Now that AOE2 has adopted cross-compatibility with console, controller players can now be treated to games with their mouse and keyboard counterparts. Although controllers are not renowned for being a great RTS input, AOE2 has included some features for controller that could potentially help it rise above M&K in some circumstances.
Amongst the many disadvantages playing on controller has, here are some features which can help controller players keep up with M&K:
- DPad quick unit select allows players to cycle through or select all villagers/idles, herdables, TCs, Military units and Monks. Any size group monks can easily be cycled through and assigned to convert units one by one without the need for control groups or planning. With this, Arena FC monk build orders become much more viable as it allows players to micro their monks a lot easier. Similarly, early game sheep scouting requires much less APM as does small-scale feudal battles between scouts or archers.
- Zooming in and out being controlled by an analogue input, rather than button presses allows for smoother transitions between a micro-orientated zoom to a macro-orientated zoom. Instead of relying on a single zoom level for most stages of a game, players can play with a much more fluid zoom level, helping to improve situational awareness of the map, better overviews of their economy or precise micro during a fight. Personally, I have my default zoom very high to help with small scale unit micro, and then zoom out to focus on macro. If a battle ensues while I’m focused on my economy, I can click RS to revert to my default zoom and quickly make precise unit movements.
- Site commands can help improve the efficiency of a players APM as it reduces the number of actions to perform certain tasks. Placing buildings or sending units, siege or monks requires less actions as the game’s logic will auto-task the nearest unit to complete the action. Building a house can tasked quicker as does collecting relics or tasking your siege to attack a target because there isn’t a need to select a unit first.
If you’re a controller player coming from M&K input and you can share ways that you have found the game to be easier, I would love to hear from you. I’m keen for the game to be more widely adapted to all types of gamers so that AOE2 can live on for even longer.
Amongst the many disadvantages playing on controller has, here are some features which can help controller players keep up with M&K:
- DPad quick unit select allows players to cycle through or select all villagers/idles, herdables, TCs, Military units and Monks. Any size group monks can easily be cycled through and assigned to convert units one by one without the need for control groups or planning. With this, Arena FC monk build orders become much more viable as it allows players to micro their monks a lot easier. Similarly, early game sheep scouting requires much less APM as does small-scale feudal battles between scouts or archers.
- Zooming in and out being controlled by an analogue input, rather than button presses allows for smoother transitions between a micro-orientated zoom to a macro-orientated zoom. Instead of relying on a single zoom level for most stages of a game, players can play with a much more fluid zoom level, helping to improve situational awareness of the map, better overviews of their economy or precise micro during a fight. Personally, I have my default zoom very high to help with small scale unit micro, and then zoom out to focus on macro. If a battle ensues while I’m focused on my economy, I can click RS to revert to my default zoom and quickly make precise unit movements.
- Site commands can help improve the efficiency of a players APM as it reduces the number of actions to perform certain tasks. Placing buildings or sending units, siege or monks requires less actions as the game’s logic will auto-task the nearest unit to complete the action. Building a house can tasked quicker as does collecting relics or tasking your siege to attack a target because there isn’t a need to select a unit first.
If you’re a controller player coming from M&K input and you can share ways that you have found the game to be easier, I would love to hear from you. I’m keen for the game to be more widely adapted to all types of gamers so that AOE2 can live on for even longer.