Many people I have found are still oblivious to some of the changes in the guild UI, and even more so some are still wondering why the “O” button no longer includes a guild tab.  To start the guild UI is now opened with “J”, why J?  Guess Blizzard figured “G” would be too damn confusing…who knows, you can remap it.

The thing is that many of the things you had to do manually or with mods before Cataclysm has been built into the Guild UI, most people don’t realize just how powerful and how much information the new guild interface truly is, lets explore it…

After hitting “J” and opening your guild interface, or by opening it from your micro menu, located to the right of your quest log, you will be on the guild tab.

Guild Tab

At the very top of the guild tab, you will see your guild name, followed by the level, faction and also your guild crest to the far left.  Below this will be an experience bar, which indicates how much your guild has leveled.  You will also notice there are arrows at the top and bottom on the far right of the bar, this indicates where the experience cap is for the day.  If you mouse over the guild experience bar, it will tell you how you can earn experience, the current experience, and also how much into the daily cap you are.

Below all this is a summary of the guild news and events.  You will see the Message of the Day (MotD), recent guild achievements, and finally the schedule of upcoming guild events.  Its important to note here that it will only show guild events.  So if you just create an event and don’t specify it as a guild event it will not appear here.  By clicking on the specific event, it will open the in-game calendar and take you to that event.

Next up is the Guild Perks section, here you will see what was the latest perk your guild earned and what is the next perk your guild is in line to earn.  Clicking on the “View All Guild Perks” will open up all the guild perks so you can see which ones will come next.

Finally at the very bottom you have your current guild reputation, patch 4.0.6 says this will also show what your weekly reputation cap is at.  It also shows how many members are online listed in the bottom right corner of the tab.

Roster Tab

The roster tab is really one of the main bread and butter tabs for the new guild UI.  This contains your roster, stats, achievements, and now professions

At the very top right you will see a “View” with a drop down.

The first view is Player Status

This tab will show player levels on the far left, their class icon, their character names (in the color of their class) and also what zone they are in.  By clicking any of the column headers you can sort this view.  Its also good to note you can click in the bottom left to “Show Offline Members” in this view.

The second view is the Guild Status

In this view you see the character name, their guild rank, their public note, and when they were last online.  As you can see everyone’s last online shows “Online”, but if you checked “Show Offline Members” you will see how long its been since a particular person last logged in.  Just like the previous view, by clicking on the top headers you can sort the data in this view.

The 3rd view is Guild Activity (weekly)

In this view you see the characters level, their class icon, name, their guild rank for the week in how many guild experience points they earned for the guild.  Clicking any of the top columns will sort this view and you can also check “Show Offline Members” in the bottom left.

The 4th view is Guild Activity (total)

Similar to the previous view, this view shows the total guild experience earned by person and what their rank is since the start of the guild leveling process.  Checking “Show Offline Members” will give you a holistic view of all current guild members and their rank as it pertains to leveling the guild.

The 5th view is Achievement Points

This view shows all guild members and their respective achievement points, along with their guild rank.  Clicking the top column headers lets you sort the data, you also have the option of showing offline members if you click the checkbox in the bottom left.

Finally the 6th view is probably one of the most useful views and pieces of functionality that has been added to the guild interface.  This view is Professions.

When choosing this view you can choose a profession (greyed out profession means no one in the guild has it, or no one online has that profession).  When you click that profession it will open up showing all those guild members online who have the profession along with their rank.  Clicking a particular person you can view what items they can make.  Gone are the days of asking someone to link their entire profession to see what they have.  Also if you click “Show Offline Members” in the bottom left you can also search for professions of those who aren’t online currently as well.  All in all this is one of the slickest tabs.

News Tab

The news tab will show you all the achievements, loot, raid encounters, and guild levels that goes on over the course of several days.  As you can see you can click the top right area under the experience bar in order to filter out certain things, so if you only want to see guild achievements and not member achievements, uncheck member achievements.

Rewards Tab

Over the course of leveling the guild, earning achievements your guild can unlock or earn rewards.  Outside of visiting the guild vendor, or by summoning a guild page or herald (both guild rewards) the only other way to identify what rewards there are and what you have available to you is by looking at the rewards tab on the guild interface.

Locked rewards you can see what they require to unlock them.  By hovering over lets say Guild Herald, you see it requires Profit Sharing, but what is that?  When you hover over it, it tells you that you need to loot 100K gold from monsters as a guild to unlock that reward.

By right clicking on the reward you get 2 options 1 to link it in guild chat, the other is to view the specific achievement the reward is for

Info Tab

The final tab is the info tab, and its just what the name implies, it shows you information on the guild.

The first section shows upcoming guild events.  Clicking on them will open that event from the in game calendar

The second section is Message of the Day, and will contain whatever the MotD is.

Finally you have Guild Information.  This is typically where you might find standard guild information, like guild website, voice chat server information, etc.

On all three of these sections if you have the appropriate access you can click on the “Click to Edit” and modify each section.

Also you have the option to Add a guild member (far left button), if you have the right access in the guild, the middle button will show a log of those who joined, left, promoted or demoted in the guild, and finally you have guild control.  To learn more about suggestions regarding setting up guild control see the post Cataclysm Guild Control.

Conclusion

So this should cover most of the nuances and general use of the new guild interface.  Hopefully folks will have a better understanding of how it works and where they can go to find information on their own.

I have a confession to make.   I LOVE playing around with my WoW user Interface.

There, that wasn’t so hard.

Greetings All, this is Mukluk.  Ceraphus has kindly lent me this space to talk about my new UI.  Let’s start with the obligatory history:  I’m an Elemental/Resto Shaman and Officer of the guild Phalanx of Nod.  I specifically call out both specs for one reason: It is critical to my UI design.  In our raids, I heal and dps just about equally, depending on what needs shoring up for the raid (or even individual boss fights).

For me,  UI design always starts with an “idea”.   I played WoW for the first few years with the stock UI with very few addons or modifications.  For many, this is fine and works well.  I found, however, as I continued to advance in the game (and eventually began to raid) that the stock UI just wasn’t optimal for how I wanted to see information.   My journey began.   I’ve had a number of UI changes over the past year or so, but my current UI -which is still under construction- is the one I’ll be discussing today. My “Idea” for this UI started with the concept of keeping my raid bars central to the screen.

Getting Started is the Hardest Part

Like any design, getting started is the hardest part.   In the past, I’ve installed a bunch of addons and then spent hours configuring, moving and removing them until I liked what I got.   That method just leads to frustration.  This time, I followed a more structured method to get to my end design.  Let’s talk about the process, at least briefly:

Think it through!   What matters most to you when you are playing WoW? What do you find yourself constantly looking for and can’t find? Before you build it, design it!  You can see from the picture that I started with a design (in my case I used Visio) where I created a storyboard of functionality and location.

Muluk UI – Version 1.0!

Now let’s drive down into UI design that I created for my resto/elemental shaman.   This UI is flexible enough to work for my alts as well, with only minor changes.

Key to my design is the use of panels created by the add-on KgPanels.  I would eventually like to add some custom art to the panels but I am not an artist and so I have to rely on what is publically available.  Using panels created by KgPanels,  I’ve sectioned my screen into 3 major sections.  Section 1 is the Chat Frame.  Section 2 contains all my button and unit frames and Section 3 contains all my combat data.  Central to the screen are my raid frames.  I am an avid and rabid fan of VuhDo raid frames and its flexibility allows me to handle every raid frame scenario I’ve had so far.  I find it useful for both DPS and Healing.   In a 10 man (seen here) my frames fall just below Mukluk’s feet, keeping my eyes on the center of the screen and able to see what’s going on.   When healing, I can keep my attention on the on-screen action as well as the raid.

