Roguelike keyset: device use oddity

[Donald Jonker]

Any particular reason why the keys devoted to using devices get shuffled around in the roguelike keyset?

a->z
z->a
u->Z

The assignment of staves to Z is fine. There should be no reason for the inversion of wands and rods, though. Confuses me every time I go to aim/zap.

[Nolendil]

That's how the roguelike keyset was designed a long time ago.
However, what is messed up is the "original" keyset

After some research, it seems Rogue (see Epyx Rogue Manual or rogue.man) only used 'z' for both wand and staves (so 'z' for wands is historically more correct than 'a' ) and Moria already used a/u in original keyset and z/Z in roguelike keyset for wands and staves. Rods were introduced by Angband I guess, so what looks like an inversion only occured later.

I can understand the confusion for people used to the "original" keyset but I'm pretty happy with how the roguelike keys are mapped...

[Donald Jonker]

Thanks for the explanation.

I guess that makes "sense," after a fashion. Still seems like a no-brainer for correction.

[Nolendil]

Err... I hope you don't plan to change the roguelike keyset, right?
It's really convenient to have both wands and staves on 'z' with just pressing shift or not.
Rods and items activation on 'a' (again with or without shift) is also great.

Also 'a'iming makes no sense and 'u'sing is too generic me

[Atarlost]

I think the suggestion was swapping wands and rods so you'd still have the two keys. I guess whether the switch should be made depends on whether the roguelike keyset caters to people coming from rogue or from angbanders who want to play on a laptop with no numpad.

[Blackened]

Originally Posted by Atarlost

I think the suggestion was swapping wands and rods so you'd still have the two keys. I guess whether the switch should be made depends on whether the roguelike keyset caters to people coming from rogue or from angbanders who want to play on a laptop with no numpad.

There is the saying: “If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it.” The rogue-like keyset is perfect the way it is. And if there is anyone willing to learn another keymap to play on the laptop, compared to the movement keys the mentioned swap is the least painful part.

[Donald Jonker]

Originally Posted by Blackened

The rogue-like keyset is perfect the way it is.

I'd say a useless inversion is an obvious imperfection, but if I'm the only one who has a problem with it, I'm content to let sleeping dogs lie.

[Marble Dice]

Originally Posted by donald jonker

i'm content to let sleeping dogs lie.

You fool, they never sleep!

ZZZ Z ZZ ZZZ ZZZ Z ZZZZ ZZ ZZ

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

[buzzkill]

Originally Posted by Marble Dice

You fool, they never sleep!
...
Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

OK Marble-Dee, consider yourself warned. Don't start infringing on my turf. Calling Donald a fool, that's my job!

My apoligies... in advance.

[RogerN]

The roguelike keyset actually makes more sense.

Z/z both correspond to items with limited charges.
A/a both correspond to activations with unlimited recharges.

Also, I just started learning to use the roguelike keyset in the last two weeks or so, and I've progressed to liking it even more than the default keyset on a full keyboard. It's very convenient how you almost never need to move your hands.