Reader UI of the Week: Peripherals take center stage with Steppinrazor's UI
by Mathew McCurley 
Jul 12th 2011 at 1:00PM
Reader UI of the Week is an interesting experience for me. There are moments of awe, moments of sadness, and (more than you probably would guess) moments of utter perplexity. Today's submission from Steppinrazor features a peripheral that many players have been asking me to do a spotlight on: the Razer Nostromo. Once developed by Belkin, the Razer version is the updated model, still created in partnership with Belkin but featuring spiffy new features.
Many people ask me about peripherals like the Razer Nostromo, and while I would love to have an answer for them about the usefulness of something like the Nostromo, I can't give the best account. I'm a keyboard and mouse guy, through and through. However, there is nothing on the books that says I can't bring in someone who seems to know what he's doing with a peripheral as versatile as the Nostromo.
If you've got an interesting UI setup that features peripherals out of the keyboard-and-mouse box, let's see them! Email your UI along with an explanation of your addons, setup, and other details to readerui@wowinsider.com. The community will love you for it, I promise.
Steppinrazor's UI -- Nostromo, peripheral-based UI, shaman UI, shocktacular
Whatcha got for me, Steppinrazor?
Howsit Mathew,Thanks for the submission and writeup, Steppinrazor. You get a pass on the DPS meters because you are an orc shaman -- the true shaman and best race ever -- but do not let your orcish brothers down. On your next screenshot, I expect to see meter-topping goodness.
As a long time WoW junkie, my UI has seen dozens of revisions. A great number of my tweaks have been inspired by your column, but there was one facet that I have never seen (Though I may have just missed it): What about players with unique peripheral setups?
We all know that WoW players all take different approaches to their button mashing, I've known great key-binders and not-as-terrible-as-you-would-expect clickers, but all types are limited by the number of buttons within easy reach. After years of compromise, I feel I now have the peripheral setup that requires none.
Many years ago I used a Belkin Nostromo N52, and loved it dearly. The poor thing finally bought the farm after hundreds of button-mashing raid hours. I replaced the old workhorse with a Razer Naga, that I also love dearly, but it could never fully replace the Nostromo. In terms of design, both are amazing devices, but asking your thumb to do the work of four fingers can make for a sore thumb by the end of raid night.
Now I use both the Razer Naga, and the Razer Nostromo to allow the use of 32 individual buttons without moving my hands at all, with an additional 18 available while holding a single modifier key.
You may ask, "Good god man why?" To which I would respond, "In the dark days of Shamanism we had an awful lot of spells, and many obscure spells and totems that we hardly ever used, but every once in a great while that one totem would prevent a wipe." These days, things are much easier on all the classes in terms of overall spell book weight, but I still have no trouble finding a home for all these hotkey slots. With so many abilities at my immediate disposal, I find the my response time is instantaneous, greatly helping with both raiding and PvP.
While these peripherals are plug and play, I wasn't happy with the packaged UI setup that Razer provides for the Naga, and they seem to have never considered that a single user would operate it simultaneously with a Nostromo. (They said I was mad!)
Fortunately, the provided UI mod was a Razer branded version of Dominos, and the Razer key-binding/loadout tools are really quite good. I set up the Nostromo to be my main work horse, with the Naga providing two tiers of support.
The other elements of my UI are pretty standard quality-of-life mods that probably don't need much explanation, but I have included the full list nonetheless. My goal with the overall aesthetic of this UI was clean, organized, and functional simplicity. To that end, I usually turn of MSBT for bosses that require a lot of not-standing-in-the-fire. To keep everything consistent, I did some re-skins of omen and recount, to match the chat box. I also made a few changes to the appearance of SUF, to emphasize the data and buffs/debuffs that are most important to my toons. I also highly recommend using Power Auras to help track debuffs and procs.
The List:
_NPC Scan
Atlasloot
Deadly Boss Mods
Gladius
Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
Omen3
Power Auras Classic
Quartz
Razer Naga (Dominos)
Recount
Shadowed Unit Frames
SmartBuff
Tidy Plates
Mahalo nui loa for your continued contribution to the community and all the great UI ideas!
