You keyboard guys really use a/d for steering?

[Ferien auf dem Innenhof]

Hey guys,

I don't want to buy a wheel, I cannot justify it coz simply I am not a computer game driver typically.

I play keyboard only and use the mouse to look around. But steering with keyboard means:

"Press A and D a thousand times per mile"
So I do micro zigzag steering.

Mouse steering is a bad option for me. Unlike in ArmA, when I freelook the look does not return to the center when I release the key. So I have to manually return the look, while also steering, which is awkward.

Anything I'm missing?

Thx guys

[Ferien auf dem Innenhof]

Dr. Trager I think mentioned a crucial thing. There is a "center view" keybind, I did not know that. This would prevent me from doing a mistake I often did when trying mouse steering: I looked, then wanted to look somewhere to the middle again and accidentally steered... The process will now be easier.
Also, some interesting keybinds here. Will find what fits me best. I'm an ArmA player, fine tuning keyboard shortcuts is something I love :-)
Yeah, mouse has additional buttons left and right.

I typically rarely use numpad numbers, because right hand is on mouse. But e.g. I often put important functions on Numpad-Enter, can be easily hit by right thumb. Etc etc.

Thanks guys.

[Smeidy]

Im using mouse for whole game. Left button = accerelate, Right button = brake/reverse, Middle button = windshield wipers and on the left side of my mouse i have 2 additional buttons..front one for lights and rear one for long distance lights. I like to chill while driving so i only play with mouse. Keyboard is optional for me..Q for left light signal, E for right light signal and F for emergency signals. X for engine start/stop.

[Drevin]

Originally posted by Peeto:

what?? I can not imagine to play this with controller! You will miss like at least half keys you need for comfortable playing. K+M is nearly must have for this game, otherwise it will be just cutted version. And yes... A/D left right, Q/E turning lights, e windscreen wiper, f, r t y h n b v c x y h n m j u rest of the functions etc. It controlls with half of the keyboard, really.

I don't think anyone was expecting the OP to play the game solely on the controller. Of course, there are keybinds which need to be used for some actions, but most of the important ones can be bound to the controller, and in theory accelerating, braking and turning would be the main role of the controller. My current controller keybinds:

Right trigger - accelerate
Left trigger - brake
Left/right bumpers - turn signals
Right stick - look around
Right stick press - reset camera position
Left stick - turn the wheel
Left stick press - parking brake
Start - activate
Back - turn on/off the route advisor
A - change zoom level on the GPS
X - cruise control
Y - cruise control step up 5km/h
B - cruise control step down 5km/h
Dpad down - shift up hint
Dpad up - hazards
Dpad left - lights
Dpad right - highbeams

On the keyboard I'm left with:

+ and - on the numpad for shifting into drive/neutral/reverse, M for map and O for beacon. I'm currently driving without rain, but if I put rain back up I'll just rebind Dpad down for wipers.

I hope I didn't forget any other important key. Whatever is left, such as horn, I pretty much don't use at all.

Edit: T for trailer. I prefer to still keep this on the kb, so I don't accidentally press it mid drive. :P

[Alber]

The wheel is so worth it if you like this game. But why not a gamepad at least? It'll be useful for other games too.

[Winged Wolf]

I am a keyboard/mouse user, to solve the "freelook not auto-centering" you'd be best to learn to push '1' (the default "interior" camera button, as it resets the view). I use sequential, W and S to throttle and break, Shift and Ctrl to change gears, Alt for zoom, right mouse button to freelook, when I want to auto-center the camera, I push '1'. I got used to it in less than half an hour!

Edit:
I just got a anxiety attack after realizing I don't remember how I used the number keys in Arma 3.

[Ferien auf dem Innenhof]

Originally posted by Alber:

The wheel is so worth it if you like this game. But why not a gamepad at least? It'll be useful for other games too.

I have an XBox controller but I have no love for it, especially because of the steering part in any driving game.

[Ferien auf dem Innenhof]

Just for the completeness. So now here's how I played it and what I got used to.

Steering: Mouse
Center view: F
Freelook: Shift
Accelerate/Decelerate: W/S
Parking brake: Space
Blinker: A/D
Cruise control +/-: Q/E
Cruise control: C
The other cruise control which resumes: X
Gear up/down: +/- Numpad

Changing the views is on my left thumb button of the mouse.

So, gear up/down are rarely needed. Center view is important and always needed, hence F. Same for freelook.

I love to drive with cruise control, I control my speed using Q and E in +2 /-2 km/H steps. I wished for some mod which automatically configures cruise control speed to be the same speed as the truck before me, but such kind of AI stuff does not seem to exist in the ETS world. Maybe not possible or a purist thing.

[reuhaul]

I have used mouse/keyboard ever since in first got the game, set-up as follows.

LMB = accelerate
RMB = brake
Mouse wheel up/down = change gear (automatic gearbox)
Mouse left/right = steering

1 = cab view
2 = external view
TAB + Mouse = move camera view
Q = interior look left
W = interior look forward
E = interior look right
R = lean out view (look back)
T = trailer connect/disconnect
A = left indicator
S = toggle engine brake
D = right indicator
F = hazard flashers
G = change to sequential mode gears (sometimes needed if stuck in quarry etc)
\ = light modes (sides/main)
Z = differential
X = start/stop engine
C = cruise control (turn on/off)
V = wipers
B = beacons

[Ferien auf dem Innenhof]

Oh great, I didn't recognize mouse wheel up/down can be used. I'm using it for cruise control +/- now.

[DoLaN]

if your view is an issue with driving, i drive with the basic controls, i have my horn, hazards and indicators as my arrow keys. i look around with my mouse when i have to and press 1 to go back to my incab view, if i look around at all i just press 1 to reset my view. you get used to keyboard after a while but for long distance i tend to lay back and drive with a controller. its a lot easier than tapping keys

[jasonbarron]

Out of curiosity do keyboard and mouse users mostly just drive in automatic?

[LostBoyLazarus]

Originally posted by Tortuosit:

Well I could try the XBox controller, but I do not like it.

Why?

[pieperjohanns]

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

do keyboard and mouse users mostly just drive in automatic?

Yes.

And the real-life trucks in Europe are automatic, too – at least the ones that you buy new.

[jasonbarron]

I suppose the vast majority of players, regardless of input device, play using some form of automatic. No judgment, but it's too casual for me. I probably wouldn't bother playing this or ATS if it didn't have the manual option.

[reuhaul]

i use "automatic" because thats what i am used to in real life, as i am a disabled driver