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Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 07 May 2019, 22:37
by TheNameDaniel
So I'm still using the default hotkeys, sometimes its hard to make units but ive gotten used to them now but I was wondering how other players have set up their hotkeys and settings. would anyone like to share theirs?

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 07 May 2019, 22:51
by jgals
I use
Caps lock for TC
A for villager
. for idle vil
scroll wheel for select all unit
Forward custom mouse button (ATT move)
space - center on building/unit
I DISABLE auto CENTER ON UNIT/ BUILDING when hotkey so that I can make vil without going back to TC
? is explorer
D is crackshot/stun (although I have to change this depending on civ)
F is convert guardian.
I think that's it.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 07 May 2019, 23:06
by onfiregun17
For the most part I just use Mr Milo's hotkeys. The only big changes I've made to those hotkeys are eject all units to N and switching control groups 6-9 to F1-F4.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 07 May 2019, 23:29
by Jerimuno
for creating units i use default hotkeys too

there is only one hotkey that i really enjoy using, and couldnt play without, namely shift+y for find idle villagers. by using this you automatically select a group of idle vills which are closeby somewhere on the map (and not all of your idle vils all across the map).

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 07 May 2019, 23:34
by Aykin Haraka
default hotkeys best hotkeys

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 08 May 2019, 00:35
by jgals
onfiregun17 wrote:For the most part I just use Mr Milo's hotkeys. The only big changes I've made to those hotkeys are eject all units to N and switching control groups 6-9 to F1-F4.

I thought that is a standard hotkey lol. Thats what mine is too

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 08 May 2019, 03:42
by onfiregun17
jgals wrote:
onfiregun17 wrote:For the most part I just use Mr Milo's hotkeys. The only big changes I've made to those hotkeys are eject all units to N and switching control groups 6-9 to F1-F4.

I thought that is a standard hotkey lol. Thats what mine is too

That's just for the TC actually. Under "Command Hotkeys" there's another field called "Eject Units" that effects outposts, castles, etc. I find it useful to just have one key that also affects those. Useful for ungarrisoning/vill hopping when you need to.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 08 May 2019, 13:09
by jgals
onfiregun17 wrote:
jgals wrote:
onfiregun17 wrote:For the most part I just use Mr Milo's hotkeys. The only big changes I've made to those hotkeys are eject all units to N and switching control groups 6-9 to F1-F4.

I thought that is a standard hotkey lol. Thats what mine is too

That's just for the TC actually. Under "Command Hotkeys" there's another field called "Eject Units" that effects outposts, castles, etc. I find it useful to just have one key that also affects those. Useful for ungarrisoning/vill hopping when you need to.

Thats OP I've always done those manually, docks towers etc. I just assumed the hotkey didn't work for it.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 08 May 2019, 13:11
by deleted_user
jgals wrote:
onfiregun17 wrote:
Show hidden quotes

That's just for the TC actually. Under "Command Hotkeys" there's another field called "Eject Units" that effects outposts, castles, etc. I find it useful to just have one key that also affects those. Useful for ungarrisoning/vill hopping when you need to.

Thats OP I've always done those manually, docks towers etc. I just assumed the hotkey didn't work for it.

If you read my hotkey guide you'd know this.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 08 May 2019, 20:05
by crjensen4
Just get the Zboard Age of Empires III Keyset

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 09 May 2019, 09:58
by stanleywinston
I've remapped every unit type to a specific key:

- Heavy infantry/cavalry: A/Q (sepoy, musketeer, ashigaru - cuirassier, war wagon, mahout...)
- Light cavalry: Z/W (hussar, axe rider, cossack, uhlan, sowar, coyote ...)
- Light infantry/cav: E (skirmisher, cassador, gurkha, yumi, longbow, maces - dragoon, zamburak, ruyter, ...)
- Any other unit type: R (lancer, rifle-rider, howdah, pikemen, warclub, puma ...)
- If there occur mapping problems: D (halberdier/rodelero, doppelsoldner...)

which makes every civ the same to play as the unit types are all the same and you don't have to wonder about the hotkey for the specific unit, just the unit type. For buildings it's the default hotkeys.

