User:Lum Pfohl/How to move using the WASD FCE keys

How To Move Using The WASD FCE Keys

Many people just seem to learn how to move by pressing keys on their keyboard and discover that the arrow keys work. Other tutorials only enforce that notion. In my personal opinion, this is a wholly inefficient way to move, not to mention it's not readily transferrable to other types of games.

Many graphics games and online games use the WASD keys for basic movement. MOH:AA, Unreal Tournament, WOW, Doom, etc., all use the WASD keys. Second Life also has this capability, and it works well. The WASD key placement is also very similar to the placement of the arrow keys on the right side of the keyboard.

What's the Merit?

Using the left hand for manipulating movement, the right hand is free to hold the mouse or to quickly switch back to the keyboard. Further, the left hand can press any combination of the Shift, Alt and Ctrl keys. (On a Mac, the Alt button is the Option key). These keys are especially useful in advanced camera movements where you perform a series of complicated ALT-CTRL-LeftClick-Fwd/Back movements on the mouse.

Some people do not have a choice! Laptop users may not have the arrow keys except by "converting" some of the regular keys in to a numeric keypad and arrow keys. Then they lose the ability to type all letters of the alphabet. These people absolutely NEED this.

Grasshopper...

I approach the newbie and ask him if he's willing to unlearn all that he's learned about movement and relearn my way. If he's not, well I'm done. Additionally, if he's a lefty and holds the mouse with his left hand, I leave well enough alone.

Everything on this page, can be taught in under 10 minutes, including spending time to have fun!

There are two very important tasks to master prior to starting movement.

Press ESC a couple of times to close the chat bar. Otherwise, pressing WASD will only type into the chat bar.
Press ENTER a couple of times to open the chat bar. Needless to say, you cannot move while typing, and you cannot type while moving. (Well, you can do the later - it's just not that easy)

Now with the chat bar closed you can commence movement as follows:

W	Forward (middle finger)
S	Backward (middle finger)
A	Turn Left (ring finger)
D	Turn Right (fore finger)
C	Crouch (walk) / Descend (flight) (fore finger)
Hold C	Descend Until Touchdown and Turn Off Flight
E	Leap (walk) / Ascend (flight) (fore finger)
Hold E	Jump and Switch to Flight & Ascend
F	Toggle Flight (fore finger)
WA	Walk forward and to the left
WD	Walk forward and to the right
SA	Walk backward and to the left
SD	Walk backward and to the right

Note: You will find that the finger placement is different than the standard typing home keys. Place your hand so that your ring finger rests on the A key, middle finger rests on the S key, and the fore finger rests on the D key. From this position, you will be able to press ALL of the keys you need with speed. This is only a suggestion and it is the way I move. When I type, my hand naturally shifts back to the home position.

Strafing

Strafing is like "side-stepping." It is left-right movement without actually turning left or right. It is accomplished by pressing and holding the SHIFT key (use your left pinky for this).

Shift A	Strafe Left
Shift D	Strafe Right

Mouselook Movement

Mouselook is a condition where your display shows a crosshair in the middle of the screen and HUD elements and your avatar is no longer visible. It is used for Aiming and High-Precision movements. More specifically, mouselook attaches your camera (your vantage point) to your avatars face, looking forward, instead of looking over your shoulder from behind. This aids in aiming.

To toggle Mouselook, press the M button or use the mouse scrollwheel and zoom in as far as it would go. Your avatar, menu item, any open window will disappear and you'll see a little while "box-like" crosshair in the center and the words "Press ESC to leave Mouselook"

While in this condition, your avatar will turn in whichever direction your crosshair is aimed. If you press W to walk (or fly), you can move about in this fashion. In flight-mode, you can actually fly up/down left/right using the mouse and the W key!

Slow Motion Movements (as of SL Version 1.19.x, this no longer works!)

Here is a tip almost no one knows. Press and hold the Space bar, and move using the WASD keys. You'll walk slowly. If you're flying, you'll fly slowly. Strafing seems to not work with the space bar so beware in crowded places.

Having A Laugh With The Duck Walk

This is a two-handed exercise. Turn off all AO's and press and hold the C key with your right hand. Look at yourself and giggle.

Keeping the C key pressed, attempt to move using the WASD keys. You're now doing the Duck-Walk!(ahahahahaha!!!)

Having A Laugh With A SL Glitch

You may have noticed that while doing the duck walk, you seem to wig out. It is a documented SL glitch. Here's how to have fun with this:

Press and hold the C key and do not let go for the duration of the antic. Press the W key briefly to begin movement and let it go. Keep the C key pressed, and watch what happens.

If you wig out too much (that is your avatar bounces off-sim), your prim/flexi hair will fall off!!!!!! (ROFL)

Having Fun Falling In Slo-Mo'

If you're flying and toggle flight off, you'll fall to earth and your avatar will flail as it does. But you can get a laugh or two by flying up, pressing and holding the SPACE bar and toggle flight off. Watch yourself flail and flail while only falling slowly until you gently touch down!!!!

Other Methods Of Movement

Yes! There is another way to move your avatar!

Left-Click on your avatar (and don't let it go). If you move your mouse left and right, your avatar will TURN left and right. If you press W (or Up Arrow), you will walk forward and turn in the direction your mouse commands you to. This is similar to the MOUSELOOK movement above.