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[KarolineDianne]

I love this game. I love reading about things that happen and the accomplishments made by players in this game. I love watching as it grows and grows into an ever more awe inspiring example of just how amazing games can be. I truly enjoy every aspect of the divine gift from the Great Toady One that is Dwarf Fortress.

But I cannot play it.

This terrible travesty is due to a very unfortunate circumstance regarding my laptop:

It was born without a numpad.

This deformation in my laptop is generally something that can be overlooked, but when it comes to Df, especially adventure mode, I simply am unable to play properly. I cannot move diagonally, I cannot use menus properly, and everything seems clunky and as though I am shackled and unable to fully experience this wonderful game.

I don't have the funds to purchase an external numpad at the moment, and it is becoming rather depressing that am only able to watch as this game is updated and improved.

I do believe I could use some help.

[Knigel]

I've been playing for months without a numpad and I get along fine. You can just do diagonal movement with the regular number keys, even if it does take a while getting use to.

Also, you can't afford a numpad attachment? The wireless ones are kind of expensive, but you can find plenty of decent wired ones for less than ten bucks.

[hector13]

Can you... not change the key settings for different things?

I was under the impression you could. Though I haven't actually 'checked' as such, I have a keypad 

[thvaz]

It is very playable without a numpad, you only have to get used to it.

[jrmy]

I've been playing with a laptop for a couple of months now. It's really not a big deal :V the only thing I haven't yet figured out is how to scroll down the list of items you're (L)ooking at in adventure mode.

[shlorf]

I've been playing with a laptop for a couple of months now. It's really not a big deal :V the only thing I haven't yet figured out is how to scroll down the list of items you're (L)ooking at in adventure mode.

You scroll it with * and /, not only the numpad version of those keys work, but the normal ones will do too (i don't know where they are on an English keyboard tho, mine are shift-7 and shift-+)

[penco]

Or you could invest in a $10 USB keyboard for the dwarves' sake.

If you have a regular (PS/2) keyboard laying around, you can buy a PS/2 to USB converter for $2 or so that will let you use that keyboard on your laptop.

[Sean Mirrsen]

On my old laptop, I used arrow keys for normal movement, and just used the Function key when I needed the numpad. All I really had to reconfigure were the plus/minus/multiply/divide keys, since those are used fairly frequently. If your keyboard doesn't have a numpad marked (it should), you can still check if it's there - it's usually located on the J,K,L,U,I,O,7,8 and 9 keys, corresponding to a normal numpad as if its top was mapped to the standard 7/8/9 keys.

[penco]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201028

Tadaaa

[Gokajern]

You can just go into key bindings and modify whatever you want.

[Knigel]

I've been playing with a laptop for a couple of months now. It's really not a big deal :V the only thing I haven't yet figured out is how to scroll down the list of items you're (L)ooking at in adventure mode.

You scroll it with * and /, not only the numpad version of those keys work, but the normal ones will do too (i don't know where they are on an English keyboard tho, mine are shift-7 and shift-+)

But if you use that without a numpad, it will also think you're pressing "shift+8" and move like ten squares north. The closest thing I can find to a solution it to press "Shift+8+down/2" to try to cancel out the movement which rapidly switches your screen between two spots and if you're lucky will leave it scrolled down on the inventory screen when you stop.

[Rumrusher]

don't computers have a internal keyboard for one to use?
if you don't have the number pad you could just use that.

[TolyK]

It is very playable without a numpad, you only have to get used to it.

exactly. I play on a friggin' IBM laptop with no numpad, I just visualize it and use the number row above the letters.
also you can reconfigure using the Lazy Newb Pack.

[UristMcDwarf]

Huh?
I play on a laptop and haven't even noticed the lack of a numpad hindering me.

[KarolineDianne]

The problem I face with buying new hardware is my utter lack of personal funds. Put simply, I'm broke.

Regardless, thanks for the tips, I suppose. Sadly, this laptop does not have a function key numpad of any kind, I checked for that a long time ago.

Also, I was not aware that the *, -, and + on the normal keyboard have been made to work. Last time I played they didn't. That is a good change.

The problem with reconfiguring keys involves the fact that it would completely screw up the rest of the commands, and I think I would go absolutely insane trying to move with the number keys above the letters. I suppose I will simply have to go without moving diagonally until I have money to buy hardware that should have come with the computer int he first place.

I truly do not understand why people make laptops without the numpad. It's absolutely idiotic.