Let me list out the add-ons that are visible on-screen:

1. Prat
2. Skada (showing both a Threat and DPS/Healing Window)
3. Bartender 4 (note the left box mirrors the buttons for my Belkin NT54e)
4. VuhDo
5. Stuf Unit Frames (an awesome, low memory unit frame…very customizable)
6. Chinchilla Mini-map.  I’ve used both Chinchilla and SexyMaps… Either would work here.
7. Satrina Buff Frames
8. Cool line (shows spell cooldowns)

Not shown on the screen is another of my favorite adds:  Power Auras.   Blizzard obviously found Power Auras a compelling add-on since in patch 4.01, they have added in similar functionality.   However, Power Auras adds in additional functionality and therefore is still a favorite of mine.  Here some other key add-on’s:

1. Fortress (an LDB bar dock)
2. Plugins to display Latency & FPS (see them in the Chincilla Mini-map)
3. SocialState: an excellent LDB guild/friends plug-in
4. Bagnon (best bag addon)
5. Auctionator
6. Gathermate
7. Deus Vox Encounters (I’m still playing with this…I’ve used DBM mostly and see if I may like this mod)
8. Broker add-ons for Durability, XP/Rep and Currency
9. Opie:  For quick access to mounts, trade skills and other things you don’t want cluttering your screen.

What’s next?

As I say, you must continually iterate your design (agile wow ui?).  I have a list of things to work on…Here are my top items to fix:

1. Fix up my unit frames (stuf) to add back a portrait and fix the location of a number of icons and such.
2. Remove the Group unit frames when in raid (easy)
3. Add in more procs (for bosses and such) to Power Auras
4. Finish the Power Aura configs for both Resto and Elemental…that’s going to be a blogpost in-and-of itself!
5. Work on my buffs and debuffs windows.  I’m not happy with where they are right now.

In a nutshell, my strategy for UI design has lead me from the stock UI to many different versions of a highly modified UI.  In the end,  I find that a customized UI not only makes my DPS or Healing more effective, it enhances my overall enjoyment of the game.    How about you?

A good user interface is more than just having a ton of cool looking add-ons.  It needs to be functional, it needs to not take up all the screen real estate and it has to be cool to look at as well.

I mean when we change the default UI, we do it because we are looking for functionality we didn’t get in the default UI, but to some extent we want it to look better right?

First a list of the main addons that I use:

• Need to Know – Buff/Debuff bar tracking
• IceHud – Heads up Display
• Xperl – Unitframe replacement
• Prat – Chat enhancement (color coding of char types, timestamps, etc)
• Omen – Threat Monitoring
• Recount – DPS, Healing, etc. meters
• Sexy Map – Minimap replacement
• Bartender4 – Action Bar replacement mod
• ChocolateBar – Status Bar (similar to Titan Panel or Fubar), used Broker plugin addons
• Deadly Boss Mods – Raid Boss Warning tool
• LuckyCharms2 – Raid Icon Marking Tool
• Sunn Art Viewport + Art Packs

As you can see from my basic setup, I have my HUD in the center of my screen.  Here I have my Health, in this case my runic power (but for other characters, mana, energy and rage) on the left as well.  I also have the pet health on the inner left.  On the right hand side I have the target’s health.  I have my runes and combo points located under my character.

This allows me to have some of the most critical information in the middle of my screen so that I am always in the know of my character’s health, runes, energy, target’s health, etc.  Directly below the HUD I have setup my Need to Know addon with my most critical debuffs on my current target as well as short timed buffs on my character.  Short-timer buffs are like Bone Shield and Horn of Winter, both of these are examples of short lived buffs that I can manually restore and are not a result of a proc.

At the top left of my screen I have my proc based buffs on timers.  This lets me keep an eye on how all my proc based buffs are stacking up, but these are buffs I can’t control but allow me to make important decisions especially if I have to execute a major move that increases in power if those proc based buffs .  To the top right I have my standard buffs and debuffs.

Along the bottom of my screen I use Sunn Art Viewport to block out an area I can assemble my chat, bars, mini-map, omen and recount areas.  I use Sunn Art in order to stop the game environment from being seen between my UI and making it appear un-professional and also having the background move behind your add-ons can at times feel disorienting.

I use Sexy Map as my mini-map replacement, mostly for the fact that is looks nice.  Xperl is used to replace the default unit frames and I place my character’s unit frame on the left and the target on the right.  Both of these can be hidden since I use the HUD, but I include it simply because I like seeing those frames on my screen.

Bartender4 is used to replace the existing WoW bars.  I have 2 sets essentially of bars.  The bars on the left are mapped to my gamepad, but are essentially keyboard press bars, it only matches to something I use my fingers to press an actual key.  These are my most used abilities.  On the right are bars with my lesser used abilities, like buffs, mounts, etc.  The right bars I use my mouse to click on.  This allows me to coordinate and multi-task/press using my keyboard and mouse at the same time.

I have Omen and Recount at the bottom right, while both are important, they are not pieces of information I need to constantly be staring at.  It can be argued that Omen you should, which I have also moved it to the top center in the past when I have noticed my threat on dps chars or even threat as a tank becoming an issue.  On the bottom left, I use Prat to replace my chat window, allowing me to add timestamps and color code characters based on their class.  While not needed, its a nice to have feature that I enjoy.  If you are an officer, raid leader, or PuG leader its helpful to have those timestamps if you need to take some pics to prove someone said something about loot rules, etc.

ChocolateBar is my data broker bar similar to fubar or titan panel, its essentially the next generation status bar mod.  I have a plethora of data broker plug-ins that show me my total gold, my guild/friends, repair, factions rep, cpu/mem usage, FPS and many more.

When in raid I have Xperl raid frames on the left.  What is not shown in the above is when on my healer I use Grid + Clique.  Grid is actually positioned just above LuckyCharms2.  This is as my point above about my bars on the right hand side uses my mouse to click.  Same thing with Grid + Clique I use the right hand side to mirror my hand position out of game for clicking and the left for keyboard presses.

At the very top middle I have my Deadly Boss Mods bars going, they eventually move down to be positioned on top of the HUD so the warnings are in my face the whole fight.

LuckyCharms2 is my raid icon assignment tool.  I have it resting right on top of Omen and Recount.  This lets me quickly assign icons to targets, perform ready checks as the Raid Leader and also post the kill order (especially if its not standard).

A look closer at my bar mod along with the use of my gamepad (also shown above) reveals I tied my bars on the left to mirror the setup/layout of the keys on my gamepad.  This makes it easier on the brain to make a 1 to 1 connection of positioning of the keys to what I see on screen.  This made it faster for me to learn my gamepad but also makes the decision from brain to finger press faster because the bars are matched to the gamepad.

Gaming, would be nothing without a solid keyboard.  In pretty much any game you will find the use for one, more so in RPG, FPS and strategy games.  So as a gamer, what is the best?  What is even worth considering.  There are a ton of keyboards out there, now I am not going to try and sell you on any wireless keyboards, simply because I didn’t find any that were gaming grade.  But what I did find were several options under $100, some a bit more.  So this is my refresher from one of my first blog posts regarding gaming gear, and getting some updates on it.

