Many different kind of key-command layouts and/or re-arrangements to the existing have been suggested every now and then and the conclusion is that unless there would be full customization of the keyboard layout the suggestions for changes keep arising. Dramatic overhaul isn't to be expected as we speak but some reworks to ease out the keyboard jockeying are paid attention to. Small and precise suggestions are easier to comprehend and considered than renewal of the existing as a whole.
Another idea for controls is you could press TAB to change modes from movement/actions to menu stuff. So Numpad controls can be moved to WASD, but when you press TAB you have menu interactions like Make, Build, etc. Not sure about this one to be honest, but food for thought I suppose.
Well yes this would solve the problem of having to remap the keys already in use to allow WASD movement, but it might be that it would still turn out to be cumbersome in action.
If we could find nice and preferably intuitive new keys for the commands associated with q,w,e,a,s,d and x setting up WASD movement would be relatively easy to feature if it was implemented so that there's (a new) hardcoded keyboard layout for WASD movement and the existing layout for numpad movement. WASD would be then selected as a setup option. (Everyone who'd prefer WASD feel free to post ideas how you'd remap those q,w,e,a,s,d and x key-commands.)
This is especially true with NPC chat interactions where I have to press 'T' for trade then reach other for the '0' to go back to main menu. Even the mouse click distance is quite far where bottom left is for some chat options and on the right side are others instead of all options being next to each other.
Yes, NPC interactions is one of the most awkward ones and I would also be very happy to renew it, but here also punctual and practical ideas/suggestions to improve this part and it's navigation structure alone, separately, would be very welcome.
Also I found it extremely annoying tracking Elk in thick dense forests where I have to either spam press the awkward Alt+t or get epilepsy menu flashes on my screen quickly pressing S > T over and over.
This is an interesting playstyle thing, as with my characters I don't ever spam tracking all that much even if the character would be low on tracking. I use it quite sparingly, and between relatively long distances, if needed.
But luckily there's one more alternative to this, and it is the
x command. When you look at a location with
x key it also does tracking check and can reveals new tracks to you. And for tracks it also scans not only the very tile you choose to look at, but also the neighbouring ones. Upon selecting the direction pressing
5 on numpad means the character's location so you may proceed with
x and
numpad 5 sequence to look (also for tracks) at the character's location and the neighbouring tiles.