I use "F" key to move in direction I wish to go. I never use "A" and "D" key. Is this "wrong"? Should I rather train A and D? What is more effective?
If I understand correctly, you use the "center legs on torso" command to turn your legs. I think it's a bad habit and you should learn to use the "turn left" and "turn right" commands. The reason is simple: there are a lot of situations when you want to walk in a different direction than the one you look/shoot at, while still have control of your direction.
The eternal answer to any of these questions is "use the keys which make you most comfortably", however I tend to stick to the WADS movement myself. The exact keys you are using to move are, in the end, less important than the way you are moving your mech in-game in relation to the other mechs.
With WASD you make yourself able to circle slow mechs, and to navigate easier when shooting stuff in another direction. You can surprise fast mechs in a slow one by suddendly turning in the opposing direction as he does. Not using the "turn legs" buttons is dumb IMO. Think like you're piloting a tank with a limited turn angle for your turret and with jump capabilities if you have a JJ installed. Myself played a lot of WoT a few years ago, and i performed well without 'center legs on torso direction' keys. And i never use it since i know exactly were my legs are everytime.
Thank you all for your opinions. It occurred to me while playing that my way isn't efficient enough. And since I'm beginner (2 weeks in game) it's still time for me to change habit.
You have to develop a sixth sense for where your legs are pointing at all times. The best way I can explain how to develop that is you have to remember where you left them. Eventually you will get the hang of it. In the meantime, the yellow dotted arrow on your mini-map is your best friend. The map turns so that "North" is the direction your torso is facing and leaves the yellow dotted arrow as where your mech legs are pointed at. When you're focused on movement, its okay to glance at it constantly. In the heat of battle is where you have to sort of know where you left them.
Still fighting with controls, but I'm getting better. Problem is when there is close fight, or circling around me. Then head doesn't know where the legs are going And when I automatically press "F" I'm completely lost :blush:. It's unbelievable how fast can you get used to a bad habit. And how hard is relearn.
Keep at it! It takes time, like all things worthwhile. When you are able to run between buildings at 150 kph while torsotwisted 110 degrees and hitting enemies while clearing obstacles such as other dogfighting mechs, then, you have graduated our school. Step it up pilot! Suggest you remap the centre legs command away from the F key too, less mistakes.
Happy to help, most of the ppl here are vets with thousands of games. Always refreshing to help new fish. We all are new at everything at some point.
One thing that helps me with torsotwist is to twist to a certain degree, say 80 and then maneuver with the legs. Don't twist back and forth while you leave your legs running a straight line. That helps the enemy predict where to shoot. Leaving the torso roughly twisted at 80 while maneuvering with the legs around the enemy enables me to focus on vertical aiming and doing lateral with the legs. Of course I do minor lateral with the mouse but the rough angle "preset" helps knowing where I'm running anyways. Typically, if I am in a light and doing a attack run I memorize the nearest buildings, plan my entry and exit (allowing for some degrees of error), twist roughly to the angle I need, run in, fire and maintain crosshairs on target while aiming my legs at the exit vector and return torso to a shield position (taking any parting shots on sides) as I exit. That's 3-4 seconds. Then I plan the next move, come back or move on?
On that note, varying your speed and trajectory should be something you practice every match. It's ALWAYS better to be slightly unpredictable.