So lets look over they gaming boards…

Razer Lycosa

(MSRP $79.99 Amazon $67.84)

A gaming staple since 2007, the Lycosa is a well built low profile keyboard.  Button clicks are quick and responsive.  All the keys are backlit, which is customizable to show all backlit, no backlit, or just the wasd keys.  The feet on the keyboard grip the desk well.  The software that comes with it, allows you to setup macros and some very cool functions, though there is a learning curve to using the software.  The keyboard does use up 2 USB slots, presumably to have one dedicated, and the other to use the built in USB port.  It also plugs into your headset and microphone slots on your audio card, to allow you to plug in your headset to your keyboard, though if you use an USB headset/mic, or like the game sound to come from your speakers, this may not be an optimal solution, unless you use the USB port on the keyboard.

Features

• Keytop with non-slip rubber finish
• Backlight illumination with WASD cluster lighting option
• Fully-programmable keys with macro capability
• Gaming cluster with anti-ghosting capability
• Slim keycap structure with Hyperesponse™ technology
• TouchPanel™ easy access media keys
• Gaming mode option for deactivation of the Windows key
• 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response time
• Earphone-out and microphone-in jacks
• Detachable wrist rest
• One integrated USB extension port

Pro

• Only 18.5”, small footprint compared to larger keyboards like the Logitech G15 (21.5”)
• Anti-ghosting around the WASD cluster to limit signal failure by hitting buttons too quickly, or multiple button presses in quick succession
• Good grip on the desk

Con

• The Lycosa’s backlighting is its biggest problem. With the blue LED turned off, you’re left with an almost illegible keyboard, the back-lighting is also faint in a lit room, it makes the keys only marginally more legible
• Takes up 2 USB slots (though this allows the usb port on the keyboard to use the full bandwidth and not interfere with the keyboard signal)
• For casual gamers, the included software will have a learning curve to it

Steel Series Merc Stealth

(MSRP $89.99 Amazon $88.96)

This keyboard by Steel Series essentially combines the advanced controls of a game pad into the keyboard.  With the built in gamer pad with a WASD button setup and buttons floating all round you have a complete package in one keyboard.

Features

• SteelSeries Z Engine enables programmability of all keys
• Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games
• 3 color illumination options: blue, purple and red
• Internal hub with 2 USB ports
• Anti-ghosting capability: Up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes
• Special gaming key area
• Rubberized movement keys for enhanced tactile feedback

Pros

• This keyboard provides you with 2 USB 2.0 ports on the back.
• Backlit lighting options of 3 different colors.
• The built in gamer pad area will no doubt save you money.
• The included software interface for customizing the Merc is well put together and intuitive

Cons

• Once more if you are a lefty, this keyboard was not made for you unfortunately unless you game like a righty.
• Seems like a lot of specialty buttons were designed with FPS games instead of MMOs.
• If you already have a gamer pad this keyboard provides duplicate functionality.

Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard

(MSRP $99.99 Amazon $79.99)

The latest Logitech G15 has made a lot of changes since the first, it has a sleeker design for one.  Also the LCD screen is no longer flip top, and they have removed a row of the “G-keys”.  All that makes this latest generation G15 look a lot more polished than its predecessor.

Features

• High-visibility GamePanel™ LCD: Displays game stats and other important system information.
• Illuminated characters: Choose from three levels of brightness. Locate keys easily in both bright and low-light conditions.
• Six programmable G-keys: Perform single keystrokes or complex macros with six fully programmable G-keys. Create macros on the fly, without having to pause the action.
• Intelligent cable management: Keep mouse, headset, and other cords out of the way by routing them through channels on the underside of the keyboard.
• Instant media access: Use the convenient one-touch controls for volume and media playback.

Pros

• 6 G-Keys, all programmable, with 3 profiles per game making 18 total macros available per game.
• Amber backlighting on all keys.
• 2 USB ports on the back.
• In game the LCD screen defaults to showing your stats, so without opening your character screen you can see what different buffs do to your stats like Strength, Agility, etc.  Also the programmers at Blizzard have fully supported this keyboard from the get go, so even when entering battlegrounds you are presented with Battleground information like kills, deaths, etc. right on the LCD.
• Also an open API allows mod developers to make LCD mods for the keyboard which can be found at g15mods.com

Cons

• No customization on the backlighting for the keys.
• USB ports on the back are only USB 1.1 and not 2.0.
• Having to switch profiles if you want more than 6 macros at any given time.

Logitech G19

(MSRP $199.99 Amazon $169.30)

This is Logitech’s DRASTIC step up over the G15.  This is also the most expensive keyboard on this list, and most of that is due to the color LCD screen at the top middle of the screen.  You can watch youtube videos on this thing while you play!  That’s insane, or insanely cool.  You get the standard macro keys like with the G15, you get 12 G keys on the left hand side.  You get 2 USB 2.0 slots on the back of the keyboard.  By far one could claim this is the best gaming keyboard around today, but the high price tag (almost as much as some top end graphics cards) puts this out of reach for many gamers.

Features

• Tiltable, color GamePanel LCD
• Custom-color backlighting
• 12 fully-programmable G-Keys
• Two high-speed USB 2.0 ports
• Multi-Key input (Up to 5 keys at once)
• Game/desktop mode
• Intelligent cable management
• Instant media access
• Public software development kit
• Onboard memory

Pros

• Color LCD screen that integrates with almost any game and you can watch youtube videos on
• 12 Programmable macro keys
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
• Open source SDK for custom applications

Cons

• Price…
• Price….
• AND Price – $200 for a keyboard?  You need to have some serious extra cash to blow that much on a keyboard, mostly for a color LCD screen

Saitek Cyborg

(MSRP $79.95 Amazon $69.76)

This keyboard definitely looks like something out of a science fiction movie.  With a touch screen panel at the top, different backlit illuminations it’s definitely one freaky board.

Features

• Multi-colour back lighting with Tru Vu illumination through keys (mix shades from Red through Amber to Green) and adjustable brightness
• Touch-sensitive, backlit dashboard control panel
• WASD, cursor, ‘Cyborg’ and NumPad keys can be lit independently from the rest of keyboard to highlight commonly used gaming keys
• Cyborg Mode – instantly disable the Windows keys and configure the colour and brightness of your gaming keys at the touch of a button
• Set and forget – persistent key illumination settings ensure colours remain even after a system reboot
• 12 programmable ‘Cyborg’ keys
• Hard wearing, metal-plated key caps in key gaming areas
• Pass-through USB, audio and microphone sockets
• Enhanced multiple key presses in gaming areas for complex in-game commands
• Adjustable wrist rest and keyboard rake angle (front and back)
• Gold-plated connectors for USB and Audio

Pros

• The metal WASD buttons, which will help with that extra wear and tear you put on movement (assuming you do not use a gamerpad for movement).
• The WASD keys also have a separate light region, which means you can light them up a different color than the rest of the keyboard, nothing that is a necessity but a nice to have fun feature indeed.
• 2 great features though are the USB 2.0 port on the back and the audio jacks, nice to not have to run something to your computer and just use the keyboard instead.

Cons

• The software included is quite cumbersome, its not intuitive like the Logitech’s Set Point suite.
• Programming in those macros is a pain as you have to fumble through it a bit.
• The cyborg (macro) keys are a nice feature but they don’t necessarily feel like normal keys and you get that cheap feeling form them.

