> The numpad doesn't always like to activate the power on the first try which means you'll have to double tap the number to get things to work.
Yes, very, very very irritating. I remembered someone had solved this by reloading the bind file after every keypress or somesuch, but that article is gone, and I can't make it work.
Anyone know?
I use a couple others, too - I don't use the numpad the way you do, by any means 
but these may also be useful:
/bind up "target_friend_far"
/bind down "target_friend_near"
/bind left "target_friend_prev"
/bind right "target_friend_next"
And yes, I'm somewhat bind-happy on stuff, but I use a similar message/whistle to get attention on shift+7, with 7 firing off the aura itself. I've been considering swapping that, actually... but I like having them handy to solo with just a press.
Not quite as complex as the above, but I have bound the number pad to team mate selection, then : numlock = Absorb pain, "/" = Fortitude, "*" as Clear Mind, "-" as Heal Other and "+" as Heal Aura. This order could be shuffled to suit the user (mine was based on how they were arranged in the Power Tray) easily, and with "0" "9" and "." still free a couple more binds could be added for the more nimbly fingered.
There are 2 button presses to get each one working and you still have to clikc the Aura's & AB, but I find this works fine in large AV teams.
I can heartily reccomend using the number pad as some form of healing device though. In large teams it is sooo much faster than clicking on powers & targets. It may take practice, but speaking as a fat fingered Empath with the dexterity of a brick - I have surprised even myself with how fast buffs & heals can be administered.
-H
[ QUOTE ]
The numpad doesn't always like to activate the power on the first try which means you'll have to double tap the number to get things to work.
[/ QUOTE ]I found this trick from the old Curveball guide:
Make two files, heal#a.txt and heal#b.txt, for each numpad key. For example, here are heal1a.txt and heal1b.txt
heal1a.txt:
numpad1 "+down$$-down$$team_select 1$$bind_load_file c:/coh/heal1b.txt"
heal1b.txt:
numpad1 "+down$$-down$$powexec_name heal other$$bind_load_file c:/coh/heal1a.txt"
You then use the string from heal1a.txt to bind the numpad1 key.
For whatever reason, the +down$$-down$$ allows for the teamselect to work on the keypress and the heal to work when you let go of the key.
Just change this:
numpad1 "unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
To this:
numpad1 "+ $$unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
Which should take care of this: "The numpad doesn't always like to activate the power on the first try which means you'll have to double tap the number to get things to work."
I discovered this fun little callout for my Recovery and Regenaration Auras last year while teaming with a particularly eccentric Empath called Sir Green. I adopted it, adapted it, and now I always get a chuckle from folks.
Fun Callout:
F9 "em whistle$$g Oi! Recovery and Regen Auras are ready! Gather like ya got a purpose people!"
F10 "em flex1$$g Activation in 3..."
F11 "em flex2$$g 2..."
F12 "em flex3$$g 1..."
numpad7 "powexec_name Recovery Aura"
numpad8 "powexec_name Regeneration Aura$$g Alright you skamps! Show the bad people a good time!$$em goaway"
Sure it seems frivolous to use that many keys for this, but it always elicits a chuckle out of folks. In put the activations on the numpad, since I tend to have plenty of free space on it. Although I am considering making some macros to put into the third tray since I rarely use it for my empath anyways.
Also, you can use the time for the emotes to complete to help regulate the countdown so that it is uniform. The flex emotes are actually about a second in length during the formation of the pose.
~Virtue~
Flynx 50 Mind/Emp/Mind
Inflamer 50 Fire/Kin/Fire
Frost Custodian 44 Ice/Storm
@Flynx
I am not new to CoH, or even to binds, but I have never had one load from a text file before. I guess I am just a little confused. Explain?
[ QUOTE ]
I am not new to CoH, or even to binds, but I have never had one load from a text file before. I guess I am just a little confused. Explain?
[/ QUOTE ]
Simple: you can use the bind_load_file command to load binds from a text file kept on your PC. That is helpful is you want to have 2 or more sets of binds for your toons - I keep one for my Good Guys (COH) and one for my Bad Guys (COV).
To see a sample of the format used, you can use the bind_save to save whatever bindings you have at the moment to C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\keybinds.txt (if that is where your game is installed).
"This file will be in text format, and will list all bindings on the current character, one binding per line. Further, the file will be formatted correctly for import using the /bind_load_file or /bind_load commands" (that last part is from ParagonWiki).
Keep NCSoft from shutting down City of Heroes : http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes
This FAQ is going to focus on Empathy Binds and tips but many of the binds can be set up for use by other defenders as well. I've seen the question asked a couple of times now of the best binds for Empaths and with this collection of the answers we can simply point the questioners in the right direction. So anyway, here goes.
The first one comes from PsychoPez. This bind sets up all of your heals on the numpad.
