Using a Controller in M&B:Warband v1.03

This is for players who are more comfortable with a controller, prefer to play on TV screens or have a hard time with the mouse's implementation in the directional combat of M&B:Warband. This is the first version and thus contains bad grammar, spelling issues and a lack of complete information

Your Controller

First thing you aught to know, is that the only contoller I can test is the Xbox 360 controller. I will attempt to test others, but it's unlikely. If someone is able to test another controller type and is interested in expanding the guide please contact me. Assuming you have a 360 controller then read on, otherwise I'd plug in your controller, and start the tutorial and try to figure things out.

Control map

While you're in direct control of you character the left analog stick controls your movement, while the right controls the camera. Press down on the right analog stick to toggle the zoom function and press down on the left to toggle the 1st person view. Pressing Start brings up the game menu (the one with save and quit options) and pressing Back brings up the location menu (where you can select a place to go or action to take). The of the controls are as follows:
In combat/ in a location:
Y= Interact (i.e. talk, pick up)
B= Drop weapon
A= Jump
X= Kick
Right Bumper: switch weapon
Left Bumper: switch sheild
Right trigger: Attack
Left trigger: Block
D-pad left: main comand menu
D-pad right: command everyone
D-pad up: Notes
D-pad down: Change weapon mode
In command menu
D-pad up/ down: change selection
D-pad left: go back one menu/ make command menu vanish
D-pad right: select command or menu

In the map:
Right analog stick: move cursor
Left analog stick: move camera
D-pad Right/Left: turn camera
D-pad Up: zoom to ground level
D-pad Down: open Notes

In Menu's
Right analog stick: move cursor
Right trigger: select (or A or Y, though these do not work consistantly so stick with the trigger)

In conversation:
Right trigger: select response/ continue dialog
Right analog stick: move cursor

Pros and Cons

The controller may aid some players in combat as it gives slightly more directional control, but some may find it cumbersome and ought to stick to a mouse.
The controller also has very logical button placement and commands seem easier to access than on the default keyboard controls.
However the controller is ultimately encumbering outside of combat. A player may spend more time in menus overall, but not drastically so. The trouble comes when you want to use a special command. For example, the only way to quickly sell items is to click on them while holding ctrl. You can achieve similar results by pressing ctrl and click with the right trigger, but it feels awkward. If someone has discovered that there is a way to instantly transfer items to sell please leave a comment.
You also cannot fast-forward time in the game for shorter trips without touching the keyboard. It’s too bad these functions were not taken care of by the developers so that people who preferred controllers could fully function without the keyboard and mouse.

Xpadder and Customization

The controls when using a controller are not satisfactory in my book, however using the Xpadder program you can customize your own controls. You can download the Xpadded software at one of these links:
http://www.xpadder.com/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/xpadder/

Final Word

I've made this because on one seems to have officially stated that the games has partial/full controller support. M&B is a good game and I'd hate to see people turned off by it's lack of controller support.
That said people who use the controller will at some point have to grab the mouse so they can empty their inventory. It's sad that this and the fast forward function don't exist on the controller as they are small but necessary features of M&B.
I hope this was helpful, if you find out anything not in the guide please notify me and if anything here turns out to be inconsistent with your experience please let men know.

[Cazodore]

How do you change controller sensitivity????

[konari]

Why?

[skbidihoio]

This is cursed

[LEGO Ninjago Spinjitzu]

do you know if it can also work with an xbox one controller
I presume so

[GeneralVata]

you cant crouch?

[AlasseEarfalas]

Thank you for putting this together. I've got palsy in one arm so I have to use a controller for most games, and figuring out a brand-new xpadder set up for every game is a pain. I think this guide would be a lot more helpful if it also included the default keys so we know what key to bind to each button rather than having to look that up elsewhere. But still, thanks a bunch!

[123]

how to configure whit my x box controller ?

[zapflash]

I want to thank you for this. I love this game, and my friend had been pestering me to buy it. I kept putting him off because I'm more comfortable playing with a controller. I bgen playing with a mouse, but this makes it much more natural for me.

[Wyfirion the Battle Gnome]

My pc is hooked up to my tv screen :p

[[RCC]Ebdanian]

Cool trick. You can use both the controller and a mouse at the same time. So if you like the movement of the controller and the aiming/attacking of the mouse just hold the controller in your left hand and the mouse in your right.