In a recent new player help thread someone was asking about key binds.... I thought perhaps it was a good time for us to post some PvP related Key bind tips. I know some people have a ton of experience with what works well for them. Please share the hax.

First of all Key binds are a simple way in game to bind an action to a specific key... and in some cases bind multiple actions to a single key.

In STO this in game system can be used to trigger weapons, skills, items, and even open menus. Some commands can be multi bound... some things (ie skills) will be unpredictable with this system. Meaning it may or may not fire off in the order you hope and may or may not fire with only one key press... (although this can sometimes be a good thing depending on the action)

Basics

All Binds are entered in the chat window... if you are setting up space binds be in space... if you are setting up ground be on the ground. Before you get to far with key binds... it would likely be a good idea to punch this in....
/keybinds
Go through the list and change what makes sense to change this way, its much faster. For the basics. I use this to set keys for power settings ect.

/bind

Is the way to bind a key

/bind {Key to Bind} "Argument"

To bind multiple commands to one key you need to use $$ between your arguments...

/bind {Key to Bind} "Argument $$ Argument"

Most Binds will require the "" to work properly... some commands will also needs a + in front of them to tell the system to execute a single command... some may also include a ++ in front to tell the system to treat the command as a continues action.

Binding chat text to a key does not require ""... So to answer the question in the other thread in regards to the $target keybind... here it is.
/bind {KEY} team Please focus $target

It is also possible to create a backup of your keybinds... or to copy them to another toon.

To create a bind file, write the following in the chat window:
/bind_save_file {filename}.txt
This file should output here
C:\Users\<user>\Games\Cryptic Studios\Star Trek Online\Live
To load this file
/bind_load_file C:\<path to file>\{filename}.txt

List of useful PvP Keybinds

Firephasers --- Fire all phasers
Firetorps --- Fire all torpedoes
Firephaserstorps --- Fire all phasers and torpedoes
Fireprojectiles --- Fire all torpedoes and mines
Firemines --- Fire all mines
Fireall --- Fire all weapons
Pvpqueues --- Pops up pvp que
Target --- Targets name entered (are we still /target Hale.. binding these days. )
Target_Self
Target_Clear
Focustargetset
Focustargetselect
Focustargetclear
Target_Teammate --- This one requires a team mate number
TrayExec --- This will require 2 numbers... this will execute any skill or fire any weapon you have in the specified slot... the number 0 counts for the system... so tray 1 slot 1... would be 0 0... tray 2 Slot 1... would be 1 0. Ect.
UseDevice --- This will require a number and will trigger an item in your item slot
Power_Exec --- Activate a power by name. (this one will be used to trigger commands like)
+Power_exec Distribute_Shields
CombatLog --- 1 Turns on 0 Turns off

Here is a simple trick I use to activate skills I keep more then one copy of.

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5...redkeybind.jpg

I don't use a lot of multiple key binds... I do however like to double up same skills into one key. I have included a link to a UI screen shot where I have highlighted some of the skills on my bar... and here are the binds I would use to trigger them. I use a Naga Mouse and I bind the number keys on my mouse to perform multiple similer actions. I use shift and control to access my second and third rows... and can use these to bypass my defaults. Hopeful this makes sense.

Orange (Attack Pattern Delta 2 copies)
/bind 3 "+trayexec 0 2 $$ +trayexec 1 2"

Blue (My rapid Fire keybind... I also like to include Tactical Init on my Tac toon)
/bind 4 "+trayexec 0 3 $$ +Trayexec 1 3 $$ +trayexec 2 3"
If I don't want to trigger my tac init I will use shift or Control + 4 to activate my rapid fires.

Yellow (Emergency Power to Shields)
/bind 7 "+trayexec 0 6 $$ +trayexec 2 6"
I like to put my second EPTS up on control and my shift 7 becomes my other shield heal transfer shield strength.

Red (Tac Teams)
/bind 9 "+Trayexec 0 8 $$ +Trayexec 1 8"

These are pretty simple binds really... nothing fancy... just means no matter which copy of skills I carry 2 of is up... I only need to worry about 1 button.

Good thread.

I saw that you are using autofire in your screenie.

I actually had been using your seperate keybind idea for cannons and turrets. But I think one of the patches broke it, because my cannons were no longer in sync like before.

So went with the autofire method now, and I'm not losing damage like before. :p Makes flying a tad easier too.

/bind spacebar Team "Sci team please?"

Dont u have to put GenSendMessage before certain commands like FirePhasers or FireAll and stuff?

I find these very handy:

/bind YourButton team "Target: $Target"

or

/bind YourButton team "Please stay close for heals, if u run off I will make sure to let you pop"



What I personally find useful is extending my WASD keys into putting Distribute shields, and other stuff I would like to keep rotating Same effect as an automated macro

Honestly though a few keybinds for me are enough and too much actually complicates things, i simply got used to rapid mouse clicking since i play this game, and i only spam spacebar , my WASD keys and 1 2 3 and 4 for my rapid powerlevel switching.

Doesn't seem so. I'm only using FirePhasers in my bind.

Seems to work fine.

Cool, then they both work!

I think at some point they simplified the system or something... cause ya I remmeber having to type a lot more at some point... I think I just forgot about it... but ya seems to work anyway. lol

Ya I got lazy.... and ya the timings don't seem to work as well as they once did... i think they honestly introduced more lag or something... I think you still get more dps doing it the other way, but its much more hit and miss then it used to be.

The only times I don't use the auto anymore... is when I have odd All torp builds... where I want to fire specific torps or mines at different times.

I am first checking if anyone would be interested in this:

http://youtu.be/_7qYGJpxkK4

If there is an interest I might make this available to the public.