Key bindings, suggestion

[Crise]

I will start off by saying that i am perfectly fine with the current in game controls.

However, I started thinking that there should be a way to make the game mostly keyboard driven (excluding inventory management) without it becoming too contrived of a setup.

So, here is what I came up with:
Keys F1 through F4: the current functions of keys 1-4.
Numeric keys 1-8: weapon/hand hotkeys mapped as follows: 1, 2 for top right party member 3, 4 for top left and so on (this bit can be simplified if we assume the common sword & shield thinking, where the main attack weapon is on one hand while a support item such as torch or a shield is in off hand).

Now what we are left with are the magic system, runes: well since it is a 3x3 grid, we can use the numpad keys 1-9 for those without issue. So assume mage is on top left with staff in left hand: we press the numeric key 1 to activate staff, enter rune input for poison cloud with numpad key 1, commit with either pressing numeric key 1 again (or alternatively we could map the numpad key 0 for this specifically).

For the sake of clarity: numeric keys refers to the horisontal row of numeric keys above standard qwerty layout, while numpad refers to numpad obviously (for those unaware, if any, from software pov these two sets of numeric keys are independent of each other).

Edit: fixed wording to be more accurate.

[Sol_HSA]

Dude. Relax. Try playing the game before doing tons of speculation.

[Mameluk]

Dude. Sol_HSA. Stop being such a party pooper, it's annoying. Let people speculate if they want to. Seriously. It's not our fault we can't play the game yet.

[Aro]

Dude. Relax. Try playing the game before doing tons of speculation.

Dude. Relax. When the game is out we won't have time for speculations...

[jetmouse]

As more spellbooks can be opened, I would rather prefer:
1-4 for selecting a character
ctrl for left hand action
alt for right hand action
numpad 1-9 - runes (may be remapped to rty,fgh,vbn to be usable with one hand only)
numpad 0 cast spell (may ber remapped to c to be usable with one hand only)

this way, you will have the keys closer to your left hand (6,7,8 used in the OP are quite far from wasd) and your right hand for mouse aiming, looking, button clicking etc.
It also addresses the "more than 1 spellbook" situation...

EDITED - corrected some mistakes and clarified some points

[Crise]

As the spellbook can be opened all time, I would rather prefer:
1-4 for selecting character
ctrl for left hand action
alt for right hand action
numpad 1-9 - runes (may be remapped to rty,fgh,vbn to be usable with one hand only)
numpad 0 cast spell (may ber remapped to c to be usable with one hand only)

this way, you will have the keys closer to your left hand (6,7,8 used in the OP are quite far from wasd)

Of course everything should be able to be remapped, I am just saying it should be possible to map some more hotkeys, presenting the scenario I might use. It is not like the ability to do so would break the game (unless combat balance is very dependent on the reaction time of user. personally I see hotkeys as the faster input method, but of course for some the opposite may also be true).

In my provided example, you would use two hands on the keyboard, not like you need too generally aim in combat from the looks of it. So moving your hand away from the mouse to input spells does not affect you negatively (also combat is fairly situational).

As for the speculation remark, how do I "speculate" in the OP, I simply state a subjective opinion that I think there should be a way to map more actions to hotkeys (and few press people also seem to agree, to varying extent, so not like I am the only one, granted my example maps as much actions as possible).

Also the only scenario that I did not address in the OP is if more than one spellbook is opened at once, the easiest solution to this is to use a first in first out approach (you can have max 4 mages, so keeping track of this situation shouldn't be impossible, it is just a stack of four after all).

[luthur1964]

I feel that is speculation about the keys bindings and shortcuts is valid because gamers have many play styles. I'm sure he authors of these ideas and their preferences will be deemed as valuable information to the devs, should they wish to add such enhancements after the game release and subsequent edit tools.

That being said, please don't disrespect the "Sol". As a forum moderator (at least, I believe he is), he has been very enlightening. Personally, I am very impressed with his knowledge of both game history and tech.

Moreover, I believe he is correct in his assessment of the interface. When the last adjustment to UI was made, which combined the character health/power/inventory access to the combat "hand" buttons, I stopped and realized,"Damn, they did it. This makes total sense!"

The discussion is healthy and it is fun, but Sol is right. We need to play now, and we need to now!
Sol - use that giant brain of yours and find a way to speed up time. It needs to be Wednesday NOW!

[jfunk]

I think the main point is that one should actually use the interface first before trying to fix it.

[jetmouse]

I think the main point is that one should actually use the interface first before trying to fix it.

Well, I agree, but I am not trying to "fix" it, just trying to provide hint, what I would like to see...as I recall (not sure if correctly, though) devs saying there are no hotkeys assigned for attacking.

I am looking forward to playing the game very much... this is just some fun speculation that keeps me busy during The Waiting I might write something along the lines of "How could I have been so wrong, this system needs no changes at all" after 11th April.... or it may still be valid. We will see in 3 days...

[Crise]

I think the main point is that one should actually use the interface first before trying to fix it.

I don't see myself as trying to fix anything... just providing an opinion and a suggestion based on the information at hand, knowing my own preferences when it comes to gaming with keyboard and mouse as the control method.

If I claimed that a more keyboard driven control is inherently superior to the current control scheme (which I am not) then I would be trying to push my own view as the objective truth (based on inconclusive information) which would warrant someone telling me to play it first before saying something like that.

However, all that the OP implied (perhaps my previous follow up post clarifies this better) was that the ability to map more actions to keys would complement the current controls by giving the player more choice in terms of control. For example, I have four extra buttons on my mouse mapping one weapon action for each of those buttons is something that I could see myself doing if I had the choice (this however is a bad example to start off with since not everyone has such mouse, hence I opted for an example that I could see myself using also that could be applicable to more people).

I find it mostly amusing that the first reply I got started with the word relax, I purposefully wrote my OP to be void of emotion being careful not to use words that would indicate that I was somehow displeased with the game, to avoid misunderstandings. Because if I was actually displeased with the game just from what I know now I hardly would have pre-ordered it.

TL;DR: Not trying to fix anything, however, If we can't discuss things like this then what's the purpose of these forums? Right now the game is not out yet, but in terms of information available everyone not involved with the development is equal so there should be no problem.