Problems solved
There really is a simple answer that solves all of these problems. The answer? Move the “walk forward” key from W to Right Mouse Click and return the fingers on your left hand to the home keys. To do this, you must make some changes. Here is an overview of the basic controls and we will get to the details later:
(fingers should be on the home keys, A-F)
S and F = strafe left and right
A = walk backwards
Right Mouse Click = Walk Forward
D = Alternate Fire/Iron Sights/Zoom/Etc. (typically whatever the default Right Click was)
This allows you to walk forward almost constantly and frees your left hand up to dance around the keyboard with ease. This changes everything drastically. And while you can remap the remaining keys to whatever you like, here is a diagram of what I use. (perfected to my playing style over countless hours)
Special thanks to WASD Keyboards for letting me use their custom keyboard designer to give you guys a better picture of what I use.
Configuration Overview
A- walk backwards
S- strafe left
F- strafe right
Right Click- walk forward
D- alternate fire/scope/iron sights/etc
Space- jump
C- crouch
R- reload
Shift- run
CTRL- walk
B- use/interact/action/etc
G- melee
H- Flashlight
Q- health pack/call for medic/etc
T- push to talk key
This frees up W, E, X, Z, and Y to be whatever other random keystrokes the game requires. If you have a mouse with a thumb button or 2 this also helps free up more keys. I have 2 thumb buttons and I use the back one as “melee” and the front one as “throw grenade”.
Sounds Absurd?
I know that some of you reading this have just had your mind boggled. I know that some of you will find this layout completely absurd. But I have used this layout for years and it has made me a formidable opponent at our LAN parties. In fact, the top 5 or 6 best players at our LANs use this setup or one similar.
I am not out to knock people who use default controls. I am simply trying to help you improve your game, free up your fingers, and prevent carpal tunnel. So I challenge you to try it out. You have nothing to lose and if you don’t like it, you can always click “Reset to Default” with one easy click.
