Ideal M&K Control Scheme for Dark Souls 2 SotFS

Here's my mouse and keyboard "config" for Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin. I tried to make the game as intuitive and easy to control as possible. With some new textures and an Autohotkey script you'll be able to see keyboard/mouse button UI icons, fix mouse button delay issues, make use of mouse4 and mouse5 buttons, and add additional quick buttons for the equipment and inventory menus.

Configuration

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• 1. Install the latest version of iGP11 @nexus[www.nexusmods.com] and install it to .\<steam_root>\steamapps\common\Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin\iGP11\
  
  • Note: Don't worry about it being published on the Dark Souls III Nexus, because this program is built to support more than one game. This program is required to override original user interface textures, but you can also use it to add several neat looking graphical effects to the game.
• 2. Rename the executable file DarkSoulsII.exe in .\<steam_root>\steamapps\common\Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin\Game\ to DarkSoulsII_game.exe . Don't forget to do this, otherwise new files will replace the game executable.
  
  • Note: the *.exe part of the file is it's extension and is only visible depending on your OS settings. You always can check the file extension in by right clicking --> Properties.
• 3. Download this archive[drive.google.com] ( >> mirror[1drv.ms] << ) and extract it to .\<steam_root>\steamapps\common\Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin\Game\
  
  • Note: The archive contains a regular (*.ahk) Autohotkey script in case you want to edit it or just check what exactly it does (use Notepad to do so). To run it you'll have to install Autohotkey, but with the *.exe you don't have to do that. By the way, that executable is necessary to run the game through the Steam Client instead of using a shortcut.
• 4. Run .\<steam_root>\steamapps\common\Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin\iGP11\iGP11.Tool.exe .
  
  • Check the following settings:
    
    • In the main tab set the game name setting to dark souls 2 scholar of the first sin.
      
    • In the main tab set the executable file path to your renamed game executable which is now DarkSoulsII_game.exe (not DarkSoulsII.exe!!).
      
    • In the textures tab make sure the override mode setting is set to override.
• 5. Now start the game through iGP11.Tool.exe by clicking on LAUNCH GAME which will be active if you've set the right executable path earlier on. You should notice right away that the UI is different and in settings menus keyboard buttons are shown. If everything is okay, then close the game and close iGP11 Tool.
  
• 6. If everything was done right you should be able to start the game with mods through your Steam Library. So do that (run the game), load up a character or start a new game to gain access to the Key Bindings settings menu.
  .
  Rebind the following stuff:

• Mouse:
  

  Action / Setting	New Bind
  Disable Double Clicking	On
  EVERY other MOUSE button	Nothing

  
  
• Movement:
  

  Action	New Bind
  Walking	Left Shift
  Jump	Left Ctrl
  Auto-walk	Right Alt
  Auto-dash	Right Shift

  
  
• Switch Equipment:
  

  Action	New Bind
  Switch spells	R
  Switch items	F
  Switch left weapon	C
  Switch right weapon	V

  
  
• Combat:
  

  Action	New Bind
  Attack (left hand)	Z
  Strong attack (left hand)	X
  Use item	Q
  Interact	E
  Wield right weapon two-handed	Left Alt

  
  
• Menus:
  

  Action	New Bind
  Move cursor (up)	R
  Move cursor (down)	F
  Move cursor (left)	C
  Move cursor (right)	V
  Confirm	E
  Cancel	Space
  Toggle menu (left)	9
  Toggle menu (right)	0
  Function 1	Q
  Function 2	Left Alt

  .
  If everything was rebinded precisely as instructed above, then this will be the results with the Autohotkey script enabled:
  Remember, you should rebind the controls exactly like described above, otherwise the Autohotkey script won't be compatible with the ingame controls!
  .
• 7. Once you're done, remove your mouse cursor from any menu item, then press Backspace, confirm that you want to disable double clicking and press Backspace again. Basically, this way you'll save the new controls layout.
  
• 8. Done! Now you can play Dark Souls II with keyboard button hints and much better controls!

F.A.Q.

Q: Will the Autohotkey script cause issues with typing words through the Steam Overlay?
A: For the most part it won't be an issue, except for 1, 2, 3, 4 keys, arrow keys and mouse buttons (which are rebinded, of course).

