Which do you prefer?

Ok, I am creating a system that has interactive battles, meaning there are different attack types such as slash, uppercut, thrust, etc.

You can also perform learned combos by entering the right attacks in the right order.

I am having trouble deciding if I should let the user target the unit he wants to attack using his attack ability, or whether the user should use the ability and only do damage to the units in front of him.

A targeted ability system would be like casting a melee spell, you choose the target, your unit runs up to him, and uses the designated ability.

The what I'll call "Action" battle system, is where you use the Slash (Persay) and your unit uses Slash automatically without selecting a target and damages the units in front of him. So even if noone is even near your unit, he will still use the attack.

I'm neutral between the ideas, so whatever you guys prefer.

I believe Action would facilitate combo-ing better. It will be a pain to have to click for ever attack in the combo. Also make sure the hot keys are nicely placed together to get maximum effect.

Yes, I was starting to lean toward action as well..

And yes, I was going through the hotkeys for like an hour deciding which should be where, and I found the best possible combination to me at least

It's a,s,d, and f

A = Slash
S = Uppercut
D = Thrust
F = Spin Attack

Since Spin Attack is only used as a finishing combo move (Well, maybe rarely used as mid-combat) or used as an opening move just to clear out everyone around you. generally doing little damage. Since it's the most rare use move, I figure put it on the end.

Since Slash will be used alot, opening combos and things, I use it as A.

Uppercut is 2nd most used, and Thrust third.

Most combos go in the order of Slash,Uppercut, Thrust, so I believe that putting them in order would work the best. With an Easy combo such as A + A + S + D is easier to remember than the same combo being S + S + D + A or something along the lines of that.

I would put it as "A" because your smallest finger tires easily and if slash is used often, then pressing "A" with that finger all the time would grow uncomfortable. Ususally your pointer finger is the strongest and thus would be better used for the most commonly used abilities. Also, targeted is better for single target, one button abilities, but action is better for multiple button combo abilties.

Hmmmm good point, so your saying I should switch slash to F... and reverse everything putting spin as A?

It seems more awkward to me, like it's harder to push, but I dunno

how about A,S,D,W

A = slash (ring finger)
S = Uppercut (middle finger)
D = Thrust (index finger)
W = Spin Attack (middle finger)

OR
A,S,D,F

A = Slash (ring)
S = Uppercut (middle)
D = Thrust (index)
F = Spin Attack (index)

Hmm good idea, which would you want, the main thing about the no pinky is it feels weird to me to have my pinky not touching anything, but w/e

Incorrect. Your strongest finger is your middle finger.

Incorrect. Your strongest finger is your middle finger

Really.. seems to me my pointer\index finger..

This states that the middle finger is the strongest finger in the hand, but when it comes to gaming i believe the index finger, or "trigger" finger, is more useful as it is accustomed to the exercise of repeated clicking.

It seems to me that yes, the middle finger is the strongest, but my index finger has a faster "response" when it comes to gaming. Though when I go paintballing I always use my middle finger to pull the trigger, since I have what's called a "response trigger" the strongest finger allows it to fire more rapidly.