key pressing maniac

[xorte]

It doesnt hurt to try new things. To play SoR you already have to be a repetitive key pressing maniac - so whats the difference if the sequence of key presses produces mats and armour or dead animals and mats? At 3am in the morning its all the same to me - the only thing I can see at that time is the shortcut keys on the keyboard and a faint blur on the screen that says I got some XP !

[michielb]

It doesnt hurt to try new things. To play SoR you already have to be a repetitive key pressing maniac - so whats the difference if the sequence of key presses produces mats and armour or dead animals and mats? At 3am in the morning its all the same to me - the only thing I can see at that time is the shortcut keys on the keyboard and a faint blur on the screen that says I got some XP !

Upload youself to your computer, that way you can interact with it more efficiently and you won't wear out your keyboard

[flynnkd]

Now this is a serious subject that you have raised.

I work as desktop/server support, so I use a computer all day. I get home and play SoR... my left wrist is starting to hurt a lot! (and no it isnt because of that!!! ).

In an effort to save myself from RSI-Repetitive Strain Injury OR CTS-Carpal Tunnel Syndrome OR Tendernitis (all medical conditions) it would be really nice if game developers would institute methods to reduce keystrokes in their games, especially fast repetitive key stroking... after all melees hit one key and off they go...

Why dont we have Heal-Over-Time spells, or Heal-Link spells, so rather than cast heal over and over and over again, I can just link to a player and they can siphon sap and hps off me... and I can go watch Buffy on TV...

But seriously, I am getting a sore wrist of late, I am not getting any younger, and I dont want to get arthritis later in life. It would be nice to have a few methods available to reduce the number of key strokes a healer has to do.

Or I can sue the company for medical expenses...

[kaetemi]

Why dont we have Heal-Over-Time spells, or Heal-Link spells, so rather than cast heal over and over and over again, I can just link to a player and they can siphon sap and hps off me... and I can go watch Buffy on TV...

True, they should add the same lock system on magic spells like they have on fight actions.

[petej]

But then youd also need a mage/spell version of the critical hit or dodge/parry credit stanzas -so there was actualy something for you to do every now n then instead of just sitting back n watch the same old fight anime over n over n....

I prefre mage (especialy heal) to melee for the very reason you find it painful - its intence , requiring alot of player input (well as much as you get in Ryzom) id hate to see it turned into a one click each fight session skill. I myself have suffered from over use of a badly positioned keyboard -my left arm would go cold , numb and shake uncontrolably ( I think the problem was over reaching for the keyboard putting alot of strain on my left shoulder) , I now use a joystick (lefthand movement) and mouse (righthand camera/menu/select) ontop of an old folder on my lap -not the most elegant solution but it does cure the problem for me

If you realy do start to experience pain from keyboard use then alter your position/style of play/use of interface devices -these things only tend to get worse. I was unable to use my left arm at all for months and couldnt sleep because of the constant pain in my left shoulder (just from the weight of the arm itself)

[philu]

Another problem with having your spells on loop like a fighter is that you don't always want to cast.

If you are healing, you're wasting sap healing someone at full health / stamina / sap, you only want to heal them when their health / stamina / sap drops.

Or you might be healing more than one member of your team, can't do that on loop.

I like the feeling of control that I have when firing off each spell. I like melee too but tend to spend my time chatting while I sit back and watch my char hack something to bits, with the odd press of my dodge key and self heal if really necessary!

[hans1976]

my left wrist is starting to hurt a lot! (and no it isnt because of that!!! ).

You are right handed?

No, seriously, I understand what you tell about. I used to have that pain too, but started to do a few things that made life much more bearable.
- let the hands rest on your desk or some cushion or whatever, dont strain that shoulder. Cant reach the keys anymore? Change them.
- whenever I fill a bit stiff in the arms, I move them around a bit, blood must keep flowing you know. A first and cool sign not enough blood (=energy, oxigen, waste removal) reaches you arm and hand is cold fingers. Dont turn up the heating, move your arm, strain and flex the muscles. If you dont know what to do, get yourself a drink. The movement is kinda enough.
- Take up some kind of sport that does not involve a desk and sitting down. I prefer climbing, you might like walking better. Anything that gets you from the screen and out of your house is good (and is not sitting down .

Simple things that will cost you an avarage of 30 minutes Ryzom play per day and will enhance your overall well-being.

Grtz

btw, dont be lame and complain about no money, little time, whatever. Youknow what, just dont complain at all and use the energy to think of a way to solve a problem (get past it) instead of moaning (focusing on the problem). I try that with and without success, the success part just makes up for it all

[flynnkd]

I wasnt totally serious about the heal-link idea, hence the Buffy comment.

I was serious about the problem of over-use of the keyboard. Perhaps a little creative effort needs to be put into thinking about how you can do the same job with less keystrokes, or varied keystrokes.

I use to be a ranger in EQ and had the same problem as healers do now, constant repetitive key hitting. With rangers it was just one finger, but with healers I am using all my fingers (which is fun yes, and why I am a healer and complaining about it).

Perhaps something like a nominated active spell you can press and it stays on, so then you need only use your mouse to click on a target and that spell would go off on them. This would then leave my left hand to change spells (whcih for a healer isnt much of a saving but something at least, and on some occassions it would be great). This would be a Caste Mode as opposed to Melee Mode, equip single spell vs equip weapon, right click to cast on that target (could use group listing to target). Not a continuous cast, just once per click.

I am fully aware of the ways to minimise the problem, but the designers of these games should be thinking of ways to help. Why do you think there are disclaimers on your keyboards these days ?

And why DONT we have HEal-over-time spells? and Heal-link spells, not such a bad idea, I certainly have plenty of SP to use.