Cursor Keys or Mouse?

Everyman · October 10, 2000, 20:29

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum, even though I've been playing Civ II for over a year and usually play on Diety level -- thanks to the advice on this forum.

I'm curious to know how you move your units. I generally use the cursor directional keys because they seem to allow for faster movement than a mouse. Or is there a faster way to move units? Does anyone use the goto command?

SandMonkey · October 10, 2000, 21:12

i use the cursor keys. I used to use the mouse, but now that takes way too long for me (I think it's all in my head, it's probably not that much shorter). I know of no quicker way... and I only use the GoTo command when it's not crossing over the dateline.

Smash · October 10, 2000, 21:48

Keys.

I won't use the go-to for anything critical.

kcbob · October 11, 2000, 08:12

I've only used the Goto command once. I think the unit is still trying to get to its destination.

Cursor keys for me. I've gotta do something to make the full year of typing in high school pay off, right?

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Frodo lives!

Better dead than "Red"... or green... or blue... or yellow... or orange... or purple... or white.

[This message has been edited by kcbob (edited October 12, 2000).]

SCG · October 11, 2000, 08:15

Keys. As much as possible. In Civ I, i even used the keyboard to select units, and work my cities. Unfortunately, we can't do that nearly as much in Civ II

And even when we can, half the time it doesn't understand they key I'm pressing. During the change of turns, trying to press 'c' for change for example will tell you "You must close the city window for the game to proceed." and you have to use the mouse to click on the producction window to get the keys to work properly, but if you do it during the movement part of the turn, 'c' actually does what it is supposed to do.

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*watches to see if his 302nd post does what his 301st post (14 hrs ago) never did do*

DaveV · October 11, 2000, 08:26

SCG - Amen! I hardly ever used the mouse in Civ, and still miss some of the shortcut keys (like moving workers around in the city map). I hope Civ III goes back to allowing mouseless play, instead of (as I fear) going further along the point-and-click path.

Mercantile · October 11, 2000, 18:35

i much prefer the keys as well, mind you i just bought a new infared mouse, and it works like a charm

Tizzy · October 12, 2000, 04:54

Definitely keys.
I only use the mouse when I really have to.

Everyman · October 12, 2000, 15:08

So far it's unanimous - the Civers here use their cursor keys to move their units.

Interesting. I thought I was the only one struggling to navigate my caravan from one end of the map to the other. Up arrow -- Up/left arrow -- left arrow -- oh no, I pressed the wrong key! Now my caravan is stuck on the mountain.

Too bad there's no UNDO button.

N35t0r · October 12, 2000, 15:58

LONG LIVE CURSOR KEYS!!!!!

when i used win 3.11, i even opened the game w/the keyboard.
(alt+W (window menu) 2 (civ2 window) Enter)

As for the go to, i use it sometimes, especially early on, during my expansionist era. (defense, settler, etc., the settler builds city).
The go to city command, though, i only use it on large scenarios, to get troops to the other end of the map, when i'm sure they will act inteligently.

Helios · October 13, 2000, 22:32

cursor keys all the way

cavebear · October 14, 2000, 16:27

OK, a dissent (sort of)... I tend to stick with the mouse because I have to use it so much anyway, and it is often awkward to change between mouse and cursors.

But I have a question. When you guys are saying "cursor" do you mean the directional arrow option using the mouse or do you really mean using the numerical keypad? There are 3 ways: Mouse click&drag, mouse directional arrows, and keypad.

I tend to use the click and drag most, but am trying to get into the habit of moving units with the keypad, as it seems a bit faster. You can still make errors either way, but I make fewer with the keypad. If I hit "9", I *know* the unit will move NE! On the other hand, if I am unsure about the square to go to, I can move it back and forth (holding the mouse button down) while I consider the position visually.

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ColdWizard · October 14, 2000, 18:37

i use the numeric keypad. i only use the goto and goto city commands against the ai when i've fully developed my continent and am sure the unit won't get lost.

SCG · October 16, 2000, 09:02

quote:

Originally posted by cavebear on 10-14-2000 04:27 PM
But I have a question. When you guys are saying "cursor" do you mean the directional arrow option using the mouse or do you really mean using the numerical keypad?

I don't use the mouse unless I have to. I've disable the mouse directional arrows. And going back to Civ I, I often would disable the mouse altogether when I played it so I wouldn't have to deal with it

I find the mouse in general to be rather annoying - Simply put, the keys are always in the same place, you can tell which keys you are pressing by touch, and you generally can rely on them doing what you expect them to do every time. With the mouse, you can't... It takes more hand/eye coordination, more compensation as mouse gets older (3 months is relatively old for a mouse), and as some people have pointed out while playing multiplayer, because of lag, sometimes you can key in a unit's entire move across the map before its moved 1 screen - try doing that with a mouse

yes, the mouse has its place with the computer, and I'd hate to have a computer without one, but I sure would like to have a little more choice in the matter

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Sleep is a luxury and I don't have Shakespeare's Theatre in my back yard.

kcbob · October 16, 2000, 09:07

quote:

Originally posted by cavebear on 10-14-2000 04:27 PM
OK, a dissent (sort of)... I tend to stick with the mouse because I have to use it so much anyway, and it is often awkward to change between mouse and cursors.