Microsoft Sidewinder X4

(MSRP $59.95 Amazon $53.21)

One of the biggest features of the X4 is the anti-ghosting, where you can essentially hit as many keys as you want at the same time and they will all register.  Unlike its cousin the X6, there is no detachable number pad.  There are some macro keys, which you can record macros on the fly, which is always a great feature or using the built in software.  Unlike the X6 there are no volume adjustment knobs either.  The backlit keys, with a red glow on the black keys are a very nice touch.

Features

• Advanced anti-ghosting capability
• Mode switching
• Automatic profile switching
• Programmable macro keys
• Backlit keys

Pros

• Anti-ghosting is always a good gaming option
• Macro keys and programming them on the fly
• Price – this is the bargain basement in this list, and for the features it’s a good value

Cons

• No flashy features
• No USB ports

Microsoft Sidewinder X6

(MSRP $79.95 Amazon $57.99)

The X6, the predecessor to the X4 (if you can believe it) was one of the first keyboards designed by Microsoft specifically for gaming.  The option of a detachable numeric pad that can be placed on the left or right side of the keyboard is an interesting feature.  Especially since those keys on the num pad can be used as macro keys.  The knobs on the keyboard determine the amount of lighting your keyboard puts out from the ominous red backlighting, the other controls volume.  As with my speakers, knobs for volume is a good thing.

Features

• Switchable numeric key pad that can be used as macro keys
• Two color adjustable backlighting dial
• Macro keys w/in-game macro recording
• Mode switching

Pros

• Price, with only being a few bucks more on Amazon than the X4, and having more features except the anti-ghosting
• Adjustable knobs
• Plenty of macro options including in-game recordable

Cons

• No USB ports on the keyboard
• You can’t tilt the keyboard up (no adjustable feet)

Conclusion

All these keyboards offer a little something different, most offer very similar features.  My suggestion is make a list of things you are looking for in a gaming keyboard and match it up to the suggestions above, whichever hits on most of the features in your wish list is your keyboard.

Personally I use the Logitech G15 and been using it for over a year now, I wanted an LCD to essentially have a heads-up display of information and now that it integrates with Ventrilo to show who is talking its even better for me.  My biggest gripe is the usb ports on the back being 1.1, but the macro and LCD on there have been great additions to my gameplay experience.

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to PC mice, even more so the arena for gaming grade mice has gotten quite intense with Logitech, Microsoft, Razer, Steel Series, and a host of other companies entering the arena to push their wares in the high end gaming market.  So how does one know which is truly best for them.  I believe it has to do with a lot of different factors.  To find the right gaming mouse for you, many different factors need to be weighed:

1. Ergonomics / Look and Feel
2. Price
3. Types of games you play
4. Features
5. Wired vs. Wireless

So lets explore some of the current mice on the market and how they stack up against one another

Wired Mice

Logitech G500 ($69.99 MSRP $55.04 on Amazon.com)

The G500 is a revamp of the Logitech G5 Laser mouse.  The hyper scrolling technology has been added, which is great for scrolling through long web pages, documents, etc.   However it may not be ideal for scrolling through options in a game.  The G500 has on-board memory which means it can store profile information and you can take it with you, though the memory space only allows for storing one profile.

Pros

• Allows you to adjust the weight
• Nice ergonomic design
• 10 Programmable buttons

Cons

• 3 side thumb buttons are almost seamless, potential for misclicks
• Hyper Scrolling wheel not optimal for all games, can easily bypass intended selections

Logitech G9x Laser Mouse ($99.99 MSRP, $78.98 at Amazon.com)

The G9x is the ramped up model from the Logitech G9.  It has on the fly DPI adjusts.  This mouse was designed for comfort, allowing you to change the grip and the weight.  It only has 2 thumb buttons.  Its quite simple in its overall design.  The price you seem to be paying for is the customizability and the performance, not so much for the extra features (like extra buttons, etc).

Pros

• Interchangeable grips to provide a more custom feel
• Can adjust weight of the mouse

Cons

• Scroll wheel can spin too fast to be useful for most games
• Side buttons awkwardly arranged for use by the thumb for those with large hands
• Left mouse button can be a bit hyper sensitive

Steel Series WoW Mouse ($99.99 MSRP, $84.99 on Amazon.com)

Steel Series went all out to design a mouse with a look and feel specifically to World of Warcraft, from its outer plated design, to ornamented sides full on with in-game rune artwork on the buttons.  The total of 15 programmable buttons come pre-equipped with standard functions like dismount, open the mini-map and character windows.  The mouse even has LEDs that change color, nothing more than some cosmetics, no real function other than looking pretty.  The mouse is big, so those with larger hands will appreciate that; those with smaller hands may wish they never got this.  With all these complex features and programming options, the learning curve may be a bit steeper for a mouse than some would like.

Pros

• 15 Programmable Buttons
• Integrates specifically with World of Warcraft (per advertisement)
• 10 different programmable profiles (for all you altaholics)

Cons

• Integrates specifically with World of Warcraft, MAY be clunky with other games
• 3200 DPI may be good for World of Warcraft, but may not be ideal for other games like a FPS
• Programming some of the mouse buttons could interfere with keyboard presses

Razer Naga ($79.99 MSRP, $75.70 on Amazon.com)

The Razer Naga, is touted as a MMO gaming mouse.  With 17 customizable buttons, 12 of which are thumb buttons.  This mouse even includes in-game addons for World of Warcraft and other MMOs for ease of customizability.  But don’t think because its geared toward MMO, that you will see similar results as other similar mice.  The Naga touts 5600 DPI and 1000 Hz polling rate.  Originally the naga had issues with remapping keys, but since its release the 2.0 drivers have corrected that.  And yes Naga are in reference to the Naga in World of Warcraft.  Right out of the box, the keys default to the bindings of the default action bar in World of Warcraft (keys 1-12).  This setup allows you to focus your left hand on the WASD keys and modifier keys like ALT, SHIFT and CTRL, to use in combination with the 12 buttons at your thumb’s disposal.

Pros

• In-game addons to allow mapping of key bindings inside the game itself.
• Compact design provides benefit to those with smaller hands, especially female gamers
• Thousands if not more key binding options with 17 Programmable Buttons

Con

• Steep Learning curve to use the 12 thumb buttons
• Compact design may be difficult for players with large hands
• Switching the Naga into NUM mode can adversely affect gameplay if you have Caps Lock on
• Forward and Back horizontal thumb buttons are awkwardly placed

Razer Death Adder ($59.99 MSRP)

An oldie but goody, this has been a popular 5 button gaming mouse since 2007.  The first thing you will notice is a nice ergonomic feel, which later Razer products were modeled after (i.e. Mamba).  It has 3500 DPI, while good for MMOs and Real Time Strategy (RTS), it may fall short for those more heavily interested in a FPS.  Though as with the other Razer products it has the 1000 Hz poll rate.

Pros

• Horizontal Thumb buttons placed perfectly
• Ergonomic design, even a good fit for larger handed players
• There is even a Left Hand Edition for lefties

Cons

• May not meet the needs of hardcore FPS fans

Microsoft Sidewinder X5 ($59.95 MSRP $26.97 on Amazon.com)

The bargain basement mouse in the lot here is the successor to the original Sidewinder, and it provides many of the standard features you are looking for, but also trimmed some features the original had.  The mouse goes up to 2000 DPI, and has a polling rate of its sister mouse the x8 of 500 Hz.  It has 5 programmable buttons, its side thumb buttons are vertically aligned, to match more with your thumb’s nature motion.  The X5 is a larger mouse and you will find it fits those with large hands well.

