I probably wouldn’t use it if doesn’t allow movement while channeling/shooting as why push more buttons to do the same thing, but I don’t see how it hurts to add the option for those that want it.
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yes add it, even i don’t think i need it…!
more player choice is good.
Holy hell yes! Please implement this!
I don’t care about “run-and-gun” (moving while attacking/shooting/casting spells etc) - It’s not a part of the game currently and I don’t think it should be.
I just want a way to use WASD to move instead of the mouse, because using the mouse both for aiming attacks AND moving at the same time requires a lot of movements, especially when playing ranged characters, and leads to hand strain, pain and all kinds of nasty conditions like carpal tunnel.
I’ve been trying to “hijack” the controller support using AutoHotKey to achieve something like this, but when the game detects controller input it switches the entire interface to controller mode, which makes this method unusable. And jank scripts that automatically place your mouse and send clicks are too uncomfortable and inconsistent.
An official support for such an input method would be a godsend to me and I imagine a lot of other players that got used to WASD in other RPG games. I really don’t think anyone expects you to make such a fundamental mechanic as attacking while moving, and I don’t think anyone would “skewer” you for “not implementing it properly”.
Think of this more as an accessibility feature - more accessibility means your game is accessible to more people with different preferences, and that’s always a good thing!
Thank you for considering this, and for asking the community’s opinion. This is why you kick ass!
You can already do this using X-Mouse Button Control on Windows, although I agree that a native implementation would be better.
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Never played any arpgs in so called wsad mode. Is it really that big of a deal so everybody wants that in any newer arpgs? I dont get it, what is wrong with just the keybord and mouse? 
If it will be implemented I would try it just to know how it is like.
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I think some people have legit concerns with hand problems; but other than that I don’t know honestly.
I think controller-based WASD movement would be great for accessibility, regardless of the other games. It should be clearly labelled as an accessibility option, though.
I say it’s worth it so long as it doesn’t take too much effort to implement. I’d use it; I get hand pain.
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I tried out the WASD feature added to DPYes and IMO it works pretty well.
I think it would be nice to add as an accessibility option, because while it is working currently as a mod, at some point the mod developer may not support it any longer.
Two things stood out to me when using DPYes based WASD.
First, hiding the cursor while panning the camera is great to keep the cursor centered, and to reduce unnecessary mouse movement. However, instead of hiding the cursor while camera is panning, it might be better leave it visible but keep it’s position fixed. While cursor is hidden, it appeared I was unable to aim any ranged abilities at it… If cursor was locked while panning, but visible, perhaps then I would be able to perform ranged attacks at the cursor while panning the camera.
Second, I thought that higher sensitivity was needed for camera panning when using WASD. I was able to tweak the settings using DPYes with GrimCam integration. After changing these settings, I tried out the gamepad configuration using my Steam Controller, and it felt much better having higher camera turning speed.
I ended up preferring the gamepad configuration over the WASD + cursor, mainly because it was more comfortable to not need to aim the cursor, but also because joystick movement felt smoother & had nice haptic feedback. However, even though I wasn’t making use of WASD in the end, I really appreciate having the option to play with greater control using the cursor to aim. I feel like I would make use of it if I could combine the analog movement with cursor based aim in my controller settings.
Thanks for asking the question & I’m looking forward to the next expansion 
I would also use controller instead if it were more comfortable for me to use - alas that is not the case, since I’ve literally been using keyboard and mouse since the release of diablo 1, and can’t get used to some things with controller, especially the inventory management. Besides, not all builds are even playable/viable with a controller, which is a bummer.
But that’s why I’m so hyped for the official WASD implementation!
To be clear, they’re talking about adding WASD to the normal top-down camera, not adding a 3rd person over-the-shoulder camera along with it, right? Cuz those are two very different things - I think the 3rd person camera should stay as a mod, since it’s very far from the “intended way” to play an ARPG.
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My vote is going to be no. The game wasn’t designed around it and the actual implementation is going to fall short of what the small vocal crowd is angling for.
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No, thank you. I’m not a fan of jumping onto bandwagons, already wasn’t particularly excited by the addition of evade to ape D4, don’t feel like WASD to copy PoE 2 fits the game we have. Evade required the addition of Sunder to justify its existence, WASD would bring in a whole bunch of extra designs I’m not excited about (e.g. giving lots of enemies gap closers just to keep up with a strafing player). Let PoE be PoE and Grim Dawn be Grim Dawn.
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I like the game the way it is now.
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I never played ARPGs with a computer, to me there is no replacement for a mouse, especially when it comes to select where I want to attack to - which might be empty space, not an enemy…
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You are a true wizard! 
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I feel like you didn’t really understand the question. They’re not asking if we want “strafing while attacking” or the “run-and-gun” implementation, like in PoE2. They’re asking if we want a “dumb WASD” that is basically the controller stick rebound to WASD. You can already achieve something like that with janky AHK scripts somewhat, but an official implementation would be way better for accessiblity and usability.
The gameplay would remain exactly the same, and you wouldn’t be able to tell if a player is playing with a mouse or WASD, except for the fact that they can move only in 8 directions with WASD.
You misunderstand the proposal. The mouse is still going to be used to aim abilities. WASD will be used for movement only. Movement abilities like charge are still going to be aimed with the mouse too.
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I did understand, just didn’t express myself quite accurately I guess. Even a dumbed down version of WASD controls is going to allow you to stutter step with much greater efficiency than if you were to try to do that with just the mouse. It is already possible to stutter step out of enemy attack range just as they are executing their attack animation. It isn’t even all that hard, just tedious to do constantly so most times you won’t bother. With WASD controls it becomes trivially easy and allows you to essentially strafe enemies as if you were doing proper PoE2-style WASD movement, especially so when the game wasn’t designed with this kind of manoeuverability in mind. You could become close to untouchable as a ranged character unless Crate slathers the game in gap closers and entrapment effects to compensate. And at that point WASD stops being an option and becomes a must-use, because now monsters are balanced around players being more manoeuverable than they can be with just the mouse.
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You can do the same thing with joystick and you don’t see people “exploiting” that.
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Is it? It’s not entirely clear to me. If it’s going to be basically the controller controls but with the keyboard it won’t be. If you can aim with the mouse “while walking” (even if you have to stop for a little bit) in a different direction that’s a significant difference from how the game plays now.
As currently both with controller and mouse/keyboard you can only walk and attack in the same direction. This is probably what @lMarcusl is talking about.
I hadn’t even considered aiming with the mouse while waking with the keyboard till you mentioned it. I just assumed it’d be controller controls, but with the keyboard.
I wouldn’t feel pressured to reinvent the wheels on your baby’s stroller just because all of your peers are doing it. WASD is a nice feature, but if people really expected that from you, they would have raised hell about it years ago.
As others have said, it would be a worthy implementation if you ever made a true sequel. With the application of modding, your game already gives more agency than any other in the genre I’ve played. If you ever introduced an updated engine like POE 2’s with all the possibilities your game already has, I really do think you could give the competition some serious pressure.
For now though, my humble suggestion would simply be to get the expansion off the ground. Deliver on the promises you’ve already made before worrying about the new ones.
Having tried a WASD mod implementation, I can attest to it taking a lot of strain from your mousehand in long sessions. You can’t run and gun but it’s way easier to stutter step with WASD compared to how many mouse inputs it takes. Therefore I vote Aye!
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I´m against the implementation of WASD. The dodgerole was a great addition, but this one implemented on a basic level will not achive a lot in my opinion.
So i would vote against it, keeping in mind that you guys have so many other cool and uniques areas, where you can put your energy, time and ressources in.