the toggle mouse function rather than toggle mine since it's default and might be a habit - especially for new guys who have been using it for a while.

Other commands you can see if you download and overwrite your keyboard file of the same name with this one I've made available here: Keyboard Map - download by right clicking

Glad you're here. The more players the better. Good hunting.

Appreciatively,

TenForward

[ryujin]

B-N-M-I-O and bnimo was it's name-o!

[kaiser33]

most interesting. i should try someday to map esdf instead of wasd .. but i've already failed 3 times to type correctly with hand previously placed on esdf -.-
<.< not gonna type well if i have to rush a comment and im flying at the same time..

nontheless, looks very interesting to have a wider array of easy keys to do stuff.. i personaly dont use much targetting keys.. i just watch around the screen for the miner/con/bomber icon to track it or quickly sawp to F3 for a clear view on the sector. i dont think it makes me waste much time, plus i dont have to stretch my hand like mister fantastic to reach far off keys making me probably waste even more time and get shot at without me watching the screen and instead, my keyboard.

^^ i like the idea that esdf suggests.. should be tried!..

[TenForward]

QUOTE (kaiser33 @ Jan 1 2014, 03:11 PM) most interesting. i should try someday to map esdf instead of wasd .. but i've already failed 3 times to type correctly with hand previously placed on esdf -.-
<.< not gonna type well if i have to rush a comment and im flying at the same time..

nontheless, looks very interesting to have a wider array of easy keys to do stuff.. i personaly dont use much targetting keys.. i just watch around the screen for the miner/con/bomber icon to track it or quickly sawp to F3 for a clear view on the sector. i dont think it makes me waste much time, plus i dont have to stretch my hand like mister fantastic to reach far off keys making me probably waste even more time and get shot at without me watching the screen and instead, my keyboard.

^^ i like the idea that esdf suggests.. should be tried!..

Thanks for your comments Kaiser.

ESDF is probably not for everyone - especially if your not a touch typist who's fingers just naturally find the home keys for typing - and / or if you've been drilling with WASD already for a long time.

As an aside / update - I have since set spacebar as my boost key and a as my forward thrust key for the reason that the pinky can boost when needed and the thumb is otherwise unused for forward thrust which is needed often almost constantly during battle time. This leaves my other 4 fingers free to control ESDF plus R and W for roll.

I have boost also on Tab but really since my thumb can so easily hit the spacebar for boost - the tab doesn't get used so I'm thinking about what great use I might have for Tab.

I agree about avoiding the need to reach for any keys (with only a few exceptions which are used infrequently) and that's why I set things to be all on the left hand to be as easy to access as possible.

As to using F3 for targeting - the time it takes to bring up the F3 screen is significant so in the heat of battle it can kill you. The most used targeting key is C and I can reach it easily. It's mapped as "target nothing" but conveniently that finds the nearest enemy target.

Thanks again.

Ten

[kaiser33]

QUOTE (TenForward @ Jan 1 2014, 04:37 PM) Thanks for your comments Kaiser.

ESDF is probably not for everyone - especially if your not a touch typist who's fingers just naturally find the home keys for typing - and / or if you've been drilling with WASD already for a long time.

As an aside / update - I have since set A as my boost key and spacebar as my forward thrust key for the reason that the pinky can boost when needed and the thumb is otherwise unused for forward thrust which is needed often almost constantly during battle time. This leaves my other 4 fingers free to control ESDF plus R and W for roll.

I have boost also on Tab but really since my pinky can so easily hit the a key for boost - the tab doesn't get used so I'm thinking about what great use I might have for Tab.

I agree about avoiding the need to reach for any keys (with only a few exceptions which are used infrequently) and that's why I set things to be all on the left hand to be as easy to access as possible.

As to using F3 for targeting - the time it takes to bring up the F3 screen is significant so in the heat of battle it can kill you. The most used targeting key is C and I can reach it easily. It's mapped as "target nothing" but conveniently that finds the nearest enemy target.

Thanks again.

Ten

yes yes (by the way im sentinel ) its true that F3 makes waste time and in the heat of battle its impossible.. i just cicle through enemies untill i find my target or watch the icons on the screen if still first person view. if i had set up some targetting buttons for cons miners bombers it would make things much easier and a lot faster i just cant figure wich keys to set as them if using WASD since C is target center my T is target friendly and my F is target enemy so i just target with 3 keys instead of the possible 8 / 10 keys to be able to target everything friendly or enemy..i tried to set up numeric pad keys for targetting but i find having to move mouse out of mouse is worse than finding icons on screen. and if i set up keys like GHJKL or VBNM i just have to waste time watching my keyboard to find them again... with ESDF its all closer i believe.. still, since not used to ESDF .. it was painfull for me to try xDD very "OMG IM RETARTED"