Guild Wars 2

I have an odd issue that I always attributed to skill lag but apparently is a very restrictive issue that’s been getting me dead for months now. When I am moving by holding down either backward or forward and strafe right, I can hit/activate my first two utility slots, but not my third or my elite skill.

Is there a reason for this? It’s not tied to the actual skills either, because it doesn’t matter which ones are in which slot, the first two are available while forward/strafe right or backward/strafe right keys are being depressed, but the third and the elite will not activate at all when depressed while strafing and moving forward at once.

Interestingly, back/strafe left and forward/strafe left do not have this issue and retain full functionality. If I hold down forward, then hold down backward at the same time (or vice versa), I again have the issue.

Please advise. I really want to be able to move and use utilities fully.
Thanks!

This is most likely caused by the way your keyboard is designed not a limitation of the game. You may need to get a gaming keyboard to be able to do what you describe

This is known as “ghosting”. It is a hardware issue with your keyboard. As Feirlista said, you need to look for a keyboard that advertises “anti-ghosting”. I trust mechanical keyboards more than membrane for anti ghosting.

The Corsair K70 for example is expensive, but it offers complete anti-ghosting and I have never had an issue. It offers what is called “N-Key RO (or Rollover)” which means no combination should cause ghosting. Some keyboards have a certain total number of simultaneous keypresses before ghosting will happen. You don’t NEED N-Key RO.. just look for one that allows a reasonable amount of simultaneous presses without ghosting. Something like 10 would be ok.

Ive had the same with an older keyboard…heres a great explanation and a Test to see how fast your keyboard is ghosting.It was terrible when i didn’t had an mmo mouse yet,since ive bought an mmo mouse and a diff keyboard im never noticing it again.Since having 12+ keys on my mouse for actions/skills and my left hand free for movement,jumping,evading,interacting alone really eliminates the need to use so much buttons simultaneously on your keyboard

http://www.microsoft.com/appliedsciences/AntiGhostingExplained.mspx

Is ghosting restricted to certain key combinations (potentially keys adjacent to each other) or just to total number of depressed keys? Because i can hold down three keys and have them all work no problem, but another 3 keys and I’ll have 2 work and 1 not. Is this normal?