Guild Wars 2

I’m not really new to the game, but I would like to up my movement tactics by using strafing methods. I’ve tried to find videos on how this is done and read many things in the forums here. I get the whole… using “default” Q and E keys for strafing, and then it’s said to hold down the right mouse button to turn. For me it’s very disruptive that I have to keep picking up my mouse to re-align to keep going in a circle. Is this how it’s done? I’ve also noticed that there is no difference in what my camera does with either left or right mouse click. They both turn the same way. The camera circles the character. Am I missing something? Please help. Thanks :-)

Here is a short 30 second video of my Elementalist Strafing.
Though I play on the xbox360 controller.

Well thanks Dreamy, I’m really glad you know what you’re doing, and the video was really good, I wish I could do the same. :-)

Piper.6834:

Well thanks Dreamy, I’m really glad you know what you’re doing, and the video was really good, I wish I could do the same. :-)

Yeah I wish I could too with keyboard so I could give you real tips on getting better with it… But hopefully the video gives a good visual idea how it looks when done right.

Piper.6834:

I’m not really new to the game, but I would like to up my movement tactics by using strafing methods. I’ve tried to find videos on how this is done and read many things in the forums here. I get the whole… using “default” Q and E keys for strafing, and then it’s said to hold down the right mouse button to turn. For me it’s very disruptive that I have to keep picking up my mouse to re-align to keep going in a circle. Is this how it’s done? I’ve also noticed that there is no difference in what my camera does with either left or right mouse click. They both turn the same way. The camera circles the character. Am I missing something? Please help. Thanks :-)

Here is a detail explanation of kiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUKWeaXZeOY

Dikeido.8436:

Piper.6834:

I’m not really new to the game, but I would like to up my movement tactics by using strafing methods. I’ve tried to find videos on how this is done and read many things in the forums here. I get the whole… using “default” Q and E keys for strafing, and then it’s said to hold down the right mouse button to turn. For me it’s very disruptive that I have to keep picking up my mouse to re-align to keep going in a circle. Is this how it’s done? I’ve also noticed that there is no difference in what my camera does with either left or right mouse click. They both turn the same way. The camera circles the character. Am I missing something? Please help. Thanks :-)

Here is a detail explanation of kiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUKWeaXZeOY

Thank you Dikeido. And I have watched that video. While it does a great job at explaining those mechanics, it still really doesn’t answer my concerns. Thanks though. :-)

I’m not sure how most people do it, but I personally changed the keybinds to have a more ‘tradional’ WASD movement (so A and D to strafe) and then set Q and E as the turns, so that in combat when kiting, say, right, I’ll be holding down D and either using mouse OR Q (mostly Q, I need my mouse to ground target my grenades on engie) to keep the circle, depending on range/enemy/speed/whatever. Found this setup more intuitive than the default keybinds, might be for you as well?

Get lots of practice turning with your mouse. After a while, keyboard turns will seem really unnatural. Change your keybindings so you can strafe with A and D. It will fit your hand better. Set Q and E to the skills you use most often or for attunement swapping. With no keyboard turns available, you will learn quickly to mouse turn.

Left click drag causes the camera orientation to change without changing the direction your toon is running. Right click drag will change the direction your toon is running. When you are standing still there is no apparent difference.

When you hold the right mouse button down, a and d will strafe, then move your mouse with RMB held down to change where ‘forward’ is. Mouse turning is far more precise than keyboard turning.

The only real use of LMB held down turning is to dance on the spot or something. In most other cases RMB turning+AD strafe is your best bet.

Just my 2 coppers. Use a G13 keypad w/ the WASD tied to the thumbpad and use mouse turning and back/forward (web-nav) buttons on the mouse for Dodge/Jump.

Works out really well for great mobility.

Skills, targeting and often used menus are programmed to other G13 buttons so I rarely touch the keyboard. This DOES effect my chat ability (or lack thereof), but game play control is superb.

WASD for forward/back and strafing, mouselook all the time

I guess I’ve been doing it for so many years that I don’t get bothered by how I constantly am adjusting the mouse. Maybe for you it will likewise become natural to you with practice, despite it feeling disruptive now. It’s certainly quicker than keyboard turning.

edit: Left-click and moving the camera -- while in motion -- will not cause your character to change direction, whereas right-clicking and moving the camera -- again, while in motion -- will alter your character’s direction to match the camera movement. As a result, if you keep moving and let go during a left-click camera move it will snap back to behind the character, but doing so after a right-click move doesn’t change anything (since the camera and character were in synch).

If standing still, they basically do the same thing as one another - orient the character in the camera’s direction as soon as you start moving.

I’ve been using the standard setup for WASD. I’ve almost never used QE for left right strafing. I’ve played with AD+hold right mouse button to strafe simply because the camera control is entirely based on the sensitivity of your mouse. As I have sensitivity control on the mouse I can reposition the character and camera pretty quickly

Thanks all!! :-)