Steppinrazor, Team Hawaii on Thaurissan
P.S. I swear I pull more than 14k. I was the 3rd charge target. xD
The focus of Steppinrazor's UI is, quite obviously, that it is peripheral-based. He keeps no traditional keyboard (and for that matter, no traditional mouse) in sight. Many players choose to go the peripheral route because they are more comfortable with gaming products than just a keyboard, which can range from a thing of ergonomic beauty to a flat rectangle with awful buttons. I've mentioned my hate of most keyboards back in my review of the Razer Anansi.
We've got the trifecta of WoW peripherals here with Steppinrazor's UI. Not only is there a Razer Naga thrown into the mix, but the Nostromo and a complex set of modifier keybinds. Steppinrazor, I am so proud.
Let's start with the Nostromo layout. I have not been privy to trying out the Nostromo yet, mostly because it appears not to have as many buttons as I would like. The system is unique -- each of the Nostromo's buttons is remapped to F-keys and number keys, and then abilities are assigned to the Nostromo through a recreated layout in Dominos. Spot on.
I've talked about crafting your action buttons into mirror setups of the keybinds that you are using, to familiarize yourself with the layout and instinctively know where to put your hands. This is especially true with something like the Nostromo that you are not presumably using at all hours of the day for your regular, day-to-day activities in front of the computer. The time away from your peripherals is time that you're not hitting those buttons. Anything to make the muscle memory easier, right?
The one concern I have with remapping the entire Nostromo is how Steppinrazor strafes. As a tank, I strafe a ton in movement or positional fights; maybe DPS these days isn't so strafe-heavy? It is easy to move your character with just the mouse, since you can by default press and hold both mouse buttons to move forward. The movement thing just struck me as odd.
My impressions of the Nostromo from just looking over Steppinrazor's UI and button layouts is that the peripheral can be a crazy-unique way to play WoW, as long as you've got the chops to configure everything the way you want it to be. I do not know how I would live without WASD-movement keys, but I'm sure I could get by. Maybe one of these days, I'll get to try it out for myself and then do a review for you great people.
The Naga really shines in Steppinrazor's setup because of the versatility that the mouse must exhibit. Since the number of buttons overall is going to be less than that of a standard keyboard, modifier keys make this UI into a workhorse. By assigning the Naga's buttons to use a modifier key and then tacking on one more modifier key, Steppinrazor has doubled the Naga's button prowess and left open the numerical keys themselves.
Again, the Naga's layout is replicated on screen with two action bar displays, letting the user have a physical manifestation of the buttons he is pressing in game with a familiar layout. I love the use of modifier keys, and I think that the biggest takeaway from this submission is how powerful modifier keys can be. Look at how much you can get out of a mouse like the Naga! You could get even more if you bound modifier keys together to form crazy-giant modifier strings. Then you would probably conquer the world.
The rest
The rest of the UI is standard fare, with party frames that are larger than I would like, especially for a DPS class. Other than that, the classic bottom-row approach works, and the various addons sit and play nicely. Most of the UI feels very standard -- and when you're working with a unique peripheral combination, that might not be a bad thing. You're coming in with so much that you already had to change about the traditional playstyle that it must be nice to just have some things set out as default. Dominos are the big deal, anyway, allowing players to craft these setups and not have to fight the UI with long rows of action buttons that do not mimic the device used in the slightest.
Thank you very much for the awesome showcase, Steppinrazor. The use of peripherals is something that I would like to cover more, because our UIs are as much an in-game manifestation of our playstyles as much as they are part of the out-of-game machinations of how we play. All I have to say is that's a pretty cool concept.
Now, just tell me how you move your character, before I go insane.
See you guys next week.
Interested in getting the most out of your user interface? Come back once a week for more examples of reader UIs. For more details on individual addons, check out Addon Spotlight, or visit Addons 101 for help getting started.
Filed under: Add-Ons, Reader UI of the Week
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
sullyXXX Jul 12th 2011 1:24PM
Now that is a bit eerie. That UI is almost identical to mine! I also have a Nostromo/Naga combo, and I nearly wrote in to Reader UI to showcase how I shaped my bars to echo my peripherals.
