how do you play? controlpad or keyboard?

[Bardlet]

Logitech Controller + G15 Keyboard. G15 has all my weird macro swaps that I don't have room for on my FFXI macros (RACC, Max MP, etc).

Started playing on PS2, so I am fully addicted to using a controller. Tried using just the keyboard when I swapped to PC, but I hated every minute of it.

If SE+Microsoft would fix the mapping for the shoulder buttons on the 360 controller, I'd use that instead (have the wireless adapter for the PC).

[Shuemue]

Compact Keyboard for 99% of stuff.

[suji]

Strictly compact keyboard. I really don't understand how folks can do stuff efficiently with the controller. If you ever have to type, the unavoidable delay of putting down the controller, typing and having to pick back up the controller would have killed me so many times at this point. I guess if you don't want the maximum efficiency possible then this wouldn't bug you but it would drive me insane. Even shit like macros seems kinda ridiculous. In those videos of the RDM soloing shit who is theoretically a master of the controller, even he is scrolling all over the place and having to do a lot of input to get one thing to execute. If it's R2->left->left->left, that is a hell of a lot longer in atomic events than just alt+2 or whatever.

To the guy who was saying he can't imagineh having to hit ctrl+1 or whatever to change pages, if you use a keyboard, you can type simple spells etc so you don't need 4 pages in the first place >.> That aside, it's pretty easy to hit ctrl+up or w/e though I never have to do that with Windower macros.

[darkamulet]

PS2 controller w/ a radio shack PS2 to USB adaptor, heck usually I disable mouse input in windower so the camera won't jump around when I move across screens.

[Grey Jorildyn]

controller all the way (play on PC with PS2-to-USB adapter).

[Max™]

I play with the controller sitting on my lap and the keyboard right in front of it, letting go of the controller to type something (including /ja "Provoke" <stnpc>, or /ws "Something I don't Macro Usually" <t> for a skillchain I noticed or whatnot as I'm saying something, yes even melees do direct text input) doesn't really take any time, and again it's all a matter of having macros optimized for the controller input method.

Also helps having the cursor memory in the menu windows, so you can select the button in the combat menu, then hit x three times quickly and use the ability you had selected last. I use that with certain things, and some spells when I'm doing /Mage for whatever reason.

For a full on mage with a huge number of macro swaps I could see it being a little more silly, but I carry like 3-4 sets of situational gear on me between my various macro swaps, sometimes more, and once I got my macros tweaked comfortably it is just a fluid thing.

[gagaliya]

For the hotkey macros, why does it force you to use the ctrl or alt version, i just want the normal hotkeys by pressing 12345.. etc without holding down the alt/ctrl. Cant seem to set it.

You can't, as far as I know. Since FFXI doesn't force you to hit enter (or another key) before opening up a chat window, hitting 12345 etc will simply input the number into the chat log.

it's a sad day if that's true. I play all my games by just hitting 12345..hotkeys for spells/skills. Having to hold ctrl or alt is bs especially since the normal 12345..isnt even being used. Is there ANY way to just hit the 12345... hotkeys to cast spells etc without holding down ctrl or alt? anyone?

[Ganzar]

For the hotkey macros, why does it force you to use the ctrl or alt version, i just want the normal hotkeys by pressing 12345.. etc without holding down the alt/ctrl. Cant seem to set it.

You can't, as far as I know. Since FFXI doesn't force you to hit enter (or another key) before opening up a chat window, hitting 12345 etc will simply input the number into the chat log.

it's a sad day if that's true. I play all my games by just hitting 12345..hotkeys for spells/skills. Having to hold ctrl or alt is bs especially since the normal 12345..isnt even being used. Is there ANY way to just hit the 12345... hotkeys to cast spells etc without holding down ctrl or alt? anyone?

Windower.

Keyboard+Mouse for me.

I don't mind controller, but hitting reactionary macros* / typing out spells takes so much longer with a controller. It's nice for melee jobs or just traveling around, though.

*Controller macros are fine if I have time to plan ahead and place the cursor over what I'll need to press next. I know when I am going to WS next, use berserk next, provoke next... etc. I can plan that stuff out. But when I need to do an oh-shit macro for something that was unexpected (something I didn't see linked and needs to be slept, need to finale asap, etc) I find keyboard is extremely fast. I have my macro #s memorized and can just press ctrl/alt+# and have the macro go off without have to scroll left/right. ~putting the controller down and typing out a spell is even worse for time management/speed.

