Guild Wars 2

You sir, are a wonderful person. I really hope this thread gets the attention it deserves!

I read your whole story man and it really made me very happy to see that you didn’t give up on what you loved, iv actually seen alot of people who become disabled in one way or another give up on what they loved doing most but with you man your an inspiration!

Brilliant thread. I’m sorry to hear what happened but I’m so glad you can continue playing the game and I admire your dedication!

A stunning story!!

This thread is just great. Dear OP, you are one great….no….LEGENDARY gamer! You are one who never gave up and continued to find ways to enjoy the game. Just by reading your thread, I can tell you kept looking for ways to play the game.

Anyways, I’d like to say it once more….Kodesh, I admire your passion for gaming. And also thank you for giving hope to others similar to you

It makes me cry seeing fellow gamers achieve the improbable (Not impossible btw)

You have my admiration, if your ever looking to group with someone, look me up in “Yak’s Bend” server

Lman.2568:

You have my admiration, if your ever looking to group with someone, look me up in “Yak’s Bend” server

Same goes to me, but in Borlis Pass.

Anyways, going off-topic for a bit…. Yak’s Bend, one of the best enemies of Borlis Pass in WvW Just saying

Awesome info. Thanks!

I have to say my initial thought from the title of the thread when clicking on it was, “someone found out how to multibox really well D=” (I did not actually frown IRL).

I would shake your hand in congratulations for what you have accomplished and I hope these ideas help others who have the same problems. Perhaps someday down the road you won’t need to use pedals and will be able to fully use your left arm again or maybe Google Glass can allow you to use your eye movements for actions.

righthand only:

i’m certain that GW2 could be very well played with a mouse only. with 4 buttons on the left side (=WASD), easely clickable with the thumb.
needs some practice, tho.

left hand only:

good ol’ keyboard.
but tab cycling/autoattack near a larger group of enemys can and will get annoying.

hope it helps

First, I would like to thank you all for the encouraging words. I will have to look you guys up! For anyone in a similar situation add me in game, ask me questions. I have tested different ideas and toyed with a few things. That goes for anyone. I am always up for meeting people! I am on Blackgate, you can see my competitiveness come out eh? Nah.. I just found a good guild and we enjoy pvp’ing and are pretty good at it imo.

wauwi.9162:

righthand only:

i’m certain that GW2 could be very well played with a mouse only. with 4 buttons on the left side (=WASD), easely clickable with the thumb.
needs some practice, tho.

left hand only:

good ol’ keyboard.
but tab cycling/autoattack near a larger group of enemys can and will get annoying.

hope it helps

These work in a slow pve scenario like grinding and leveling. But when you are trying to solo a champion or a couple veterans you need to be always moving, turning the camera and always dodging. These leaves little time for clicking skills, though I haven’t been much of a clicker so maybe a pro-clicker may disagree.

The WASD on the mouse I have tried I think it could really work if the “s” was dodge instead of walk backwards but where would your jump be? :P I love JPs.

As I play now it’s all forward motion. If I need to move backward fast I drop the run and stomp on dodge or spin the camera quick. I really miss strafing!

i completely forgot about the camera movement on keyboards.

jumping could be on your MB3 button (click on the mousewheel).

my mouse (first attachment), for instance, got 4 buttons around the mousewheel. i like to link backwards-dodging or a back-dodging skill, like “lightning reflexes” to the button under the wheel.

edit: i just googled for “excessive mouse” and found a company called “3DConnexion”, producing expensive mouses (correct plural?) for people wanting to interact even better with 3D models. so it’s more a thing for scientists, medics and 3D model designers. (second attachment)
but 400+ bucks… :/

wauwi.9162:

edit: i just googled for “excessive mouse” and found a company called “3DConnexion”, producing expensive mouses (correct plural?) for people wanting to interact even better with 3D models. so it’s more a thing for scientists, medics and 3D model designers. (second attachment)
but 400+ bucks… :/

