Guild Wars 2

I have played several MMO’s but never really got serious enough with them to come up with good binds and take the time to learn them. With GW2, this seems much more important and I plan on taking whatever amount of time it takes to come up with a good scheme which, I think, should help me be a much better player.

One of the reasons I never bothered MUCH with keybinds is that using WASD for movement did not work for me…..I could not train my fingers to use the skill keys while also using them for movement. Couldn’t bind keys to my mouse because, with the mouse I have used for years (Logitech G5), the only way I could control the mouse was with a “fingertip grip”. My thumb was used too much for mouse control so I couldn’t use it for button presses. So, I bought a new mouse (Cyborg MMO7) and gameboard (Logitech G-130). Haven’t used the g-13 yet, but am experimenting with the new mouse. I have only bound a couple keys so far but it is already making a big difference! For one, the mouse fits my hand so much better than the G-5. Now a palm grip feels natural and I can switch to claw grip with ease when needed. Now that my thumb is free, I can use it for keybinds. Another thing I find “handy” is the click-lock function on this mouse: 1 button on each side of the scroll wheel can be preselected to activate the right or left mouse button Lock function which simulates holding down the mouse button. After activating one or both of them,click once to lock, again to unlock. This works great for me while using the mouse steer. I also lock both at times as kind of more precise auto-run feature.
When I start using the G-13 I plan on using the joystick for forward and back while still using the mouse for steering.

Now I have come to the point where I need to figure out a good control scheme and start start learning it, which leads to a few questions on character control strategies. I’m interested in hearing tips for both PVE and PVP, which I haven’t tried yet, knowing i’d be too slow the way I do things now….

Targeting: in the keybinds I see a “nearest enemy” selection that does not have a key bound by default. would it be any better at selecting targets than the TAB-(next enemy)key? or a reason to bind both? when there are alot of mobs on the screen, how do you select the target you want and stay on target; do you use the mouse to select targets at times?

Call target and take target:“take target” selects a mob that someone has used “call target” on, correct? If so, do people use that enough in instances to justify a key bind?

Do you strafe much? In what situations do you use it? Seems kinda slow to me so i’m thinking of not using any binds for strafe left and right but interested in other opinions.

About Face, any of you use it? Seems like it could be used occasionally in pvp or kiting?

AOE’s that have to be targeted with mouse cursor…..not sure how to do it without having to stop moving to aim mouse pointer.

I know I could figure out alot of this with some trial and error, but also know that there are plenty of good players out there who might be willing to share a few tips to help speed up the process.

Thanks ahead of time for any responses.

Rolo.9248:

Brayzen.6287:

Most compressed air does have liquid, it is liquid Nitrogen.
Nitrogen has to be extremely cold to remain a liquid, it vaporizes as soon as it enters the air.

Canned air does NOT contain LH2, which is only a liquid below -300-something degrees Fahrenheit; it contains fluorocarbons (FC). LH2 would freeze and shatter your PC and your hands.

Brayzen.6287:

the only risk from this is getting a cold liquid on hot PC components.

Electronics love cold (inverse temperature coefficient) and this can be one way to troubleshoot component breakdown, likewise with a heat gun. The risk is generating static electricity, which components like as much as you’d like being struck by lightning.

Brayzen.6287:

Turning the can upsidedown or close to will also let the cold liquid escape so try to keep the can upright.

This part is true. When the can gets cold, stop using it until it goes back to room temperature. The cold isn’t from the FCs, it is from the rapid pressure drop created by exhausting compressed air.

Brayzen.6287:

compressing air with a compressor adds moisture to the air so you would need water traps and filters, I think i’ll stick with my cans of dust remover

Unless you are in a very arid region, the air already contains ~40% moisture, which electronics like anyway (dampens static electricity discharges); compressing air and then discharging it won’t make a garden hose. Your can of dust remover already has liquid FCs in it.

Brayzen.6287:

and there is no way a vacum cleaner is ever getting close to my rig!

There are ESD vacuums specifically made for this purpose. It’s a bit over the top and, frankly, I don’t use one; I use a $60 non-ESD-certified “data vac” that works perfectly and quickly without ongoing

I stand corrected. Liquid Nitrogen is not the component used in the compressed air. I should have known better as I pumped the stuff when I worked in the oilfield and knew it was neg 300 something F. I apologize to forum readers for that bit of mis-information and shall “TEBOW” for 15 mins in repentance.

A few of your points I wish to adress:

I still cannot get comfortable with the idea of using air from a compressor.There is a difference between moisture content of the air and actually spraying moisture onto a component….computer components are NOT going to be happy with water on them. A compressor may not produce water like a garden hose but can come darned close. This is FACT, not assumption. Will it happen at all times? No.But enough for me to rule it out for myself. I have used compressors for many years, and on a humid summer day I have seen heavy water misting in the air the compressor produces if there is not a good water removal system installed. Water also can accumulate in low spots in the air hose untill enough volume has accumulated and then you get a heavy blast of water from it. Any professional painter who uses an air spraygun, or someone who uses airtools for a living can testify to the amount of water produced by air compressors, hence the need for elaborate water removal systems. I will never be comfortable with the risk of having damp parts.

Yes, pc components like cooler temps but they do NOT like rapid temp changes/thermal cycling! (Do a search on thermal shock/thermal stress and pc components if you require proof), my statement was based on the basic principles of expansion and contraction caused by temperature variances and the stress extreme variances can cause on metals and other materials.It has been proven that even frequent power cycling (and resultant thermal cycling)introduces enough thermal shock to reduce the lifespan of your pc. Getting extremely cold liquid on a hot component multiplies this effect.


As far as using a vacum cleaner, my concerns were the risk of static electricity.I am leery of it and take precautions when inside my case such as wearing surgical gloves, and using a normal vacum for cleaning a computer does not fit well with those concerns. A plastic nozzle of a vacuum is NOT an insulator against static discharge.In some research I have done on the topic in the past I have learned that the air/dust mixture going through the tip of the nozzle creates static…. I have read about, and heard from many that have used vaccuums without problem, but it is not a risk I personally am willing to take.

Oconell.8673:

Samaul.6073:

7. Get a can of compressed air, open up your case and carefully blow all of the dust out of your system.

Wrong. Don’t do this or you may very well damage your components. The correct way to do that is to get an air compressor and compress it yourself. But that’s neither cheap or efficient.
Cans of compressed air contain fluid that can damage your components. Also you can damage your fans by spinning them too fast when using a can of compressed air, and presumably even the components they are wired to.

Edit: In my opinion the best way is the old way, use a tiny brush or a vacuum not close to the components.

I disagree. the compressed air COULD damage components IF used improperly.
the only risk from this is getting a cold liquid on hot PC components. So…as a saftey measure, use the compressed air BEFORE you boot up. Also, the air usually doesn’t turn to liquid untill after you have used it enough for the can to get cold enough for the N2 to remain a liquid. Just have 2 cans handy and switch out when the first gets cold. Turning the can upsidedown or close to will also let the cold liquid escape so try to keep the can upright.

compressing air with a compressor adds moisture to the air so you would need water traps and filters, I think i’ll stick with my cans of dust remover

and there is no way a vacum cleaner is ever getting close to my rig!

-edited to remove my false statement of Nitrogen being a component of compressed air

same issue: #120905-001441