Handy X2 Keyboard Layout Diagram, a little something I drew & scanned... Options

[LifeMatrix]

I'm still a bit new to playing X2 and I haven't completely memorized all the keyboard commands yet. Some of them I picked up pretty quick (partly from having played XBTF), but others seem so obscure and rarely used. I still find myself issuing quite a few of my commands via the Main menu and the Ship menu.

I remember when I first looked through the X2 Manual I was a bit disappointed that there was no keyboard layout or illustrated diagram of the game controls. Sure, there is a nearly complete listing of keyboard commands, but it's just not the same. Besides, the various game patches have changed the keyboard shortcuts so that it's now a bit different from the manual.

Granted, this looks rather amaturish since it was merely done with ink on paper, but I think it's legible and it gets the job done. And even though it was done by hand, it took me a few hours to figure out how to squeeze all this stuff onto one page! And after scanning it, I spent a good deal of time just cleaning it up to look presentable. I thought about using Corel PHOTO-PAINT to do a professional job of it, but I'm too lazy to do that right now. (And I'm chewing at the bit to get back to playing X2! )



Just click on the thumbnail image to get a full-sized version that you should be able to download and/or print out clearly. Oh, and here's a tip: I laminated my copy so that I can drink while playing - without worrying about smearing it!

BTW: In case this looks familiar, I posted about this on Egosoft recently:

Handy X2 keyboard layout diagram

I had looked for a keyboard layout for X2 or X3 before I went and made my own, but I didn't find any. It was only recently that I noticed the following on The Ultimate X resource and guides list:

[X3] Keyboard layouts by BugMeister (excel) (1/12/2006)

But, as it states, this keyboard layout is for X3, not X2. Although, another player pointed out that the controls are very similar (i.e., almost identical). And, after printing it out, I find that I have to squint and look real closely to make out the labels. The keys are labelled with such fine print it's very hard for me to read... even with glasses.

I also noticed the X2 Hot Key Guide, all the shortcuts are here guide here on FACTS (in the X2 - The Threat Guides area).

And I wanted to post there to mention or link the keyboard layout I drew, but... alas, this topic has been locked!

Would the FACTS administration please consider adding a mention here, considering how the two topics are very much related?

[Lethal Mitch]

Nice one LifeMatrix, always handy to have a keyboard layout handy.

Good idea about the laminating bit as well.

It's a laminated keyboard I need at times. Filled a few up with tea in my time. They seems to recover from tea ok but the one I got with lager never did properly recover.

[LifeMatrix]

Sadly, I understand the problems with "leaky" mugs, "leaky" chins, as well as the consequence of a keyboard that doesn't accept drinks of any sort.

But seriously, I have lost a couple keyboards over the years. Good thing most of them are still cheap. With clumsy elbows it's all too easy to accidentally bump your glass. I think the first keyboard I lost was due to either tea or soda. But the second I lost was due to water! Evidently, while the type of liquid may have an impact, it's possible for anything to kill a keyboard. (I took it apart and it looks like the contacts simply got corroded...)

Good news though: I've heard that they now produce a commercial line of waterproof keyboards. (Mostly intended for hospitals and industry.) Unfortunately, I think these are rather costly!

Also, there is such a thing as a thin, transparent cover for keyboards that has been available for years at a decent price. It's supposed to be thin and flexible enough to allow use of the keyboard. Great... so now we need to use 'protection' for "safe keyboarding"?

[Zama]

very good
very good indeed

it desivers being sticked to the top of the form

moved to the guides form
i will not merge the two topics coz lifematrix your digram is so much more and different that it delivers a place of its own

[LifeMatrix]

Hmm...
Well, it looks the file host for this turned into a pay site and deleted my stuff. And, worse, the PC I had been using at the time has since suffered a major hard drive crash. (Three different Maxtor drives and they've all practically died. And my friend's Maxtor USB drive died horribly. I'm never buying anything Maxtor again!)

I don't suppose anyone reading this has a copy?

There's still a chance I could find it on one of my drives or backups, but it seems unlikely.