Tondef Jul 12th 2011 3:07PM
I'm in the same boat. My Nostromo setup looks very similar.
I use the D-Pad for moving, forward/backward, strafe right/left and mouse for looking. The large thumb button I use as my PTT for Mumble and the red switch for jump. All together I don't really need the keyboard for anything, but still use shortcuts to open bags, etc. I actually use an even 12 buttons on the Nostromo with the far left row for Shift, CTRL, and ALT shifts (I use the Nostromo scrollwheel for click #12). It works very well once you get use to it, and if you map your buttons the same on your various classes (ie interrupt and other skills in the same spots) it is very easy to transition from one to another.
I have a Naga as well, but biology gifted me with large size 11 hands and the whole mouse is a little small for me. I can only accurately use the top and bottom row of key on the side as the others are almost like using one of those calculator watches. Good mouse though.
Khirsah Jul 12th 2011 6:25PM
I also use nostromo/razer combo. I have the razer buttons mapped to targeting functions, as well as some movements that can't be provided with just the mouse (strafe, jump, back up). I also have 3 razer buttons mapped to alt/shift/ctrl. My nostromo buttons are simply the number keys, f1 and f2.
Then, I have macros for all my most used abilities, and keybound them through the Bartender interface. This allows me to have a single main action bar, plus 2 bars (hidden), for professions and other, less used, abilities. With 14 standard buttons on the nostromo, plus 3 modifiers at my thumb, plus 12 remaining buttons on the razer (including wheel button), I can bind 68 abilities and never touch the keyboard, except to type in chat. (ps- my ptt button for vent is mapped to the thumb button on the nostromo).
Mat, to answer your question: 99% of my movement is done by holding both mouse buttons and using the mouse to turn. I use the arrow keys if I need to move and look in my bags at the same time, which is rare and usually only when flying. Like I said above, I have mapped certain movements and targeting functions to the razer. These include strafing left and right, jump, back-up, tab targeting, assist targeting, and tricks macros. I also have a spammable stealth macro on one button.
The set up works really well for me. All abilities are easily reachable, and I can perform a lot of movement/action abilities simultaneously.
twrizzo Jul 12th 2011 1:29PM
Very nice layout!
I've been using a very similar layout for 2 years. I've have the Belkin n52TE and use Bartender 4 to create 3 grids of buttons (layed out in a 4x3 pattern). I map my CTRL and ALT key to 2 of the thumb buttons on my Logitech mouse, allowing me to have up to 36 buttons, all by pressing a combination of 1 button on each device. I lay out my button grid in a familiar telephone style pattern (3x3), where the numbers 1-9 are in the same place as on a phone, and map the other buttons to the minus, equals, and thumb button being the Zero. This also leaves the 3 buttons along the left side for other functions, such as, push to talk for Vent, Tab targeting, any my favorite - The "Target Focus Target" macro, so that I'm targeting the tanks target. It makes life very easy.
As for movement, I use a combination of the thumb D-Pad on the n52te when I am in combat, and my mouse when I'm traveling around the world. For the most part, I never touch the keyboard except to type.
fathertouk Jul 12th 2011 1:29PM
That's pretty neat. I also use the razor naga (can't live without it!) and I have my 1-12 action bar blocked in a 3x4 square the same way he does it. The idea of having two blocks set up next to each other with their own set of modifiers is pretty cool... I wonder if I can find a way to incorperate it into my UI.
Neat, clean and orderly, built around some really great peripherals... Awesome job!
Spanked Jul 12th 2011 1:31PM
I still use an old Belkin n52
kaosgrace Jul 12th 2011 1:32PM
My bet is that he uses a combination of mouse movement to go forward/steer and thumb-pad strafing.
Not at all a fan of the UI itself, but the Nostromo...hadn't seen it before. It rocks. I want one. Puts my Steelseries Merc Stealth keyboard to shame. (I want thumb modifier keys!)
Puntable Jul 12th 2011 1:52PM
"The one concern I have with remapping the entire Nostromo is how Steppinrazor strafes." I cannot see the remapping in the tiny screenshot... He does not strafe with the thumb directional pad?