Pro

• Vertical thumb buttons
• Cost (if bought at the Amazon price-point)
• Larger mouse, fits larger hands slightly better than those with small hands

Con

• Smaller handed gamers may find this mouse bulky
• No weight adjustments like its predecessor

Wireless Mice

Razer Mamba ($129.99 MSRP, $114.99 on Amazon.com)

The Mamba’s design is very similar to that of Razer’s wired mouse the Death Adder.  The Mamba has a 1000 Hz polling rate which promises zero lag and achieves up to 5600 DPI, which compares to their wired mice, though necessary in some cases for first person shooters (FPS) it may be overkill for a MMORPG like World of Warcraft.  The Mamba uses the 2.4Ghz frequency for wireless, however Razer claims the Mamba also detect and avoids noisy channels to get around interference.

Though Razer claims 72 hours of battery life without charging, many reviews state they got merely 36, and in rare occasions up to 48 hours before having to charge.  Also that may be a bit misleading in the fact that several have reported that when on the last bar for battery life they see a substantial drop off in quality.  Though you can plug in the USB cable to charge the mouse and continue playing, many complain that why not just have a wired mouse at this point.

Pros:

• Great ergonomic design
• Great response time
• Can plug in for charging and keep playing

Cons:

• Battery Life is low
• Price, $130 is quite a steep price point
• Been reported that updating firmware on Vista 64 bit O/S could be problematic at times (not sure if this has been corrected)

Microsoft Sidewinder X8 (MSRP $99.95, but can get it at Amazon for $72.99)

The latest Sidewinder has gone wireless and has gotten a ergonomic face-lift.  The sidewinder x8 uses the 2.4Ghz to communicate and has a max polling of 500 Hz and can achieve up to 4000 DPI.  500 Hz you will see is less than several of the other gaming mice, and it just depends on the game you play.  I have found 500 is perfectly acceptable to more deliberate games like World of Warcraft, where fans of FPS will want a higher polling rate.  The Sidewinder does sport a LCD that tells you what your DPI is set to, in case you need to know your settings on the fly.  Though the battery life is quite superior to other wireless mice, it seems to be missing a battery life indicator on the mouse itself.

The play and charge kit is the shape of a hockey puck which allows you some cable management.  The cable also attaches to the mouse magnetically, which makes it very simple to attach.  The vertical thumb buttons are a shift from the standard horizontal and may take some getting used to.

Pros:

• Long Battery Life
• Can plug in to charge and keep playing
• 7 Programmable buttons
• On the fly Macro Recording
• Vertical Thumb buttons allow use of natural thumb motion

Cons

• No ergonomic “bump” in the middle, making it less than stellar for medium to large hands (test drive first)
• Some issues with the BlueTrack on non-mouse pad, gaming surfaces
• No battery life indicator on the mouse

Logitech Performance Mouse MX ($99.99 MSRP, $85.48 on Amazon.com)

First off, Logitech has seemed to not have created a dedicated wireless gaming mouse (as of yet), so looking at their latest and greatest wireless mice this is one that I saw. The Performance Mouse MX is the successor to the MX Revolution.  Logitech introduces a new technology with this mouse called Darkfield Laser Tracking.  This gives the mouse the ability to play on virtually any surface.  This mouse is similar to the MX Revolution.  The mouse’s design however forces it to be used by right handed folks almost exclusively.  Also due to the design changes people with large hands will see their hands sliding farther back on the mouse, instead of palming it, which is a step back from the MX Revolution’s design.

The Logitech Unifying receiver allows you to connect multiple Logitech devices (i.e. keyboard) without taking up multiple USB ports, this is a huge plus if you don’t have many to spare on your machine.  The mouse also uses the 2.4Ghz channel.  It does allow for an adjustable DPI in the software, however this mouse is clearly designed for more office use, than gaming.

Pros

• Unifying receiver, allows you to connect multiple wireless Logitech devices in 1 USB port
• Play and charge at the same time
• Play on virtually any surface

Cons

• Horizontal Thumb buttons were shifted up and forward, may not work well for those with small hands
• Only 4 customizable buttons
• Overall tracking isn’t fast enough for serious gamers, polling rate of 125 Hz
• Maximum DPI of 1500

Coming Soon…

Its worth mentioning that in Spring of 2010 MadCatz will be putting out its “RAT” line of gaming mice.  These things look nasty (in a good way).  Since they aren’t out yet just wanted to leave you with some feature sets on these things.  The adjustable grips and palm rests are most intriguing, offering the ability to customize the mouse to your specific comfort level.

RAT9 ($129.99 MSRP)

• Wireless with Recharge Dock, swap out the battery (charge one, play with one)
• 2.4Ghz, 5600 DPI and 1000 Hz polling rate
• Interchangeable pinkie (3) and palm rests (3)
• Weight changing kit
• 5 Programmable buttons
• Lightweight metal chassis

The RAT7 is a wired version of the RAT9 but at a MSRP of $99.99

The RAT5, is a scaled down version of the RAT7, offering 4000 DPI and a polling rate of 500 Hz.  Not pinkie or palm rest swap outs, but it does offer a length adjustment for the palm.  Of course with lower precision comes a lower price point of $69.99 MSRP.

The RAT3 is the bargain basement with having 3200 DPI 500 Hz polling rate, only 3 programmable buttons, no metal chassis and no adjustments.  So what does the RAT3 go for a measly $49.99 MSRP.

Conclusion

So which mouse is best?  Well comfort is a big part of a great gaming mouse.  I highly recommend going to your local retail store and taking these mice for a test drive, finding which ones feel best in your hand and then start weighing the features you are looking for.

Me I currently use a Logitech MX Revolution (not one that is rated on here) and have been looking for a mouse that will meet my increased gaming needs.  So this is the list I have narrowed it down to and after doing a lot of research I still haven’t made a final decision, as comfort, features and price are all big pieces of the puzzle.

If I were to break it out into categories though, of mice currently available on the market

• Best MMO mouse: Razer Naga
• Cheapest Mouse: Microsoft Sidewinder X5
• Most Expensive: Razer Mamba
• Best Packaging: Tied – Razer Mamba and Steel Series WoW Mouse
• Best Feel: Tied – Razer Mamba and Razer DeathAdder

I tried to think of best wired and wireless, but it’s a bit difficult to do so, as my impressions of best are more favored to ergonomics than features.  The fact is if you are only going to use a mouse for World of Warcraft, other MMO’s, maybe even the occasional RTS, 5000+ DPI mice aren’t really needed, hell you barely need anything with a polling rate over 250Hz if that high to be honest, but if you want something that scales well and can adapt, obviously going with a mouse that is capable of going higher is the way to go.

*Please note I am not affiliated with Amazon, it’s merely for a price comparison vs. MSRP.  It also does not necessarily represent the lowest price.  Also the prices for Amazon are as of me writing this and are subject to change

As a raid leader and sometimes tank, its my job to mark targets, assign crowd control and provide the members of the pug or guild raid with the appropriate kill order.  This usually takes a lot of time, I had to create custom macros.  But now with the latest changes to LuckyCharms2, all that is a thing of the past.

