Logitech G15 macro keyboard
Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:58 pm
I kept promising Mop I would layout what macros I have with my keyboard ...
This is my keyboard:
click
Yes, its kind of ugly, and I've never had one that collected dirt like it because of the way the faceplate is on it, but otherwise its very handy.
* The keyboard doesn't show it in the picture, but it is FULLY BACKLIT. This is actually what I originally bought it for. The lighting quality is better than ANY other backlit keyboard (the labels on the key are backlit, its not some gimic like others that funnel light from behind the keys but don't let you see what the key says). The ONLY other keyboard that is better backlit is the DECK line of keyboards (which have an LED for each keycap), but I didn't like the feel of my DECK 104 key keyboard, and its more expensive than the Logitech.
* No, I don't use the LCD display. I might but there's really nothing important on it for AO. Some games use it, and if I had important information going there I probably would glance down sometimes. But, I keep my monitors at eye level so its a bit out of the way. There are a few projects out there (just google for "logitech g15") that allow you to interface with the LCD, and some people would find this quite cool. For those that don't, just fold it down.
* The volume control is one of the best I've seen. A very nice tactile dial. And I use the Mute button all the time. First keyboard I've said that about. Its VERY handy for muting TS, because I have my TS sound output going through a different sound source.
* There is a slide button that disables the Windows key. Very nice for preventing yourself from accidentally popping up the Windows menu while in-game without mucking with your registry.
* There are 2 USB ports on the keyboard.
* Recording a macro is VERY easy ... press the "MR" button, the Macro button you want to record to, do all of your keypresses, and then press MR again. You can fine-tune these macros (adding timings, etc) in the macro editor if you want, but you can record a full macro without the program if you have a simple macro. You can also save macros that aren't currently bound to a key.
* You have 3 "modes" available at any one time, meaning you can reassign all 18 macro keys by hitting the mode button, giving 54 macro functions available.
My current macro setup:
(note: I only use -1- of the 3 modes ... I've customized my hotbars such that they work for Doc and Goraud without changing modes ... and I have alot of room for more macros even on this single mode)
G1: Nano stim
G2: Free movement stim
G3: Assist Target (I admit, I don't use my assist macros much, I'm still trained to use the ones on my hotbar)
G4: unassigned (OMG I thought I used em all, will fix that later
G5: Alpha Attack(on doc its fling+AS+perks, on Goraud its backstab, sneak attack, fast attack, and all perks that don't require a previous perk chain to be running)
G6: Assist Caller
G7: Heal self (F1, then either cast heal if Doc or use First Aid if Gor)
G8: Evade perks (don't use these much either, they're on hotbar for Gor atm)
G9: Perk chain 1 (for Gor mostly, Piercing Mastery perks ... hit this one key and all perks fire with time delays)
G10: Unassigned
G11: Unassigned (jeez, need more macros)
G12: Perk chain 2 (again, mostly for Gor, fires off Totemic Rites perk chain)
G13: Self heal (Doc perk)
G14: Team heal (Doc perk)
G15: Battlegroup Heal 1 (AoE heal perks)
G16: Battlegroup Heal 2
G17: Battlegroup Heal 3
G18: Battlegroup Heal 4
...
So, just to explain ... how fire off a perk chain, when perks don't have hotkeys? I have the perks on hotbars. When I want to fire off a perk chain I do this:
# (shift+3 ... where the perk actions are on hotbar 3)
1 (first perk action 1)
! (shift+1 ... so I ALWAYS have hotbar 1 ready so I can use other actions)
[wait 1.2 seconds]
#
2 (fire perk action 2)
!
[wait 1.2 seconds]
(repeat for as many actions as you need to fire)
And since you're just using hotbar slots, it makes it very easy to setup similar actions on hotbars for multiple toons.
...
The trick is, use the shift+# keys to switch to your action, then go back to hotbar 1 inbetween actions, because you can do OTHER things while the macro is firing. Yes, that becomes VERY powerful.
This is also why you sometimes see me say something like "Doctorhyde: l#1!o#2!#l3!" (translation: "Doctorhyde: lol")
...
You can also fire multiple macro keys at the same time, like firing 2 perk chains + a self-heal. If its a complex timed macro they -can- interfere with each other, but usually don't since the actions fire so quickly.
...