Puntable Jul 12th 2011 1:54PM
"The one concern I have with remapping the entire Nostromo is how Steppinrazor strafes." I cannot see his remapping in the tiny screenshot... He does not strafe with the directional pad?
Devilution Jul 12th 2011 1:58PM
I use the same combo with Bartender 4 to map the key layout on the bottom of my UI. My Nostromo is the n52te by Belkin. It looks just like the Razor one. I still have my ol' n52 that I take on the road with my laptop. I'm not buying another Naga just for that, though.
I'm pretty impressed with the shift and ctrl+shift button swaps. I can understand with a shaman, but after Wrath and Cata and the way they redid the talents and spells, I'm having a hard time finding spells to put in all the buttons. I use the stance configurations if I need to shift my bars, but then again I just point and click my pots. It prevents me from accidentally hitting the wrong button and blowing a pot cooldown.
Strafing with the Nostromo is easy; hold the right mouse button and then left or right on the D-pad. It's as natural as breathing.
DarkSoul Jul 12th 2011 1:59PM
For my own WoW time, I use a Logitech G13 game pad. I moved from the Nostromo Steppinrazor uses after I literally wore the finish off the buttons. I loved that thing, but I had mine when Belkin was still the primary manufacturer and they dropped the ball on it pretty badly with regards to support and bug fixes. When it came time to replace it, I got the G13 and have been really happy with it overall. If the Nostromo doesn't have enough buttons for you, try out a G13; I've got 44 buttons at my fingertips (G1-G22 and G25 mapped to CTRL with modifier paging in Dominos).
Steppinrazor has their Nostromo set up with the d-pad right next to the thumb mapped to the keyboard arrow keys. I don't know where the strafing comes in unless they move with their mouse almost exclusively like I do. When I need to strafe, such as when I'm on my tank or need to get out of fire, I've got the joystick on the G13 mapped to the arrow keys like Steppinrazor did, but I rebound Left and Right to strafe rather than turn. It's really intuitive once you get the hang of it.
What I don't like about having so many keys available on a peripheral like this is the number of buttons you can end up with on your screen, which is the point Steppinrazor is at right now. Here's how I would clear it up:
Set the Naga for the Number Pad keybinds with the switch on the bottom, and remap the main Naga action bar to match. Do the same with the Nostromo using 1 through = and a couple other keys for the 14 total (I use the brackets just below - and = ) He's got the thumb button on the Nostromo mapped to CTRL anyway, so go into dominos and set up modifier paging for each bar based on the CTRL key.
If, for example, bars 1 and 2 are for the Nostromo, set up a duplicate layout using 3 and 4. Set bar 1 to show bar 3 with CTRL held, and 2 shows 4. Then use 5 for the Naga, lay it out with the numpad bindings and set bar 6 to the CTRL modifier. Set bars 3, 4, and 6 to hidden and the end result is 2 bar groups on screen with buttons that completely change depending if CTRL is held.
I've been using Dominos set up like this for a long time, and it's to the point now that I don't even have my action bars showing; I know G10 does this spell, or this other one if CTRL is held, and so on. I've thought about submitting my UI for a while now, maybe I'll actually do it this time.
Homtron Jul 12th 2011 2:04PM
I use the exact same setup (but using belkin n52te, before it became Razer's Nostromo) with the button layout on screen. Just like Steppinrazor, I use mod keys, but not the same way. I use the big thumb button as jump (useful for jump disengage) and the small round button above the 4way pad as ctrl mod. My Naga is mapped to numpad keys and the nostromo to F-keys and numbers, with one of those top right buttons as tab and the other as shift mod.
This way, i have 2 complete sets of bars without mod, 2 sets with ctrl mod and a couple of keys with shift (shift plus numpad doesnt work so well....) and by using Bartender4, i show only the appropriate actionbar corresponding to the mod key I'm using.
I don't think i would eb able to go back to mouse and keyboard only and you get used to 4way thumb movement astonishingly fast. just bind it to left right up down keys and keybind left and right to strafe (who needs to keyboard turn anyway) and you're good to go with all the strafing action you want.