LuckyCharms2 now does all of these things, including still letting me manually mark targets and call for the much needed ready check.  I took the new addon for a spin in Trial of the Crusader and Ulduar last night and the changes are greatly appreciated by not only myself, my raid members loved how I quickly got them information about targets and who needed to be zapped into a sheep!

Below you can see the new interface, where you can see numbers over each icon.  The lock is still there, the Ready Check button is now the smaller “RC” and the Kill Order feature is the button marked “KO”, see its not just a bunch of clever acronyms afterall.

Click on the RC button to do your standard ready check, if you never experienced a ready check then are you sure you are playing WoW?

In the addons tab under Interface is where you will find LuckyCharms2 configuration menu.  This is where you can set the icon kill order, and also readjust how the numbers are shown on the bar for LuckyCharms.  By setting the numbers you will then print out these icons as the kill order to your raid when you click on the “KO” button.

The output will be something like the following.  As you can see it puts the [LC2] in front of your kill order.

Another handy feature is being able to right click on any icon and set the crowd control type.  In the image below you can see it automatically shows you all the cool CC options available to you.

As you can see the CC Assignment is now placed on the icon and you see the text on the bar as well.

The next time you print out the kill order it will also add a line in the raid text stating which targets are for which crowd control method.  I can’t tell you how much easier this makes everything for me as a raid leader.  No longer do I swap icons for different crowd controls mid raid, kill order is at the ready, I can spam out the CC assignments quickly and easily.  And of course all the fun features I loved about this mod are still there.

Download LuckyCharms2

I have used Bartender action bars since iteration 2, and I have to say it has made my gaming experience so much better, as the default Blizzard action bars never quite gave me the customizability I felt I needed.

The moment I came across Bartender I knew I found the action bar for me.

Bartender 4 has all the support you would hope for out of an action bar mod.

Features:

• 10 Action Bars
• Stance Bar
• Pet Bar
• Bag Bar (with keyring)
• Micro Menu
• XP/Reputation Bar

Out of these features the only one I do not use is the XP/Reputation Bar as I use the one built into XPerl Unit Frames, but more on that mod another time.

All the action bars are completely customizable from the number of buttons, columns and rows you want.  You can change the alpha settings, the scale of some bars over others.  Also the action bars support the “possess” bar or the vehicle bar when in that state.  If you really want to get advanced you can even set custom states with macro conditions, not for the faint of heart, and novices should not attempt this without assistance, but it’s very powerful especially for those who switch stances, forms, etc.

The bars can be moved and locked into place anywhere on the screen you wish, providing you the utmost control over the customization of your personal UI.

All the keys you can rollover and add key bindings as well, simply select key bindings rollover the button with your mouse and hit the button on your keyboard you want to map it to and bam, all done.

Some critics say that because it doesn’t include a Cooldown counter on the bars its subpar, it just means its lighter honestly.  Using other mods like OmniCC works just fine with this mod, and if this is the worst complaint someone can have against an action bar mod, then you have one hell of an addon to replace the default bars.

Download Bartender4 at Curse

It seems in World of Warcraft one cannot get very far without hearing the word “Raid”.  In World of Warcraft raiding refers to more advanced dungeons than the 5 player instances in Burning Crusade and now Wrath of the Lich King the raid encounter sizes are 10 to 25 players.  Previously in WoW classic they were 20 and 40 player size limitations.

Raiding has evolved greatly from its implementation in WoW classic where most fights required you to stand in one place while a tank focused the boss’s attention on him, healers healed the tank and the raid and the DPS or damage dealers fired away.  Now in Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) raid encounters are much more involved, from having to swap tanks mid

fight, interacting with the environment, and even multiple bosses in a single encounter.

This complexity can be a challenge to overcome, however with the right addons you can give yourself a leg up against Blizzard’s creations.  Now I won’t list every single addon, just what should be the minimum requirements of most raiding guilds in order to make sure information is received by all members so they can read and react to incoming dangers, but also provide raid leaders the critical information they need to make on the fly decisions.

The addons we will discuss are: Oment Threat Meter, oRA2, and Deadly Boss Mods.  I will also briefly review over a non-mandatory addon Recount.

Omen Threat Meter

In WoW trash mobs and raid bosses decide who to attack based on threat or aggro.  This is a numerical value, the higher the number the more likely you are to “pull aggro”, meaning the enemy will attack you.  What Omen does is it looks at a given target and calculates the threat numbers of every person

attacking it and puts it into an easy to read horizontal bar chart for you to see where you are on the enemy’s threat, if you are higher than the tank it may be time to scale back some, if its lower you know you can push your damage a bit more and not worry about overtaking the tank (at which point you would pull aggro).

The image to the right gives you an example of what you would see during a fight.

oRA2

oRA2 is a light weight alternative to CTRA (CT_RaidAssist).  oRA2 grew as the alternative to the popular CTRA during WoW Classic raid encounters.  oRA2 has a resurrection monitor, ready check, version check, vote system, item check, Main Tank windows, durability check and zone check.  The way it differs from CTRA is that it removed the raid frames, decursive system, raid status and boss mods.  This mod takes up a very small memory

footprint as well so even though with lower end machines can still have this mod to assist them in the key areas of Main Tank windows and status checks.  The icon sits along the minimap (see side image).

Deadly Boss Mods

This mod has been around since WoW Classic.  It has grown and changed over time, but has always had the same core features.  Alerting the raid when an event was about to happen during a boss encounter.  DBM accomplishes this via bar timers and flashing alerts in

the middle of your screen (which these are all customizable on where they are located).  These are great because now the raid leader can focus more on positioning and movement changes rather than constantly calling out events, and places accountability on raid members to see what is going on and react accordingly before there is a problem.  Almost every option is customizable.  Also with WotLK many fights now seem to incorporate a boss mechanic where people need to be so far apart from each other, and DBM has a special command /range or /distance.  That lets you pull up a small on screen window that shows you who are in range of, allowing folks to make sure they are spread out enough to not cause wipes and/or unnecessary damage to fellow raid members.

The latest version of DBM also tracks how many kills of a boss you have, kill times, and even provides functionality for 5 person dungeons as well.

You can download DBM from either the main DBM Site or from Curse.

There is one more mod you can get, however its not 100% necessary, but can be useful for grading yourself, and if you are a raid leader judging how well individuals are contributing from a DPS, Healing, Cleansing, etc. perspective.  This is done on the fly, instead of waiting for someone to upload logs to WWS.

Recount

Recount is a mod that takes information from the combat log and parses it into a graphical format.  Damage meters have always been a staple of comparing one’s dps to another, but with Recount you gain so much more information allowing you to see damage or healing during a specific fight, just the current one.  Even able to see how often someone

died, to who is doing the most cleansing.  This information is invaluable to a raid leader because it allows them to see who is struggling to get them some assistance, even possibly replace, but also lets you know key strengths and weaknesses to make important decisions like Healer A and Healer B both died, you have 1 battle resurrection available who do you use it on, well check the healing, and if Healer A is higher and has a better heal per second, then get Healer A up.  The same can be said for DPS.

Another great use is personal evaluation.  By clicking a player’s name in the bars you can

dive into deeper analysis regarding hits, crits, misses for a particular spell or attack, and determine if you need to upgrade a particular stat, or even how a change in gear or damage rotation may be affecting your overall DPS.