Q: Do I need to install Autohotkey to use the script provided in this tutorial?
A: Only if you decide to use the *.ahk file. For the *..exe (executable with an icon) you don't have to install it.

Q: Does the Autohotkey script work with other keyboard language layouts other than English?
A: Yes. The control scheme won't just get disabled if you change the language layout like with other scripts floating around the internet for this game.

Q: Will the new bindings interfere with other windows?
A: Don't worry. The autohotkey script provided only changes bindings for the game. Other than that it automatically exits once the game is closed.

Q: So is there any issues that;might occur while using this stuff?
A: While using the autohokey script and other stuff makes things better, it's still not perfect..
Here's some ramaining issues that likely will occur::

• Very rarely your character just refuses to run left or right. I'm not sure if this issue might happen for other people, but if this happens then just minimize the game and maximize again. That should fix it. Message me if you know how to fix this for good.
  
• In some "Yes/No" dialogue windows your character will attack if you use Left Mouse Button to select an option. Try to remember to use E on your keyboard instead while in "Yes/No" dialogues
  
• Due to the use of button combinations the quick inventory and equipment buttons are not perfect. Don't spam them and don't try to use those buttons right after loading or it's not going to work as expected.
  
• Sometimes the jump attack and guard break buttons randomly don't work. Even though the button combinations triggered are perfect, it still doens't work sometimes. I'm not sure why this happens, but durring testing even while doing the attacks manually it still did not work every time.
  I think this could be something to do with how well the game is performing at the time.

Q: Can I get soft-banned for using the autohotkey scripts or iGP11?
A: As far as I know using any mods like these can cause a soft-ban. It might happen or might not. I've personally played almost 150 hours and nothing happened to me (it's not like I'm cheating either).

On the DS2fix: The ds2fix was not an officially released FROMSOFTWARE file/mod and as such they are well within their rights to restrict any players using it. We're not really sure of the exact reasons as to why FROMSOFTWARE decides certain mods are violations of the EULA while others appear to go unnoticed (but these will most likely still lead to restrictions once FROM is aware of them) and as such we strongly recommend to our end users that they simply not use any mods, hacks, or external files with the game (since they will all be a "try at your own risk of restrictions").

These are some other apps that can cause issues - using x360ce, SweetFX, ReShade, DXTory or the Durazno Dead-zone fix.

Q: Why should every mouse button be disabled in the game settings?
A: Because mouse implementation in this game is horrible. For some reason there's often a delay while using ingame mouse bindings, and this happens only with the mouse. This is fixed by biding keyboard buttons to your mouse to trick the game into thinking your mouse is actually a keyboard.

Q: Overridden textures don't work anymore, what can be done to fix this?
A: Try reinstalling iGP11 if just restarting the game doesn't help.
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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the following people for providing mods and tools:

• Clean UI by bottle @nexus[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• Remove Bloodshot Eye Effect During Boss Intros by Jake Salt @nexus[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• KBAM Interface Icons by Hollowatcher @nexus[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• iGP11 by S17L @nexus[www.nexusmods.com]
  
• Autohotkey by Chris Mallett and Steve Gray https://autohotkey.com/

[sENoZ]

@Nuclearism Thats how i play cinders with 6 Curses ON.

[23]

Just imagine playing Dark Souls with a keyboard and mouse.

[spngbobluvr2]

ha!

[p0trosh]

Hey guys, here's s a fixed version of the script
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1O_Ft0RsFuSQT_dbB4uaLaZvZ-ixdcaG7

Just use instead of what's suggested to download in item 3 of the tutorial.

With it you can run the game properly through steam with keybindings and keyboard icons.

[Melody Fücker]

Script doesn't work, tried 3 times precisely as instructed. Rebinded everything like in the description. And this mod eats about 20-15 fps.

[Eric4bz]

I used numpad buttons for attacks and weapon swapping. 7 and 4 for R1 and R2, 9 and 6 for L1 and L2, and 8 and 5 for switch righthand and switch left hand. Aside from that left everything the same.

[Pyresryke]

Does this disable multiplayer?