It's something to try for sure!
Enari Jul 12th 2011 2:05PM
Very nice write up to introduce people to these beautiful little tools.
I've been a devout Nostromo for years now, so much so I don't think I could play without it, and just very recently acquired a Naga to use alongside. I figured I could add a couple extra thoughts from my experience.
With regard to movement, I'm stuck on keeping WSAD as well so the central buttons on the Nostromo(3, 7, 8, and 9) are bound to these. The remaining keys are bound to the number keys 1-0. As you mentioned, modifier keys are great in this setup. I've found the Nostromo's D-pad to be great for this. I've bound forward and back to ctrl and alt, the other directions being set to tab and shift+tab for targeting. This setup gives me 30 hotkey combinations easily accessible with one hand.
In my UI, I've gotten by without too many special arrangements to support this. I'm using Bartender4, and simply have three hotkey rows along the bottom of the screen, and bind them in the addon.
I haven't delved into the naga too much yet, but I have to point out one of its other nice features. Even without special binding, the keys can be set to be the numbers, or the numeric key pad. Using it as the numeric pad, I pick up another 12 keys which can be bound to whatever, and see the modifiers set on the nostromo. So far my use of the Naga has only been light, but my favorite thing to tie it to is Opie. The first couple thumb keys are bound to open rings that hold my more occasionally used hotkeys(mounts, professions, hearth, etc..)
These little toys can be really useful in helping out gameplay, but be warned, they are addictive.
Wraithanne Jul 12th 2011 2:06PM
I've wanted to figure a way to do this with a healing setup. I've always been a click-healer and do very well with a trackball(Logitech M570) and Healbot but Healbot can fail sometimes, especially if you d/c mid-fight. I tried using a G13 but in the end really didn't like it. It's just not built for small hands and the keybinds are just not very flexible, at least not enough for my purposes.
Think this has convinced me to look into a Nostromo again. I also tank and I really need to learn button-style for that. Still can't do a Naga tho. Like the concept, can't adapt my hands to it.
Klef Jul 12th 2011 2:12PM
I use a n52 and a naga and this is how my UI works:
http://ffxivimages.com/?v=wowscreen.png
With 8 buttons plus Ctrl and Alt i've got 24 acessible places. Note that longer cooldowns i put on Alt modifiers (on the side of the main block) and the skills i use the most i leave on Ctrl. Been using it for almost 3 years, thanks to Bartender. With "pressing both mouse buttons to run" and auto run on my mouse i dont have sore left thumbs because of movemente, its mostly used for strafe. I don't PvP so maybe if in that case, if you would move using wasd alot more, you could note a diference.
So far so good =)
Ian Jul 12th 2011 2:17PM
The Nostromo can have its buttons configured however you want with the D-Pad being equally useful for modifiers or other keys as it is for movement.
So you can just as easily use the buttons on the central region to provide your WASD format that you are famillar with.
Due however to the resulting innacessibility of perhaps the lower row of buttons while moving if using that layout that is better suited when partnered with another peripheral such as the Naga.
The new Razer branded version varies little from the Belkin N52TE other than additional keymaps increased from 3 to I think about 8 and adjustable backlight other than on and off.
Jarviswabi Jul 12th 2011 2:25PM
Could not DPS worth s**t without my Logitech G13 under my left hand (whether I can even with it is debatable), and all of my recent UIs have used some version of this actionbar setup where the block mirrors the key layout.
What I've done over the years is padded two extra columns on each side of the keys that represent my 22 Logitech buttons so I can swap out certain shots or macros as needed on certain fights, since there's never room for everything you might EVER need and certain fingers react faster than others.
HumanTargetJoe Jul 12th 2011 2:37PM
I don't know about anyone else, but using the nt52 I use the D-Pad for thumb movement, forward/backward, strafe left/right. It's very very familiar if you've ever used a controller for a console, and allows easy 1-1 button mapping for actions. I only have a Razer Deathadder, so I have the extra buttons there mapped to ctrl/alt.
Zayd Jul 12th 2011 2:59PM
I
Zayd Jul 12th 2011 3:01PM
Well that comment came out well.