Introduction
This is my suggestion for an alternate control scheme for controllers, both in regards to consoles and PC alike. A few changes were rumored awhile ago, likely to mainly address target-locking and more control over teleporting, pretty much issues arising as a result of the current update. Whether that's true or not, I figure I share my suggestions anyway, since there are more flaws than the ones currently presented when it comes to the controller experience.
While the current control scheme was serviceable enough back when the game was much simpler, it needs to update eventually to keep up as more complex content is added. Perhaps Klei knows this, but is unsure how to go about it; hopefully my suggestions here are a step in the right direction.
The original control scheme could be used by default, so that people's muscle memory aren't suddenly screwed up, but ideally some form of hint could be given to make them aware that this alternate control scheme exists in Settings.
Target-Lock
Pressing L3 locks/unlocks a target; pressing the left and right directional buttons while a target is locked switches to the previous and next target, respectively.
Teleporting
Pressing R3 toggles between using the right-analog stick to navigate the inventory and using it to control the reticle present as Wortox or while holding a Lazy Explorer; the camera automatically zooms out to compensate when moving the reticle away far enough. Holding R1/RB while pressing R3 to toggle back to inventory navigation locks the reticle in place until R3 is pressed again.
Camera
Pressing L1/LB and R1/RB no longer rotates the camera; instead, it is done by pressing and holding R1/RB and moving the right-analog stick left or right, while also zooming in and out by moving the stick up or down.
Equipment
Holding R1/RB and pressing Cross/A uses the currently-equipped body-slot's ability if it has one (eg. Snurtle Shell)
(Note: Perhaps this button combination could be used for Woby-dashing instead?)
Holding R1/RB and pressing Square/X uses the currently-equipped hand-slot's ability if it has one (eg. Willow'sLighter, Elding Spear, etc.)
Holding R1/RB and pressing Triangle/Y uses the currently-equipped head-slot's ability if it has one (eg. Enlightened Crown, Gardener's Hat, Bush Hat, etc.)
By default, Circle/B prioritizes the currently-equipped hand-slot item; holding R1/RB changes Circle/B to the next-prioritized action.
Inventory
Pressing and holding L1/LB allows the face buttons to be used for inventory actions instead of the directional buttons:
- L1/LB + Cross/A = Use On Self
- L1/LB + Square/X = Use Scene
- L1/LB + Triangle/Y = Examine
- L1/LB + Circle/B = Drop
Pressing R2/RT grabs the currently-selected item in the inventory, using the same controls as when the inventory is opened:
- Cross/A = Put
- Square/X = Get Half/Put One
- Triangle/Y = Use On Item
- Circle/B or R2/RT = Cancel
Holding and releasing R2/RT opens the inventory like normal.
Map
Pressing L2/LT opens the map. As long as map-pausing is disabled, moving the left-analog stick still moves you, even while the map is opened. Holding R1/RB and moving the right-analog stick is used to rotate and zoom in/out on the map, and the right-analog stick is used to move the cursor.
Holding and releasing R2/RT opens the crafting menu like normal.
Directional Buttons
They could be used for emotes, scoreboard shortcuts, opening chat, etc when not used for anything else.
Skill-Binding
When hovering over a skill in a character's skill wheel, holding L1/LB + R1/RB and pressing one of the directional or face buttons binds that specific skill to the button combination (eg. Summon/Unsummon Abigail is bound using this method, so (L1/LB + R1/RB) + Cross/A immediately activates the skill); skills that require aiming takes you to aim-mode instead.
Skills can only be activated this way if the appropriate item (eg. Ethereal Embers) is in the inventory, or the appropriate entity (eg. Woby) is in range.
Advanced
Holding down the action button (Cross/A or Circle/B) before holding L1/LB causes you to continue the current task until it's completed. (eg. holding the chop action before holding L1/LB, allowing you to prepare to switch to a shovel as soon as the tree is chopped down).
Holding down the attack button (Square/X) before holding L1/LB causes you to continue attacking until there are no more viable targets in range; you will continue to attack even after swapping equipment.
(Note: While animation-cancelling is already possible on controller, albeit with the help of swapping binds around to make it more comfortable, this would make it a bit easier to feasibly do.)
Settings
New settings would primarily include swapping the binds of the new button combinations, as well as the held-button delay for L2/LT and R2/RT.
L1/LB and R1/RB do not have any pressed functions, so that they are more responsive when enacting their button combinations.
