Better Hotbuild Layout

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

The clutter of keys that is FAF is really bothering me lately. I just keep forgetting where I bound my keys. Thinking about that, I also noticed I really do not know my unit keys where in other RTS, it was essential to learn the hotkeys. To help with that I reorganised the unit hotkeys in hotbuild to some easy to remember pattern:
The first row is T1, the second is T2 and the third is T3. The columns represent certain unit types.
I also thought it makes sense to sort units by purpose, not by bot vs tank. The Ilshavoh and Mongoose are both bots, but that's where the similarities end. It is imho much better to sort the Ilshavoh with the Pillar, Rhino and Obsidian. The only exception is the Aeon torp bomber which has to sit on the 'm' key for a lack of a better solution. Aeon just has too many T3 air units.

I also did some optimisations to Speed's suggested Hotbuild layout regarding buildings. You simply don't need massfabs 99% of regular games, same for static arty. So I moved them further from the centre of my hand (wasd) in favour of other keys I need more often. You also usually want to build T2 static shields, even I select T3 engies. Now you will always select the T2 shield first, even with a T3 engy.

There is a bug in Hotbuild that prevents you from building T3 mobile AA via hotkey. The hotkeylabels are working. I have not tried to fix it because I think it might be better to have a general fix for it in an official patch.


how to upload pictures on internet

A link to the keyboard layout (lengthy link but easier to read then the image):

Code: Select all

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/##@@=Esc&_x:1%3B&=F1&=F2&=F3&=F4&_x:0.5%3B&=F5&=F6&=F7&=F8&_x:0.5%3B&=F9&=F10&=F11&=F12&_x:0.25%3B&=PrtSc&=Scroll%20Lock&=Pause%0ABreak%3B&@_y:0.5%3B&=~%0A%60&=!%0A1&=%2F@%0A2&=%23%0A3&=$%0A4&=%25%0A5&=%5E%0A6&=%2F&%0A7&=*%0A8&=(%0A9&=)%0A0&=%2F_%0A-&=+%0A%2F=&_w:2%3B&=Backspace&_x:0.25%3B&=Insert&=Home&=PgUp&_x:0.25%3B&=Num%20Lock&=%2F%2F&=*&=-%3B&@_w:1.5%3B&=Tab&=Q&_f:1%3B&=Factories%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT1%20Engy&=Sensors%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT1%20attack%20units&=Shields%0AT1%20Subs%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AArtyBomber&=TMD%0AGunships%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT1%20mobile%20AA&=Exp.%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT1%20Scouts&=T1%20Raid%20units%0ATransport&_f:3%3B&=I&=O&=P&=%7B%0A%5B&=%7D%0A%5D&_w:1.5%3B&=%7C%0A%5C&_x:0.25%3B&=Delete&=End&=PgDn&_x:0.25%3B&=7%0AHome&=8%0A%E2%86%91&=9%0APgUp&_h:2%3B&=+%3B&@_w:1.75%3B&=Caps%20Lock&=A&_f:1%3B&=Mexes%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT2%20Engy&=Pgens%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT2%20attack%20units&=Templates%0ATorpbomber%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT2%20MML%20Subs&=Massfabs%0ACruisers%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT2%20AA%20Gunships&=Engystations%0AMercies%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT2%20mobile%20shields&=%0ATransport%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT2%20Hover&_a:6%3B&=Sparky%20Beetles&_a:4&f:3%3B&=L&=%2F:%0A%2F%3B&=%22%0A'&_w:2.25%3B&=Enter&_x:3.5%3B&=4%0A%E2%86%90&=5&=6%0A%E2%86%92%3B&@_w:2.25%3B&=Shift&=Z&_f:1%3B&=PD%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT3%20Engy&=Static%20AA%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT3%20attack%20units&=Torp%20defense%0AT3%20mobile%20arty&=TML%0ACarriers%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT3%20AA%20Gunships&=Arty%0ASpyplanes%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT3%20misc&=Upgrades%0ASnipers%0A%0A%0A%0A%0AT3%20raid%20units&_f:3%3B&=%3C%0A,&=%3E%0A.&=?%0A%2F%2F&_w:2.75%3B&=Shift&_x:1.25%3B&=%E2%86%91&_x:1.25%3B&=1%0AEnd&=2%0A%E2%86%93&=3%0APgDn&_h:2%3B&=Enter%3B&@_w:1.25%3B&=Ctrl&_w:1.25%3B&=Win&_w:1.25%3B&=Alt&_a:7&w:6.25%3B&=&_a:4&w:1.25%3B&=Alt&_w:1.25%3B&=Win&_w:1.25%3B&=Menu&_w:1.25%3B&=Ctrl&_x:0.25%3B&=%E2%86%90&=%E2%86%93&=%E2%86%92&_x:0.25&w:2%3B&=0%0AIns&=.%0ADel

The mod is not (yet) uploaded to the vault, I would love some feedback first. Enjoy!

[svenni_badbwoi]

i´m on your side in believing that the hotkeys should be reworked.
about the integration: i think "icedreamer" is the right person to talk to. also see > slack #newkeybinds

There is a bug in Hotbuild that prevents you from building T3 mobile AA via hotkey.

when i worked with the hotkeys i found that there is no unitID as reference for T3 mobile AA in the lua files.
missing units in old hotbuild, got id, but not listed:
"T1_Attack_Submarine"
"Air_Staging"
"Rapid_Fire_Artillery_Installation"

mb you are interested in combining it, so would offer to make the layout picture
mb some pro player got some good tips for a better layout/structure..

here is what i did to the hotkeys (got it as .svg as well).
my main goal was e.g. tank/bomber/direct fire navy (TFC) and mobile aa/air to air/aa navy (ZGV) on same keys, i arranged the rest with the same pattern, except e.g. stationary defenses, power, intel and buildpower

[SpoCk0nd0pe]

There already seems to be a pull request on github to fix the upgrade and T3 mobile AA for hotbuild by MrNukealizer:

https://github.com/FAForever/fa/pull/2039

With that in place, my mod should work fine.

About your layout:
Tbh, I cannot really read it because I do not know the symbols by heart. My key layout works differently because I use many of the buttons on my mouse.
I think speed2's default layout for buildings is quite intuitive: sdfg for eco and templates, xcvb for structures that shoot, wert for everything else. The most important buildings are on easy to reach keys. I think it is better to build e-storage as a template because you can shift build it that way and it doesn't require a complete rebinding. It could also go to 'j' along with mass storages.
Upgrade should be on a T3 button to make sense, else it will conflict with building the unit.

[svenni_badbwoi]

There already seems to be a pull request on github to fix the upgrade and T3 mobile AA for hotbuild by MrNukealizer:
...
Upgrade should be on a T3 button to make sense, else it will conflict with building the unit.

aah, good to know and thx (updated pic)