This mod however is very demanding on resources and is not recommended for those with lower end computers.  Also this tool actually can provide a disservice if people are merely using it to stroke their “epeen”.  Which is why you will find sometimes raid leaders who use it properly and those who use it negatively, so while I do not feel its a necessity for raiding, if used properly the information can be invaluable to the overall success of the raid.

Conclusion

So with the 3 main mods oRA2, Omen Threat Meter and Deadly Boss Mods you should making raiding more focused and easier, and with the use of Recount you can track your improvement and make tweaks to your playing style on the fly.  The key thing during a raid is to only get the most important information as quickly as possible, overloading yourself with too many mods to assist could actually slow you down and hurt the raid, so pick your raid mods carefully.

Due to such great feedback regarding gaming pads, I have been asked by many readers regarding what type of gaming keyboard I use.  I figure I will use this opportunity to review a few different ones for under $100 (not including tax).

Now a solid gaming keyboard can make all the difference in terms of macro execution, movement, customizability, and response.

Now you can go out and buy a $200 super gaming keyboard, but lets be honest a better graphics card is a better buy for $200.  So what is out there that can handle World of Warcraft?  Actually there are 4 in particular that are pretty good that won’t break your budget either.  Please note all the MSRP numbers on these keyboards come direct from the company sites.  Browsing on Newegg you can find the prices reduced, some even by as much as $20 off.

Lets get to the reviews.

1. Saitek Cyborg

$79.95 (MSRP)

This keyboard definitely looks like something out of a science fiction movie.  With a touch screen panel at the top, different backlit illuminations its definitely one freaky board.

Features

• Multi-colour back lighting with Tru Vu illumination through keys (mix shades from Red through Amber to Green) and adjustable brightness
• Touch-sensitive, backlit dashboard control panel
• WASD, cursor, ‘Cyborg’ and NumPad keys can be lit independently from the rest of keyboard to highlight commonly used gaming keys

• Cyborg Mode – instantly disable the Windows keys and configure the colour and brightness of your gaming keys at the touch of a button
• Set and forget – persistent key illumination settings ensure colours remain even after a system reboot
• 12 programmable ‘Cyborg’ keys
• Hard wearing, metal-plated key caps in key gaming areas
• Pass-through USB, audio and microphone sockets
• Enhanced multiple key presses in gaming areas for complex in-game commands
• Adjustable wrist rest and keyboard rake angle (front and back)
• Gold-plated connectors for USB and Audio

Pros

The metal WASD buttons, which will help with that extra wear and tear you put on movement (assuming you do not use a gamerpad for movement).  These keys also have a separate light region, which means you can light them up a different color than the rest of the keyboard, nothing that is a necessity but a nice to have fun feature indeed.  Also the “Cyborg Mode” disables the windows key, which is great for anyone who went to hit alt, but instead hit the windows key and was popped out of game and was staring at their desktop in the middle of a raid.  2 great features though are the USB 2.0 port on the back and the audio jacks, nice to not have to run something to your computer and just use the keyboard instead.

Cons

The software included is quite cumbersome, its not intuitive like the Logitech’s Set Point suite.  And programming in those macros is a pain as you have to fumble through it a bit.  The cyborg (macro) keys are a nice feature but they don’t necessarily feel like normal keys and you get that cheap feeling form them.

2. Razer Tarantula

$99.99 (MSRP)

Razer the company known for gaming peripherals has as its flagship the Tarantula.  This is a sleek black board that could be mistaken for almost any keyboard if it weren’t for some nice gaming features and the glowing Razer symbol at the bottom.

Features

• Anti-ghosting capability for up to 10 keys
• 32KB Razer Synapse™ on-board memory
• On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ profile switching
• 10 programmable gaming hotkeys
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response time
• Hyperesponse™ gaming keytop with fully interchangeable keys
• Headphone-out and microphone-in jacks
• Media center keys
• Two USB ports
• Gold-plated USB connector
• Razer Battledock™ for add-on accessories
• Approximate size: 522mm (length) x 220mm (width) x 33mm (height)

Pros

Convenient USB ports on the back for small power requirement devices (see cons for the reverse side of this).  You have 10 programmable macro keys (5 on each side), which may not seem like a lot but on the keyboard is a button that lets you switch profiles which lets you set different macros to each profile thus making more macros available to you at any given moment.  Did I mention you can have 100 different profiles, well you can.  What is really cool are that you get 10 “gaming keys”, that you can change out any other key on the keyboard, basically making the keyboard your own personal Frankenstein (only better looking).  The software is also pretty decent better than the Cyborg, not sure its better than Logitech’s SetPoint, but it does the job.  You can store 5 profiles onto the keyboard’s on-board memory and take the keyboard with you anywhere you go and use those profiles, that’s a pretty slick feature.

Cons

The Tarantula uses 2 USB ports to run, thats right 2, which seems a bit excessive.  USB ports are only 1.1.  Macro recordings are limited to only 8 key presses.

3.  Steelseries’ Merc Stealth

$89.99 (MSRP)

This keyboard by Steel Series essentially combines the advanced controls of a game pad into the keyboard.  With the built in gamer pad with a WASD button setup and buttons floating all round you have a complete package in one keyboard.

Features

• SteelSeries Z Engine enables programmability of all keys
• Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games
• 3 color illumination options: blue, purple and red
• Internal hub with 2 USB ports
• Anti-ghosting capability: Up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes
• Special gaming key area
• Rubberized movement keys for enhanced tactile feedback

Pros

This keyboard provides you with 2 USB 2.0 ports on the back.  Backlit lighting options of 3 different colors.  The built in gamer pad area will no doubt save you money.  The included software interface for customizing the Merc is well put together and intuitive.  Overall the keyboard is built solidly.

Cons

Once more if you are a lefty, this keyboard was not made for you unfortunately unless you game like a righty.  Seems like a lot of specialty buttons were designed with FPS games instead of MMOs.  If you already have a gamer pad this keyboard provides duplicate functionality.

4. Logitech G15

$99.99 MSRP

The latest Logitech G15 has made a lot of changes since the first, it has a sleeker design for one.  Also the LCD screen is no longer flip top, and they have removed a row of the “G-keys”.  All that makes this latest generation G15 look a lot more polished than its predecessor.

Features

• High-visibility GamePanel™ LCD: Displays game stats and other important system information.
• Illuminated characters: Choose from three levels of brightness. Locate keys easily in both bright and low-light conditions.
• Six programmable G-keys: Perform single keystrokes or complex macros with six fully programmable G-keys. Create macros on the fly, without having to pause the action.
• Intelligent cable management: Keep mouse, headset, and other cords out of the way by routing them through channels on the underside of the keyboard.
• Instant media access: Use the convenient one-touch controls for volume and media playback.

Pros

6 G-Keys, all programmable, with 3 profiles per game making 18 total macros available per game.  Amber backlighting on all keys.  2 USB ports on the back.  In game the LCD screen defaults to showing your stats, so without opening your character screen you can see what different buffs do to your stats like Strength, Agility, etc.  Also the programmers at Blizzard have fully supported this keyboard from the get go, so even when entering battlegrounds you are presented with Battleground information like kills, deaths, etc. right on the LCD.  Also an open API allows mod developers to make LCD mods for the keyboard which can be found at g15mods.com.  Also has a gaming mode button so you do not accidentally hit the Windows key and flop out of game.