And last hint: If you're firing a long macro and want to stop, just hit a mode key and then hit the mode key you were on before.
This is my keyboard:
click
Yes, its kind of ugly, and I've never had one that collected dirt like it because of the way the faceplate is on it, but otherwise its very handy.
* The keyboard doesn't show it in the picture, but it is FULLY BACKLIT. This is actually what I originally bought it for. The lighting quality is better than ANY other backlit keyboard (the labels on the key are backlit, its not some gimic like others that funnel light from behind the keys but don't let you see what the key says). The ONLY other keyboard that is better backlit is the DECK line of keyboards (which have an LED for each keycap), but I didn't like the feel of my DECK 104 key keyboard, and its more expensive than the Logitech.
* No, I don't use the LCD display. I might but there's really nothing important on it for AO. Some games use it, and if I had important information going there I probably would glance down sometimes. But, I keep my monitors at eye level so its a bit out of the way. There are a few projects out there (just google for "logitech g15") that allow you to interface with the LCD, and some people would find this quite cool. For those that don't, just fold it down.
* The volume control is one of the best I've seen. A very nice tactile dial. And I use the Mute button all the time. First keyboard I've said that about. Its VERY handy for muting TS, because I have my TS sound output going through a different sound source.
* There is a slide button that disables the Windows key. Very nice for preventing yourself from accidentally popping up the Windows menu while in-game without mucking with your registry.
* There are 2 USB ports on the keyboard.
* Recording a macro is VERY easy ... press the "MR" button, the Macro button you want to record to, do all of your keypresses, and then press MR again. You can fine-tune these macros (adding timings, etc) in the macro editor if you want, but you can record a full macro without the program if you have a simple macro. You can also save macros that aren't currently bound to a key.
* You have 3 "modes" available at any one time, meaning you can reassign all 18 macro keys by hitting the mode button, giving 54 macro functions available.
My current macro setup:
(note: I only use -1- of the 3 modes ... I've customized my hotbars such that they work for Doc and Goraud without changing modes ... and I have alot of room for more macros even on this single mode)
G1: Nano stim
G2: Free movement stim
G3: Assist Target (I admit, I don't use my assist macros much, I'm still trained to use the ones on my hotbar)
G4: unassigned (OMG I thought I used em all, will fix that later
G5: Alpha Attack(on doc its fling+AS+perks, on Goraud its backstab, sneak attack, fast attack, and all perks that don't require a previous perk chain to be running)
G6: Assist Caller
G7: Heal self (F1, then either cast heal if Doc or use First Aid if Gor)
G8: Evade perks (don't use these much either, they're on hotbar for Gor atm)
G9: Perk chain 1 (for Gor mostly, Piercing Mastery perks ... hit this one key and all perks fire with time delays)
G10: Unassigned
G11: Unassigned (jeez, need more macros)
G12: Perk chain 2 (again, mostly for Gor, fires off Totemic Rites perk chain)
G13: Self heal (Doc perk)
G14: Team heal (Doc perk)
G15: Battlegroup Heal 1 (AoE heal perks)
G16: Battlegroup Heal 2
G17: Battlegroup Heal 3
G18: Battlegroup Heal 4
...
So, just to explain ... how fire off a perk chain, when perks don't have hotkeys? I have the perks on hotbars. When I want to fire off a perk chain I do this:
# (shift+3 ... where the perk actions are on hotbar 3)
1 (first perk action 1)
! (shift+1 ... so I ALWAYS have hotbar 1 ready so I can use other actions)
[wait 1.2 seconds]
#
2 (fire perk action 2)
!
[wait 1.2 seconds]
(repeat for as many actions as you need to fire)
And since you're just using hotbar slots, it makes it very easy to setup similar actions on hotbars for multiple toons.
...
The trick is, use the shift+# keys to switch to your action, then go back to hotbar 1 inbetween actions, because you can do OTHER things while the macro is firing. Yes, that becomes VERY powerful.
This is also why you sometimes see me say something like "Doctorhyde: l#1!o#2!#l3!" (translation: "Doctorhyde: lol")
...
You can also fire multiple macro keys at the same time, like firing 2 perk chains + a self-heal. If its a complex timed macro they -can- interfere with each other, but usually don't since the actions fire so quickly.
...
And last hint: If you're firing a long macro and want to stop, just hit a mode key and then hit the mode key you were on before.