Yea I saw that mouse right away on my search for solution and I also got hung up on the price. As you mentioned, it’s a mouse designed for navigating through 3D environments in programs like AutoCad. I read an article where someone was using one to play WoW and they enjoyed it… though they also had a separate hand for keyboard.
I was thinking that if you wanted a 3-Axis mouse for gaming you are better off with a 3 Axis Joystick because it has tons of buttons at the thumb and can have multiple triggers. That paired with foot pedals would be a pleasant adventure learning how to play mmos all over haha.

on classic tab-cycler mmorpg’s (yeah, thanks to GW2, TERA, etc. i’ll call such “stiff” rpg’s “classic” now), like AION, i rarely used my keyboard, even tho i have both hands/arms working most of the time (got a huge lack of vitamine D).
if i ever used the keyboard, it was just only for skill 1-5 or chatting.

such mmorpg’s are mostly point and click anyways, so you (and anyone with the same limitations) should be able to play such games just fine.
also, such games mostly allow macros or have a macroeditor in-game, so it’s easy to put your common skill-rotations on extra mouse buttons.

foot pedals? how about a dance-dance-revolution pad? not for serious gaming, but it should add more than just fun to each game needing “wasd”.
imagine dancing that fool aldiun of the sky of skyrim. (if you have cool neighbours living under your room.)

Thanks for this post! I’m glad to know you did not give up even when life throws a curve ball. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Hi Kodesh, this is a really great thread. You’ve been very resourceful in finding ways to keep your favorite hobby, which is admirable.

I have a suggestion. An earlier poster mentioned the 3dconnexion SpaceMouse Pro, and I know you said the price was a little too steep for you. There is another 3d mouse by the same company called SpaceNavigator, which is basically just the knob part. It has no buttons so obviously the Naga works better than the SpaceNavigator for your hand, but what if you were to use the SpaceNavigator with your foot? The joystick motions can all be mapped to all keystrokes, so that would give you plenty more options than pedals.

I’m on an iPad right now and I’m having trouble linking video, but if you go to YouTube and search “SpaceNavigator World of Warcraft”, the first video that comes up will be a demo of this 3D mouse. At about 5:15 is when the reviewer starts talking about mapping controls for gaming applications. Best part is, it’s 1/3 the price of the SpaceMouse Pro.

Now, I’ve never tried this myself, for all I know the SpaceNavigator might need more finesse than a foot can handle. But it’s just something to think about.

schizandra.4587:

I have a suggestion. An earlier poster mentioned the 3dconnexion SpaceMouse Pro, and I know you said the price was a little too steep for you. There is another 3d mouse by the same company called SpaceNavigator, which is basically just the knob part. It has no buttons so obviously the Naga works better than the SpaceNavigator for your hand, but what if you were to use the SpaceNavigator with your foot? The joystick motions can all be mapped to all keystrokes, so that would give you plenty more options than pedals.

Haha! I love it! I hadn’t thought of incorporating axis controls with a foot… It’s genius. I also knew about the cheaper versions of that 3d mouse but I hadn’t thought of using the most basic version with your foot. It would take a bit of construction to utilize all three axis. It would need a heavy base (if you want it portable) or it needs to be stuck to the ground (suction cup?) I was also thinking some along the lines of a slipper, shoe or sandal to be mounted to the top. (There is an up/down axis as well as the forward/back and left/right) @ $99 I may need to investigate this… it still leaves a foot for other things. Better yet… for those people who may not have access to fingers on a hand but can move their arm could mount this to their prosthetic or a glove to put their hand into and gain that extra up/down axis.

The practical application of this is that it frees up movement from you mouse (which is my situation right now). Using axis’ to activate skills is possible… but takes a lot of work using AutoHotkey and I could see it being buggy until you set up the right thresholds.. which could take hours.

I can’t say that I know what it’s like to re-learn how to play MMO’s after losing a limb but I can attest to learning how to play them all over again after losing most of your sight. (I had a massive ischemic stroke that left me nearly blind for the first year of recovery.) The razer naga mouse and the razer pro gaming headset saved my gaming career. You know……….. we should get together and write the razer team and maybe suggest that they make a few products JUST for folks with disabilities to help them keep gaming. Without their products I doubt I would have continued.

