Hotkeys--Key to Battlespeed

[Good Ship Chuckle]

I'm not skilled enough to use all that hotkeys. :P I only use a few hotkeys:

I hope that I did not come across as being extremely technical when I explained my hotkeys. I can honestly tell you that it does not take a lot of skill. No more skill than it takes to type on a keyboard with out looking (which is a skill taught in most middle schools). Once you understand this tutorial about hotkeys, you will deliberate about giving commands as much as a video gamer thinks about pressing the the buttons on his controller.

GSC's Crash Course On Hotkeys
Right now, as you read these very words, I want you to follow these 10 simple steps, in this order.

The Base keys for your fingers:
1) Place your PINKY on the <k> key
2) Place your RING FINGER on the <l> key
3) Place your MIDDLE FINGER on the <;> key
4) Place your INDEX FINGER on the <'> key
5) Place your THUMB on the <Ctrl> key
(Your left hand should be relaxed and comfortable)

The Co-designated keys (keys that are to be pressed, but not rested upon by their respective fingers):
6) Your PINKY also presses the <i> key
7) Your RING FINGER also presses the <o> key
8) Your MIDDLE FINGER also presses the <p> key
9) Your INDEX FINGER also presses the <[> and </> keys
10) Your THUMB also presses the <Alt> key

This configuration was designed so that you (the player) can keep your eyes on the screen, your right hand on the mouse, and your left hand stationary while your fingers press the appropriate keys independently with out needing to watch them. If you can do this, then you are already a master of the hotkeys.

Congradulations. You have just passed GSC's Crash Course On Hotkeys. Give yourself a pat on the back!


To refresh your memory of what all the keys mean:
Good Ship Chuckle's Hotkeys
<k> fire at will mode
<l> skirmish mode
<;> toggle run/walk
<'> special ability
<i> defensive mode
<o> show unit destinations
<p> rotate unit counter clockwise
<[> rotate unit clockwise
</> halt

Now only one thing remains. Practicing.
Once you have the keys remotely memorized, select an easy battle, or finally take out that god-forsaken band of brigands tearing up your countryside. Once the battle has started, order yourself NOT to move the mouse over to the command buttons whatsoever. Instead, execute your commands with the hotkeys (Pause it if you need to. @Quirinus). But whatever you do, DON'T CLICK THOSE COMMAND BUTTONS! After each battle you will notice that you'll think less and less about pressing. You'll simply think "I think I'll lower my spears for those oncoming calvalry" or "I better make my warband give the warcry before I charge", and BOOM!, your index finger just hit the <'> key. The command was given instantly, giving you a decisive advantage over any adversary. Your computer won't know what hit it.

This second post is really meant to be an addition to the original one. But unlike the original one, this tutorial was meant to be as informative and as simple as possible. If there is something I've missed, or somewhere that I've made myself unclear, please let me know. Because I fear that when some people visit this thread they become too baffled or frightened by its complexity to post a response, when in fact it is really not complex at all. Simply give this tutorial a shot, and you will find that how simple yet rewarding hotkey usage is.