Guild Wars 2

After finding myself frequently switching from fast-cast ground targeting to normal cast-and-click ground targeting, I’ve found that the pacing of the game really requires fast-cast ground targeting to be enabled. However, with fast-cast enabled it is impossible to see the range of the spell’s area of effect and it is sometimes difficult to tell where it will be placed such as in large zergs or when other graphics cover the targeted area.

I suggest that Fast-Cast ground targeting bring up the targeting area (green circle) on button down, and cast the spell on button up. That way, the speed of fast-cast will be a single button press (only a few milliseconds longer than button-down) yet it will provide a way for the player to still gain the benefit of the targeting graphic when it is needed without opening the options menu.

For those who demand button-down fast-cast, perhaps introduce a third option to use the current implementation?

Or you could just press two times the skill button when cast ground is on. I´m an grenadier enginner and I´m used to do this. Press once, targetting area, press twice cast (I´m using a 5 button mouse and put skill to mouse button 5).

Yes, it´s implemented.

Evolver, I’m aware you can double-tap. The point is that the player should not need to push the button twice or push the button and then click. I want to push half as many buttons and do the same thing—that is the whole point of fast-cast ground targeting. Extra button presses not only take time, but also double the physical stress on the player. Ergonomics should be a concern and Repetitive Stress Injury is a real thing.

This game is ridden with double-tapping and double-clicking that is just bound to give someone wrist problems. I’ve bound double-click to a keyboard key just to avoid so much clicking to open stacks of loot bags.

Would you like to push spacebar twice every time you want to type a space? One button push is enough to tell the game what you want to do, and the point of my suggestion is to give an elegant solution to minimizing button presses while maintaining the advantages of the targeting reticle.

I like this idea alot, and it would be very easy to cancel out of by simply moving you area circle outside of range and letting go of the button, getting a range error.

Ironicly I would find this best on my Eng for grenades, even though evolverzilla seems to like the current system. I do feel a minor tweak like this could improve effectiveness significnatly.

This is cool for some people, but I definitely prefer the cast on the button-down.

A real huge help, that’s been asked for since beta, would be to make the mouse not disappear while holding down the mouse button(s) and to make the mouse cursor larger — something as “loud” as the ctrl-t targeting image. And as requested before (I’m not assuming OP has seen previous requests, just devs), making these two things optional, and/or only happen while you’re in combat — these caveats would probably alleviate anyone having issues with them.

Windows “mouse trails” doesn’t work (for me, or friends who have tried it) in Win 7 64bit while in-game.

Well if it´s an OPTION system so you can choose, fast targeting, doube tap or a one button down/up system it´s really ok for me. And now I understand your point on this.

I see what you mean with your idea OP and it’s not a bad one, but I’m failing to see how hold then release is any faster than double tap? Personal preference I guess. For me a hold-release would be far more clumsy and longer than a double tap, but I’m pretty comfortable with DT

Nay of the Ether.8913:

I see what you mean with your idea OP and it’s not a bad one, but I’m failing to see how hold then release is any faster than double tap? Personal preference I guess. For me a hold-release would be far more clumsy and longer than a double tap, but I’m pretty comfortable with DT

It’s faster because it’s one button press. If you don’t want to hold the button down, you don’t. You just push it once and release, and the spell goes where the cursor is much like button-down fast cast. If you double tap, you have to down, up, down before the spell goes off. As a result, double tap is slower than this hold-to-target idea.

Orion.3812:

Nay of the Ether.8913:

I see what you mean with your idea OP and it’s not a bad one, but I’m failing to see how hold then release is any faster than double tap? Personal preference I guess. For me a hold-release would be far more clumsy and longer than a double tap, but I’m pretty comfortable with DT

It’s faster because it’s one button press. If you don’t want to hold the button down, you don’t. You just push it once and release, and the spell goes where the cursor is much like button-down fast cast. If you double tap, you have to down, up, down before the spell goes off. As a result, double tap is slower than this hold-to-target idea.

Don’t get too hung up on his solution. It’s just an idea, and as everyone recognizes, this deserves an improvement which is the point of his post. Seeing a myriad of preferences, more options would be better.

(then simple people would start whining that the control customizations are too complicated)

I expected this to be the default skill casting mechanism and the game really needs an improvement in that area. It can be difficult to follow the cursor in big fights and just seeing the target area for a very short time before releasing the key would help a lot.

Having to press a key twice for every cast isn’t a good alternative in fast-paced fights.

Asator.3065:

I expected this to be the default skill casting mechanism and the game really needs an improvement in that area. It can be difficult to follow the cursor in big fights and just seeing the target area for a very short time before releasing the key would help a lot.

Having to press a key twice for every cast isn’t a good alternative in fast-paced fights.

This is actually how I expected the fast casting option to work. It would still reduce the act to a single press (like the current fast-casting option) but still leave you the option to check your placement by holding it down for cases where you would feel the need.