Here is software that appears to be free like AutoHotkey and is simple like Pinnacle Game Profiler from Brothersoft http://games.brothersoft.com/joystickcursor-control-tool.html

Looks like a simple interface. It doesn’t say it works on Windows Vista or higher…

Here is another. http://xpadder.com/

Apparently Logitech has some good software for their devices as well.

A new friend read my post and PM’d me sharing his situation and he basically must game with one hand as well. He uses http://www.kensington.com/kensington/us/us/p/1444/K64325/expert-mouse%C2%AE.aspx and says it works great. Thanks Dave for this suggestion!

cybel.9538:

I can’t say that I know what it’s like to re-learn how to play MMO’s after losing a limb but I can attest to learning how to play them all over again after losing most of your sight. (I had a massive ischemic stroke that left me nearly blind for the first year of recovery.) The razer naga mouse and the razer pro gaming headset saved my gaming career. You know……….. we should get together and write the razer team and maybe suggest that they make a few products JUST for folks with disabilities to help them keep gaming. Without their products I doubt I would have continued.

I fired a heartfelt thanks to Razer’s public relations on our behalves. I have my doubts they will expand their product line to accommodate gamers with different disabilities just because there is such a wide range of injuries. I think they could add a few pieces like flight control equipment or simple things like foot pedals but their target seems to be fps’s, rts’s and mmo’s where the bulk of the gamers are.

i’ve found an intresting kickstart project while watching “mindblow#60” on the youtube channel “vsauce2”.
it’s a small mouse kind of thing, that you put on your index finger:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mycestro/mycestrotm-the-next-generation-3d-mouse?ref=category

it’s not ready yet and probably just another way to make PC users even more lazy, but it could also come in handy for people with certain limitations.

That’s pretty sweet imo. Though, I have my doubts it could help one handed people because it pulls your hand away from buttons and into the air.

Because it is mainly geared towards 3D environments, it’s best luck in gaming will probably be FPS’s

Hey All – Tech Update

I mentioned that Razer has not released any more information concerning the Left Handed Razer Naga but I did stumble up their Ouroboros Mouse. It’s ambidextrous and has 11 programable buttons… looks really awesome too!

Thank you for telling your story, Kodesh!

I, too, am trying to play GW2 with only one hand (my left). I had a stroke about 5 years ago that left me with some fairly significant right-side paralysis. I was right handed, too. My right hand is completely useless for games, now.

I have learned how to play using the keyboard primarily, with my mouse as backup (it sits only inches from my left hand). I know I need to rebind my keys, as I have yet to do that, but I have already progressed to the average level!

I miss my FPS

@Kodesh
One of the most heartening and personal experiences I’ve read.

I’m glad to have encountered your thread and also the experiences shared by everyone else..

I commend you sir, and your spirit.

how long did it take you to write that with one hand

Absolutely amazing. I’m going to link this to my old WoW guild because we have a guildie there who is awesome as a left handed only gamer, his right arm/hand being disabled to the point of being a blunt instrument only. Apparently his left hand looks like a demented spider dancing over the keys as he runs a druid very effectively in PvE and PvP and even types chat lines at speed while he does it.

Still I bet these various hardware ideas could be great for him if he gets the money together for them.

-applause for Kodesh-

Grappler.2389:

how long did it take you to write that with one hand

About a minute…you get kind of good after a few years of it

Kodesh.2019:

As I play now it’s all forward motion. If I need to move backward fast I drop the run and stomp on dodge or spin the camera quick. I really miss strafing!

You don’t use ‘about face’?

If you have multiple mouse buttons perhaps you can designate some keys for movement. I strafe with my HEX. Of course I’m still using my left hand on the keys but I read comments all the time from people that have everything bound to a mouse or keypad controller including full movement.

I know there are people who play league of legends with no use of their hands or arms. You’re awesome sir, never give up what you love no matter what.

Awsome work. I have knowen a few 1 handed players and this has never stoped them doing what they enjoyed.

Something to take a look at : https://www.leapmotion.com/

Would allow you to use motion capture to do things in game…

Oh, that looks awesome but makes me wonder how one would manage a lengthy gaming session. I like to rest my forearms on my chair arms and have thick pads for my wrists on the desk. I’d think having to hold my arms in the air to gesture would kill my neck in short order.