[Zosi]

Windower macros wouldn't work for 1234567890, because they'd trigger while you type too. If someone asks you what level you are, and you open up the chat box and type "15", it'd trigger your keybinds for 1 and 5.

Honestly, there isn't a thing you can do about it if you just can't get used to ctrl/alt-# or a controller for macros.

[Vigilia]

G15 keyboard and PS2 controller. I have never used mouse for anything in FFXI.

I used to only use the keyboard but my boyfriend converted me over to PS2 controller as it's much faster/simpler in certain situations such as scrolling menus or targetting the alliance when curing. It's also much easier to use two controllers over two keyboards whenever I'm dualboxing our characters.

Also, if you use the windower the controller lets you keep moving/playing on the background while you use the mouse/keyboard to browse the internets or run other programs to keep you entertained. That alone makes it a winner in my book for LFGing, farming, crafting and when waiting around at LS events.

[Excalin Garisk]

I mainly use a PS2 controller on my PC. Sit back on the couch and watch TV while mind numbingly casting in merits on my rdm

[Kainsin]

Since I've been using Macs my whole life and never had a PC before FFXI came out, I never did much PC gaming. Because of that I was a lot more comfortable with console controllers and picked one up a couple days after getting FFXI.

I use the controller for everything except typing. I don't bind any Windower macros to the keyboard either, I just call "//exec <filename>" in my FFXI macros and use the controller to get there.

The controller is the main reason why I'm so quiet in parties and stuff, though. I like to sit back in my chair and just use the controller to do everything. Typing with the keyboard in my lap feels kind of awkward so I just leave it on the desk. Sometimes it's just too much of a hassle to lean forward in the chair to chat with the party.

[Ashky]

Keyboard and PS2 controller layout. I play mostly on PS2, but even when I go to PC, I still use the PS2 mapped controls on a controller.

[Katalya]

360 Wireless controller + Keyboard for chat.

[Kazen]

100% Controller except for typing and pressing my vent bind key.

[shihei]

sold my keyboard cause i needed d laundry monehs prus ir teh plo at typing w/ ps2 controrir

What^^

[Osede]

100% keyboard. I originally used the mouse, but it's too clunky. I've tried using a Dual Shock with a USB adapter. Worked perfectly, but I found it to be too slow for accessing macros, plus I use a lot of console commands for spells and such.

How do you change pages on the keyboard?

I've got like 4 sets of War macros for different subs, and a couple have unique gearsets that I use sometimes on other subs, so I just hit L2/R2 on the right slot, then up or down and X to hit that macro, then go right back to the current page. tabbing left and right with a Macro set optimised for it (I put my most used things in the center, WS/TP gear, WS macros, then go left and right in decreasing order, most abilities left, gear swaps/Warcry/Warrior's Charge right) and it is smooth as hell.

Couldn't imagine going to using Ctrl/Alt+number fulltime.

You hold Ctrl or Alt and use the arrow keys to go up or down through pages. With a keyboard, you also access macros more or less directly. IE, I hit Ctrl-5 to cast Refresh, Ctrl-9 to Dispel something, etc.
I'm sure if I had been playing with a controller for four years now I'd be quick with that too, but trying to swap there's absolutely no contest.
Plus as I mentioned, I wind up typing a lot of stuff. -na spells, cures on Alliance members, etc.

I could easily see using it if I was playing a DD-centric melee, but since I have yet to level such a job past 37...doesn't really work for me.

The game does work a little different on controller. Movement is smoother, no variable speed with a keyboard. The macro bars themselves also don't have the slight lag that the keyboard controls give, which is likely intentional (and therefore should be adjustable).

using "ctrl+shift+page numbers" for macro page change ftw

especially when my rdm macro is on page 1,2,4,6

[Undeadhunter]

sold my keyboard cause i needed d laundry monehs prus ir teh plo at typing w/ ps2 controrir

What^^

that reminds me how people type on WoW for some reason

[Metah]

I use my 5 dollar keyboard I got from Dell full time, and its the best ever. Controller or mouse is terrible. I mean, I guess I can understand controller, but mouse just does not work for this game.

[Street]

PC, 360 Controller, and sometimes bind numpad keys to spells.