I decided to post this because my clan has  a similar thread on our forums and because of the discussion taking place here in the "Starting Darkfall.  Any tips?" thread.

So, how have YOU improved on the standard Darkfall UI?

I'll start---

I have 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. assigned to hotbar row 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. I don't go beyond 6 because for me it's uncomfortable to hit with my left hand whilst maneuvering. Anything that is in a spot beyond 6 is binded to something else.

Meteor strike, for instance, which is in row 7 in hotbar column 1, is bound to ~. My most commonly used attacks (the rank 50 nukes) are in my favorite keys to hit, 3 and 4. My longer cooldown attacks (and hence the least frequented in combat), are in the less immediate positions of ~ and 6.

The only case where I would need to switch hotbars in combat is to turtle up. All I do is go up one hot bar (using my mouse scroll wheel), and hit 2 and 3. This is obviously my defensive bar, as pots are located there as well.

All the other hotbar columns that I mouse-scroll to contain out-of-combat abilities, so there is no frantic hotbar column changing.

So... now my bindings:

• Tab is my Mana to stam
• Caps-lock is burden
• z is magma storm (can't see using this too often, only in special situations)
• x is impale (same as magma storm)
• c is still crouch
• v is still my vent hotkey
• q is my bow
• e is my witches brew
• f is my cursed bolt 
• t is my stamina leech
• alt-t is vertical swing (only use this when siege hammering)
• alt-z is revive (standing-still ability)
• alt-x is gank (same as revive, gotta be still while bar is charging)
• f1 is my axe power attack
• f2 is my axe knock back
• f3 is my axe whirlwind
• f4 is my mount
• f5 is my rest
• y is my skinning knife (or siege hammer, depending on the situation)
• mouse 4 is my 2h melee
• mouse 5 is my staff
• mouse 3 is my ui
• mouse 2 is my block
• mouse 1 is my perform action (default setting)

Edit:

G is my Use

H is my Alternative Use

And that's basically it. I've gotten very used to using my f1- f5 keys the way they are assigned in that list, though I understand how it might seem awkward when you're just examining the list.

In the end, in combat I don't have to move my hands. Everything is comfortably accessible. Hybrid binding/hotbar system ftw.

This is how my hotbar looks (expanded):

`/~ = Mount
F1 = Sword and Board
F2 = 2h
F3 = Bow
F4 = Staff
Mouse button 1 & 2 = Next/Previous hot bar
Mouse wheel = scroll between skills.
Hot bar 1 slot 2-5 all important heals/conversions
Hot bar 1 slot 1 = whirlwind
6-0 = damage skills
Hot bar 0 slot 1-4 food and pots

 I'm guessing you're primarily an archer/melee'r?

That set up would blow my fucking mind.  I would always be scrolling past the spell I wanted to use and accidentally activating another... That's why I came up with a system where I only have to switch between two bars at most in combat with my mouse scroll.  I can reliably go back and forth one since that's just a tiny flick of the scroll wheel, equivalent basically to a button press... but I used to have a set up where I would scroll back and forth between a lot of hotbars, mid combat, and I was always screwing myself by scrolling past the hotbar I needed lol.

If you have that much self control, more power to you man.  Your setup is extremely streamlined and quick, it seems.  Nice.

Originally posted by APEist

 I'm guessing you're primarily an archer/melee'r?

That set up would blow my fucking mind.  I would always be scrolling past the spell I wanted to use and accidentally activating another... That's why I came up with a system where I only have to switch between two bars at most in combat with my mouse scroll.  I can reliably go back and forth one since that's just a tiny flick of the scroll wheel, equivalent basically to a button press... but I used to have a set up where I would scroll back and forth between a lot of hotbars, mid combat, and I was always screwing myself by scrolling past the hotbar I needed lol.

If you have that much self control, more power to you man.  Your setup is extremely streamlined and quick, it seems.  Nice.

I have all my "needed" spells set to 1-5 which is what I can hit while in squirrel mode, but the scroll isn't fast and I've never scrolled past a skill because my mouse actually "clicks" when using the scroll wheel. But yes, it is really nice

i turned to combinations so my hand does have to move to other side of keyboard all the time.

luckily I have 2 thumb buttons on mouse. button1+"1" button2+ "1" etc. then I put things like spells on the hot bar so I can see the cooldown. sometimes tricky to remember but keep could left hand on wasd and right hand on mouse and still play the game. even pressing F1 in a fight would slow me down.