Maybe it could be a supplemental thing, off to the side, so Kodesh and others in his situation could wave fingers for certain situations but not for an entire session?

I’m very strongly left handed myself which is also a form of disability. I didn’t lose my right arm, but it is pretty much useless unless coordinated by the left arm. I can type, I can game, I can barely do anything else with right hand.

If I’d lose my right arm, there’d be no Naga (although promised release in 2013). There’d be no scissors, no bottle openers, no screwdrivers. Losing my left arm would be even more disastrous. What use is a bottle opener if I can’t even hold it properly with my right hand… I would pretty much be out of luck.

But just like you, I’d manage it somehow. Whining is easy, fixing something like that is an achievement worth more than #1 on the leaderboard. I respect you for that!

Well you’d just hold the bottle between your knees of course.

LameFox.6349:

Well you’d just hold the bottle between your knees of course.

I could, but my right hand can’t operate a bottle opener properly. I lack the dexterity.

marnick.4305:

LameFox.6349:

Well you’d just hold the bottle between your knees of course.

I could, but my right hand can’t operate a bottle opener properly. I lack the dexterity.

What if you aligned it to the cap with your mouth first?

Thanks for sharing your experience. It was interesting to read how you’re adapting available technology. You might want to take a look at the Logitech G600 series mice. They have the thumb buttons like the Nagas, but the also have an extra button under your ring finger that can shift the mouse to a completely different mapping. I’m still trying to get the hang of it, but it does give you a lot of hot keys under one thumb.

I really appreciate not only the story behind this, but the links for everyone else with issues to follow up. Often it can take a lot of research for us all to find different equipment and software to help us out with our different challenges. I’m not an amputee, but had to relearn a lot of things earlier in life when I had an incident similar to a stroke.

Another piece of tech that I am watching with interest (maybe it could be adapted for use with a leg if there is not enough muscle movement for it) is the Myo.
https://getmyo.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWu9TFJjHaM

This thread deserves all the +1s.

Kodesh, my hat’s off to you. BTW, you mentioned foot pedals…so I thought you might be interested in what I found today. I was looking into a set for myself and found “Stinkyboard” start up.

Here is the webpage: http://www.stinkyboard.com/products/stinkyboard

I have actually contacted them asking about this product and it appears a lot of gamers have actually tried this product out. Maybe it might be of interest to you if your current foot pedals don’t work as you need them to.

You have given me hope that I can eventually use my feet for my straffing and such in game freeing up my need to use my mouse all the time for movement.

thanks for sharing. : )) this was a great read and i love how passionate you are about gaming and the innovation you had to get back in the game. but more importantly, how you remained so positive and seemingly able to overcome what you had to go through!

props to you, good sir. hope you figure out better ways of playing and approaching life as it, and enjoying the hell out of it.

I would like to reiterate what a lot of people have already said:

You sir, are an awesome person!

Not only for persevering, but for having the desire to help others and share your exploits with other so that they might overcome similar issues. I am also very impressed with your ingenuity. Have you considered mice with game boards, such as this logitech board:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G13-Programmable-Gameboard-Display/dp/B001NEK2GE/ref=rec_dp_3

It has a thumb-controlled joystick that could give you the cursor movement, with access to all of the keys you need in one package. Pedals would probably still help, and I can recognize this would be really hard to get used to, but its just a thought.

Regardless of what happens, keep on being awesome!!!

A potential problem with the Logitech G13 is I do not think they make it for someone who can only use their right hand. If most tech companies would only make their products to be changed from left to right use, this would not cause an issue.

I have tried this G13 and, although it is way too big for my hand, it was designed for me to use it with only my left hand if I needed to use the joy stick.

Just wanted to chime in with big ups to you Kodesh for perservering. An uplifting story that challenges us all to not let anything get in our way. Well done, well done indeed.

Hi Kodesh. Thanks for posting. You are an inspiration to all gamers. Please go easy on me should we ever happen to encounter eachother as rivals in Wv3