I have played on and off for years but recently, before returning to azeroth again, i got a seriously noticeable disability in half of my key hand.
That being said, does anyone have any ideas on how to play? I cant use/feel my left pinky or ring finger (ulnar nerve palsy). And the rest of the hand seems to get sore fast.
I looked into consoleport for controller support but just wasn’t sure if thats the move
Edit: Ive been trying to play my warrior but there are enough cooldowns and what not that my 2.5 speedy fingers cramp up to fast.
I was condering playing back a bit moving on and retiring from the pvp melee life and going to a more in the back ranged caster so my response time might be forgiven a bit more. Ive got experience with warlock and priest but I am afraid of potentially ruinging other peoples games trying to heal.
This question comes up regularly.
My impression from reading the threads is that while there is a standard range of possibilities to make things easier. everyone has to find their own comfort.
I asked Perplexity AI to summarise the resources people have mentioned in such threads.
For someone wanting to play World of Warcraft with injured left outer fingers (such as the pinky and ring finger), there are several effective strategies and tools to reduce strain and maintain enjoyable gameplay:
Key Hardware and Device Options
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Gamepads (e.g., Razer Tartarus): Many players with finger pain or limited mobility use a one-handed gamepad like the Razer Tartarus. This device allows for customizable key layouts and can be positioned ergonomically, reducing the need to use injured fingers
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Ambidextrous or MMO Mice: Mice with multiple programmable buttons (such as the Logitech G600 or Razer Naga) let you move many keybinds from the keyboard to the mouse, minimizing keyboard use and allowing you to play primarily with your right hand
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Split or Ergonomic Keyboards: These can help with overall comfort, but for severe finger injuries, shifting keybinds away from the affected fingers is more impactful.
In-Game Accessibility and Keybinding Adjustments
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Rebinding Keys: Move essential abilities to keys that can be pressed with your index and middle fingers, or to mouse buttons. Avoid using keys that require the pinky or ring finger (like Shift, Ctrl, or keys far to the left)
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Click to Move: Enable the “Click to Move” option in the game’s accessibility settings. This allows you to move your character by clicking on the ground with your mouse, reducing the need for constant keyboard movement
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Auto-Run and Move Pad: Use auto-run (default Num Lock) and the on-screen move pad to further reduce keyboard strain
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Empowered Spell Input: For classes like Evoker, you can set spells to cast by holding down a key instead of repeated tapping, which is easier on injured fingers
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HUD and UI Customization: The updated UI in Dragonflight allows you to move and resize action bars, making it easier to see and use mouse-based abilities
Class and Playstyle Considerations
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Choose Simpler Classes/Specs: Some classes and specializations require fewer key presses and less complex rotations. Consider specs with fewer active abilities or those that don’t rely on rapid key combinations
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Avoid Modifier Keys: Try to avoid using Shift, Ctrl, or Alt as modifiers, as these often require the pinky or ring finger
General Tips
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Take Frequent Breaks: Regular breaks and hand stretches can help prevent further strain
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Consult Accessibility Menus: WoW’s accessibility menu (found via the ESC key) consolidates many helpful options for players with physical limitations
You can also check out YouTube to see people’s experiences with their own equipment. For example, here is Swifty, who is missing a pinky, talking about his gaming keypad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhQzy29UKA8
I hope you find a way to still have a good game!