Cons

No customization on the backlighting for the keys.  USB ports on the back are only USB 1.1 and not 2.0.  Having to switch profiles if you want more than 6 macros at any given time.

Conclusion

So in the end I can sit here and tell you which keyboard you should buy, but the fact is every gamer is different and has different needs.  So look over these options find the right one for you.  For me I picked up the Logitech, because I loved the LCD support from Blizzard, and with my n52te gamer pad I didn’t need to have that many macro keys anymore.  But for those who haven’t gotten a gamer pad, the Merc Stealth may be your best bet.  Those who are in love with the look and sci-fi nature of a touch screen dashboard may enjoy the Cyborg.  Then there are the die hard Razer fans who may love that Tarantula board.  Just pick the one that’s right for you, but remember there are great options for under $100, and check out Newegg.com for better deals on these boards than the MSRP.

Gaming pads have been around for quite some time, however most have been seen as being used solely for first person shooters.  Not many have looked at using them for MMOs like World of Warcraft.

However after getting a gaming pad and using it since Wrath of the Lich King expansion was released by Blizzard, I couldn’t imagine playing without it.

Now these gamer pads you need to know a few things to get you started.  First off there are many to choose from and you need to pick one that is right for you, since every gamer has specific requirements.  So lets break down the different options

1. n52te – Belkin powered by Razer

Features

• Adjustable soft-touch wrist pad for maximum comfort and endurance
• Easily toggle between 3 keymap states
• Programmable 8-way thumb pad with removable joystick
• Nonslip rubber pads grip in place for aggressive fragging
• 15 fully programmable keys built for complete customization and speed
• Enhanced tactile feedback and button responsiveness for rapid key presses
• Backlit keypad and scroll wheel for total control in dark conditions
• Powered by Razer™
• Personalized multiplayer profiles for all your games
• Razer Synapse™ onboard memory enables plug-and-play versatility with no additional software installation
• Unparalleled customization tools for intuitive setup and performance

Cost: $74.99 MSRP

This is the gamerpad I personally use, I chose it for a couple reasons

1. I liked the key layout, they weren’t a ton, which meant I could focus on my most crucial abilities that I need at the ready.

2. It had a thumb-stick to move my character around

3. At the time the logitech G13 was not out so only was able to compare it with the SteelSeries Fang.

4. The ergonmic design is great and allows me to play World of Warcraft for hours without my wrist getting sore.

For me this pad has been great, has worked now with all my WoW characters without being a hassle, and has worked on a wide array of characters: Death Knight, Paladin, Mage, Rogue, Priest.  The software was easy to use to setup the different buttons, the keys are backlit for playing in the dark, and the pad changes colors based on what key profile you are using.  Changing profiles might be great if say you are a druid and need to be able to switch profiles and access different action bars easily and quickly.

Some of the cons with this pad are that I wish it had some better rubber stoppers on the bottom, as the ones it does have it still has a tendency to slide a bit.  This was easily rectified by putting my own rubber stoppers on it, but this seems like a simple design change that was overlooked.  Also if you are a lefty, well this won’t work for you, as it was predominately designed for righties…sorry.

2. Logitech G13 Gamerpad

Features

• Naturally contoured design: Follows the natural shape of your hand and fingers for increased comfort during long sessions.
• Large, concave buttons: Let you locate buttons by touch on the home row.
• Solid, stable design: Helps assure that your gameboard will keep up when your game gets intense. Strategically placed feet. Stable weight (650 grams).
• Twenty-five programmable keys: Customize keys to suit your style of play.
• Quick macros: Assign complex actions to single keystrokes—on the fly.
• Programmable mini-joystick: Maneuver quickly and easily. The control you need is under your thumb.
• Backlit keys: Let you easily locate the right key in low-light conditions or lights-out play. Plus, you can customize the keys with any backlight color that you want.
• Onboard memory: Saves your profiles so you can take your personal preferences with you.
• Portable design: Keeps the game going wherever you go.
• High-visibility GamePanel™ LCD: Gather tactical information, including live stats, system info, and communications from fellow players.
• Public software development kit (SDK): Upload the latest enhancements developed exclusively for GamePanel™ by the Logitech open-source community.

Cost: $79.99 MSRP

Now I don’t use this pad on a daily basis, but my good friend uses this, so I sat down with him and he let me try it out myself.  So after talking with him and a test drive I have the following impressions.

The pad fits your hand very well and is very comfortable.  Unlike the Belkin, this pad stays in place without any extra modifications.  Now I have a G15 keyboard so the software that comes with it is very intuitive to use and easy to setup.  The LCD frame gives you tons of great information about the game you are playing, however if you already have a G series Logitech keyboard, then you get the same World of Warcraft information on both, which redundant information isn’t very helpful.

Now the buttons can be a pro or a con.  If you have small hands or feel 25 buttons at the ready are too much, then its a con.  However if you have larger hands and need more buttons than the n52 offers at easy reach then this pad definitely offers a lot more buttons.  One of the cooler features is the onboard memory so it will save your settings in the hardware and you can take it and plug it into any other computer to get a similar experience without needed to redo all your settings.

The thumb-pad my friend says is a con, because currently it only really picks up on 4 directions, but that shouldn’t be a problem for MMOs though, as the n52 is very similar to this.

Probably the biggest downside to this device is that the buttons are so tightly clumped together that its very easy to fat finger and hit a spell you didn’t mean to, throw off your whole rotations.  I am sure it can be overcome with practice but that was my biggest gripe when trying it out.

3. Fang by SteelSeries

Features

• Ambidextrous design to suit any gamer
• Anti-ghosting capability: Up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes
• SteelSeries Z Engine allows full customization of each key
• Pre-defined profiles for more than 150 games
• Improved ergonomics through adjustable height

Cost: $29.99 MSRP

The SteelSeries Fang is by far the cheapest option out there.  The biggest plus out of this is that if you are a lefty you too can use this.  Very easy design to move your character and strafe.  Buttons are programmable and within finger length.  The pad makes adding custom macros easy with its drag and drop macro builder.  As you can see thge number keys are all there.

However one thing you will notice is that lots of the buttons revolve around other functions than action, like toggling walk/run.  The lack of an ergonomic design I feel hurts it but understand they are trying to go the ambidextrous route.  This is a good pad for the cash, but you really do get what you pay for, and for most WoW experience I think you would want something that puts you in a bit more control and lets you define the buttons instead of the pad defining what the buttons should be.

Modifying your UI action bars to mirror the controller.

So now that we went through the pads and you chose your new toy.  How do we use it in the best way?  Well many scientifc studies show that if the controller mirrors what you see on screen it becomes more intuitive to the end user, which reduces the learning curve for adoption.

I am going to take the example of the Belkin n52te along with my UI.  First lets look at the key pad on the device.  Notice how the device has 3 rows, the top 2 have 5 keys, and the bottom has 4, for 14 total keys.

What we want to do is mirror that setup with an action bar mod like Bartender4.  So for Bartender4, you need to create 2 bars, 1 that has 9 buttons and another with 5, or 1 with 10 and 1 with 4.  All depends on how you want to set it up.  The end product you should get something like this:

Now of course if you go down the Logitech or Fang route, you will have more or less buttons, but placed in a different configuration but the idea is that the custom action bar mods can help duplicate it so your eyes can help associate the button clicks with your mind, making World of Warcraft your new personal playground.