Mellee/Volley mode is also remapped to:

X for melee/pack cannons
V for volley/unpack cannons
C for covermode

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 10 May 2019, 00:53
by deleted_user
stanleywinston wrote:I've remapped every unit type to a specific key:

- Heavy infantry/cavalry: A/Q (sepoy, musketeer, ashigaru - cuirassier, war wagon, mahout...)
- Light cavalry: Z/W (hussar, axe rider, cossack, uhlan, sowar, coyote ...)
- Light infantry/cav: E (skirmisher, cassador, gurkha, yumi, longbow, maces - dragoon, zamburak, ruyter, ...)
- Any other unit type: R (lancer, rifle-rider, howdah, pikemen, warclub, puma ...)
- If there occur mapping problems: D (halberdier/rodelero, doppelsoldner...)

which makes every civ the same to play as the unit types are all the same and you don't have to wonder about the hotkey for the specific unit, just the unit type. For buildings it's the default hotkeys.

Mellee/Volley mode is also remapped to:

X for melee/pack cannons
V for volley/unpack cannons
C for covermode

Stanley loseton

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 10 May 2019, 04:18
by Shikari
How much time does it even saves to make units with a hotkey instead of just clicking it. I use hotkey for every thing just not for making unit. I wonder is it worth learning it.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 10 May 2019, 04:38
by Kawapasaka
Shikari wrote:How much time does it even saves to make units with a hotkey instead of just clicking it. I use hotkey for every thing just not for making unit. I wonder is it worth learning it.


Definitely worth it, you don't want to waste precious mouse time finishing reinforcing batches in the middle of a fight. Doesn't take very long to learn either, I just started using the MrMilo set-up the other day and am pretty used to it already.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 11 May 2019, 13:31
by stanleywinston
deleted_user wrote:
stanleywinston wrote:I've remapped every unit type to a specific key:

- Heavy infantry/cavalry: A/Q (sepoy, musketeer, ashigaru - cuirassier, war wagon, mahout...)
- Light cavalry: Z/W (hussar, axe rider, cossack, uhlan, sowar, coyote ...)
- Light infantry/cav: E (skirmisher, cassador, gurkha, yumi, longbow, maces - dragoon, zamburak, ruyter, ...)
- Any other unit type: R (lancer, rifle-rider, howdah, pikemen, warclub, puma ...)
- If there occur mapping problems: D (halberdier/rodelero, doppelsoldner...)

which makes every civ the same to play as the unit types are all the same and you don't have to wonder about the hotkey for the specific unit, just the unit type. For buildings it's the default hotkeys.

Mellee/Volley mode is also remapped to:

X for melee/pack cannons
V for volley/unpack cannons
C for covermode

Stanley loseton


Sad but true

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 06:58
by Majora_
deleted_user wrote:
jgals wrote:
Show hidden quotes

Thats OP I've always done those manually, docks towers etc. I just assumed the hotkey didn't work for it.

If you read my hotkey guide you'd know this.

where is it?

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 07:34
by Majora_
Jerimuno wrote:for creating units i use default hotkeys too

there is only one hotkey that i really enjoy using, and couldnt play without, namely shift+y for find idle villagers. by using this you automatically select a group of idle vills which are closeby somewhere on the map (and not all of your idle vils all across the map).

that was op! thx

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 09:43
by flontier
Is there any left handed here among the top players to post their hotkeys ? I am and I had a hard time to find good set up without having to cross too much my arm on the keyboard.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 09:50
by Mitoe

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 09:58
by Sargsyan
flontier wrote:Is there any left handed here among the top players to post their hotkeys ? I am and I had a hard time to find good set up without having to cross too much my arm on the keyboard.