/bind numpad9 "powexec_name Healing Aura"
^^^ - This sets heal aura up as the number 9 on the keypad. When you start using the keypad (if you do) for your empath skills, it's just in a natural position to quick heal there
add.txt
--------
numpad1 "unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad2 "unselect$$team_select 2$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad3 "unselect$$team_select 3$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad4 "unselect$$team_select 4$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad5 "unselect$$team_select 5$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad6 "unselect$$team_select 6$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad7 "unselect$$team_select 7$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
numpad8 "unselect$$team_select 8$$powexec_name Clear Mind"
divide "bind_load_file F:\divide.txt"
multiply "bind_load_file F:\multiply.txt"
subtract "bind_load_file F:\subtract.txt"
add "bind_load_file F:\add.txt"
numpad0 "bind_load_file F:\zero.txt"
divide.txt
-----------
numpad1 "unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad2 "unselect$$team_select 2$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad3 "unselect$$team_select 3$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad4 "unselect$$team_select 4$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad5 "unselect$$team_select 5$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad6 "unselect$$team_select 6$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad7 "unselect$$team_select 7$$powexec_name Heal Other"
numpad8 "unselect$$team_select 8$$powexec_name Heal Other"
divide "bind_load_file F:\divide.txt"
multiply "bind_load_file F:\multiply.txt"
subtract "bind_load_file F:\subtract.txt"
add "bind_load_file F:\add.txt"
numpad0 "bind_load_file F:\zero.txt"
multiply.txt
-------------
numpad1 "unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad2 "unselect$$team_select 2$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad3 "unselect$$team_select 3$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad4 "unselect$$team_select 4$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad5 "unselect$$team_select 5$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad6 "unselect$$team_select 6$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad7 "unselect$$team_select 7$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
numpad8 "unselect$$team_select 8$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
divide "bind_load_file F:\divide.txt"
multiply "bind_load_file F:\multiply.txt"
subtract "bind_load_file F:\subtract.txt"
add "bind_load_file F:\add.txt"
numpad0 "bind_load_file F:\zero.txt"
subtract.txt
-------------
numpad1 "unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad2 "unselect$$team_select 2$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad3 "unselect$$team_select 3$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad4 "unselect$$team_select 4$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad5 "unselect$$team_select 5$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad6 "unselect$$team_select 6$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad7 "unselect$$team_select 7$$powexec_name Fortitude"
numpad8 "unselect$$team_select 8$$powexec_name Fortitude"
divide "bind_load_file F:\divide.txt"
multiply "bind_load_file F:\multiply.txt"
subtract "bind_load_file F:\subtract.txt"
add "bind_load_file F:\add.txt"
numpad0 "bind_load_file F:\zero.txt"
zero.txt
---------
numpad1 "unselect$$team_select 1$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad2 "unselect$$team_select 2$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad3 "unselect$$team_select 3$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad4 "unselect$$team_select 4$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad5 "unselect$$team_select 5$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad6 "unselect$$team_select 6$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad7 "unselect$$team_select 7$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
numpad8 "unselect$$team_select 8$$powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
divide "bind_load_file F:\divide.txt"
multiply "bind_load_file F:\multiply.txt"
subtract "bind_load_file F:\subtract.txt"
add "bind_load_file F:\add.txt"
numpad0 "bind_load_file F:\zero.txt"
Now the Pros of this setup is that it makes things very easy on the empath once you get used to it. When you need to heal someone you simply hit their number on the numpad and be done with it.
The Cons aren't so good in my opinion. The numpad doesn't always like to activate the power on the first try which means you'll have to double tap the number to get things to work. Also, to effectively use this setup you have to take your hand off the mouse which hinders your movement to some degree. If you play a stationary healer then this would be a good setup.
Both of the following are suggestions from LadyMage.
For auras set up a gather bind.
/bind numpad0 "team Gather for Auras!!$$emote whistle"
Also instead of using the numpad for binding buffs, bind them near your movement keys. She did not give an exact bind setup but I'll put in one that I used to use.
/bind r "powexec_name Healing Aura"
/bind f "powexec_name Heal Other"
/bind v "powexec_name Fortitude"
/bind b "powexec_name Absorb Pain"
/bind c "powexec_name Clear Mind"
With this setup you are able to keep your hand on the movement keys while having your main buffs and heals right next to your fingers. You do still have to click the name of the target that you want but that can be fixed by adding in some thing like this:
/bind q "target_friend_next"
This sets up "q" to cycle through your teammates just like tab cycles through your enemies. Useful to some people but no longer my preferred method.
[Edit]
LadyMage was kind enough to post her exact binds in another thread I started and so here is her post explaining them.
The reason I didn't give a bind scheme was because I move my movement keys over one. Most people aren't willing to do that. But because I use an Ergo keyboard, this gives me a nice grouping of keys to work with. Everything I need for combat is all on the left side of the keyboard.
Nevertheless, my binds for my empath are as follows
A "powexec_name Clear Mind"
B "powexec_toggleon Stealth$$powexec_toggleon Temp Invulnerability"
BUTTON5 "powexec_name Heal Other"
F10 "Local Death doesn't stop a hero.$$powexec_name Resurrect"
F11 "Team Come to me, $target.$$powexec_name Recall Friend"
F12 "Team Give me your pain, $target.$$powexec_name Absorb Pain"
F9 "local Your minds are not safe from me.$$powexec_name Psychic Wail"
G "powexec_name hover"
MBUTTON "powexec_name Healing Aura"
Q "powexec_name Fortitude"
T "powexec_name Fly
Z "powexec_name Adrenalin Boost"
NUMPAD0 "team Gather for auras!$$emote whistle"
U "powexec_name Phase Shift"
X "powexec_name Grant Invisibility"
B - powexec_toggleon Stealth$$powexec_toggleon Temp Invulnerability
My movement keys are
w - turn left
e - forward
r - turn right
s -strafe left
d - back
f - strafe right
c - down
y - Autorun
h - auto follow
button4 is my teamspeak push to talk.
The next one is my personal setup. The only caveat for this is that it requires you to have a five button mouse.
/bind button4 "powexec_name Heal Other"
/bind button5 "powexec_name Healing Aura"
/bind lshift+button4 "powexec_name Fortitude"
/bind lshift+button5 "powexec_name Absorb Pain"
This is nice and easy, keeps your hands on the movement keys and mouse with the only downside being that you have to hand select your teammates.
Fianlly, read the guides.
There are two guides that I find to be of great help when I wonder exactly what I should do with an Empathy power.
LadyMage's Empathy Numbers
In Depth Look Back at 50 Levels of Empathy