Since I'm amphibious, I use both the mouse and keypad. I use the keypad for movement and the mouse for "choices".

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Frodo lives!

Better dead than "Red"... or green... or blue... or yellow... or orange... or purple... or white.

Mark von Wagner · October 16, 2000, 17:03

quote:

Originally posted by kcbob on 10-16-2000 09:07 AM
Since I'm amphibious, I use both the mouse and keypad. I use the keypad for movement and the mouse for "choices".

Amphibious or ambidextrous?

kcbob · October 16, 2000, 17:07

quote:

Originally posted by Mark von Wagner on 10-16-2000 05:03 PM
Amphibious or ambidextrous?

Busted.

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Frodo lives!

Better dead than "Red"... or green... or blue... or yellow... or orange... or purple... or white.

SCG · October 17, 2000, 07:44

quote:

Originally posted by Mark von Wagner on 10-16-2000 05:03 PM
Amphibious or ambidextrous?

quote:

Originally posted by kcbob on 10-16-2000 05:07 PM
Busted.

Gee, and I had this image of kcbob able to navigate the vast sea of possible choices that is the mouse control as well as being sure-footed on the rock that is the keypad

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Sleep is a luxury and I don't have Shakespeare's Theatre in my back yard.
[This message has been edited by SCG (edited October 17, 2000).]

kcbob · October 17, 2000, 08:20

quote:

Originally posted by SCG on 10-17-2000 07:44 AM
Gee, and I had this image of kcbob able to navigate the vast sea of possible choices that is the mouse control as well as being sure-footed on the rock that is the keypad

When I said "busted", I meant on my misuse of the English language. Please rest assured that I am quite skilled in using both upper appendages. Which begs the question... sure-footed on the keypad???

You use your toes???

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Frodo lives!

Better dead than "Red"... or green... or blue... or yellow... or orange... or purple... or white.

Scouse Gits · October 17, 2000, 08:35

LOL - good one guys

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SCG · October 17, 2000, 09:28

quote:

Originally posted by kcbob on 10-17-2000 08:20 AM
Which begs the question... sure-footed on the keypad???

You use your toes???

hey! its the latest challenge, haven't you heard of it? playing Civ II without using your hands

kcbob · October 17, 2000, 09:37

quote:

Originally posted by SCG on 10-17-2000 09:28 AM
hey! its the latest challenge, haven't you heard of it? playing Civ II without using your hands

Might as well try this. I've tried it without using my brain on occasion, that's for sure.

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Frodo lives!

Better dead than "Red"... or green... or blue... or yellow... or orange... or purple... or white.

St Leo · October 18, 2000, 22:42

I use cursor keys and GoTo.

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St. Leo
http://ziggurat.sidgames.com/
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October 19, 2000, 03:16

As someone who 'grew up' in the non-mouse era, I prefer to use the keyboard, unless I really have to click on something.

I do, however use the 'goto' command sometimes.

kcbob · October 19, 2000, 10:47

The few times I tried the 'GoTo' command, I about fell out of my chair when I saw the route the units decided to take. Is there some unique application for this command that does make it useful?

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Frodo lives!

Better dead than "Red"... or green... or blue... or yellow... or orange... or purple... or white.

N35t0r · October 19, 2000, 16:13

I once played civ w/ my toes actually..

October 19, 2000, 16:26

you can use a mouse?

actually I seen that in the rules. But figured the keypad would be faster. I was born on games like the bards tale where you used directional keys. Although they used a star patter using the l, and comma keys (can't remember). But it is a pain switching to a mouse for the city interface screen. Now if only I were ambidexterous (I'm sure I spelled that wrong).

October 19, 2000, 18:39

I've always used the keyboard. I only learned about the mouse movement a month or so ago.

Empress · October 19, 2000, 23:56

Oh I use the curser keys, definitly!

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SCG · October 20, 2000, 07:47

quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I was born on games like the bards tale where you used directional keys.

actually bards tale had a similar type of directional mouse controls as well... the mouse cursor would change between various arrows for turn right/left, about face, or go straight depending on where on the main street view you placed it. Didn't like the mouse controls then either

At least it didn't require you to use the mouse to play.

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Sleep is a luxury and I don't have Shakespeare's Theatre in my back yard.
[This message has been edited by SCG (edited October 20, 2000).]