I'm left handed and i don't see any problem regarding oneself being left or right handed, either way you're using your right hand for the mouse and you set up the hotkeys on the left side of the keyboard

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 10:24
by flontier
Sargsyan wrote:
flontier wrote:Is there any left handed here among the top players to post their hotkeys ? I am and I had a hard time to find good set up without having to cross too much my arm on the keyboard.

I'm left handed and i don't see any problem regarding oneself being left or right handed, either way you're using your right hand for the mouse and you set up the hotkeys on the left side of the keyboard


I dont get what you mean by using the right hand for the mouse, if im left handed how can i ? im not sure to be able to launch the game if i control the mouse with my wrong hand on my desktop.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 10:26
by Sargsyan
flontier wrote:
Sargsyan wrote:
flontier wrote:Is there any left handed here among the top players to post their hotkeys ? I am and I had a hard time to find good set up without having to cross too much my arm on the keyboard.

I'm left handed and i don't see any problem regarding oneself being left or right handed, either way you're using your right hand for the mouse and you set up the hotkeys on the left side of the keyboard


I dont get what you mean by using the right hand for the mouse, if im left handed how can i ? im not sure to be able to launch the game if i control the mouse with my wrong hand on my desktop.

Wait you control the mouse with your left hand ? That sounds weird tbh haha

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 10:37
by WickedCossack
flontier wrote:Is there any left handed here among the top players to post their hotkeys ? I am and I had a hard time to find good set up without having to cross too much my arm on the keyboard.


Not left handed but I do play using my left hand on the mouse so this should still be valid. I also think my hotkeys are not that great but I'm not going to change them after 10 years out of habit, far too much effort. But for your interests the main keys are as follows:

1-3: Army
4: TC
5-6: Rax & Stable
E: Villager & House

I usually rest my first finger on E, and the next fingers on 4, 5 & 6. Thumb chills on the left hand side of the space bar (homecity.)

Use fingers to 1a 2a 3a. I also have idle villager on Q for easy access. S ungarrison at TC.

Other keys you shouldn't copy with this set up I use B for TC (hit with thumb) and G for barracks (also thumb) M&L&I for market, plant & mill (hard to hit.) These if I had the care to do so should all really be moved to W,Z,X etc.

D for dock still works with this though, just want to avoid keys on the right.

I don't use unit hotkeys but if you did you should be using QWERTAS with this setup.

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 16:27
by deleted_user
WickedCossack wrote:
flontier wrote:Is there any left handed here among the top players to post their hotkeys ? I am and I had a hard time to find good set up without having to cross too much my arm on the keyboard.


Not left handed but I do play using my left hand on the mouse so this should still be valid. I also think my hotkeys are not that great but I'm not going to change them after 10 years out of habit, far too much effort. But for your interests the main keys are as follows:

1-3: Army
4: TC
5-6: Rax & Stable
E: Villager & House

I usually rest my first finger on E, and the next fingers on 4, 5 & 6. Thumb chills on the left hand side of the space bar (homecity.)

Use fingers to 1a 2a 3a. I also have idle villager on Q for easy access. S ungarrison at TC.

Other keys you shouldn't copy with this set up I use B for TC (hit with thumb) and G for barracks (also thumb) M&L&I for market, plant & mill (hard to hit.) These if I had the care to do so should all really be moved to W,Z,X etc.

D for dock still works with this though, just want to avoid keys on the right.

I don't use unit hotkeys but if you did you should be using QWERTAS with this setup.

How does this ever work

Re: Optimal Hotkeys

Posted: 12 May 2019, 21:16
by Sargsyan
Jerimuno wrote:for creating units i use default hotkeys too

there is only one hotkey that i really enjoy using, and couldnt play without, namely shift+y for find idle villagers. by using this you automatically select a group of idle vills which are closeby somewhere on the map (and not all of your idle vils all across the map).

I looked for this hotkey today but couldn't find it, theres only "find idle villager" or "find all idle villagers".
Did you add this hotkey manually into game files ?