I'll add my two cents...not specifically about re-mapping to the numpad, but to ESDF. I put this in another thread that appeared to be getting some attention, I"ll put it here too:

I always remap "WASD" to "ESDF", for two reasons: it's the home row (i'm a touch typist,) and it allows me to utilize buttons the left of my hand as well as my right. Going off of memory (it's late for me,) I also had activate set to A, auto-run set to Q, sneak to Z, shout to G, sprint to Shift, always run to Caps-Lock, run to Ctrl... I think that's it. I pretty much re-map all of my games to similar buttons, but when I did so in Skyrim I found that I could read books, but not pick them up (E did nothing, and neither did my new activate key, A) and I could not set favorites. Going back to the defaults of course makes things work, but I have such muscle memory for ESDF and my other re-maps that the default contols pretty much make this game impossible, or at the very least, very unfun to play.

I'm extremely disappointed right now...the exact opposite of the extreme excitement I had a few hours ago

Autohotkey does work.

Script:
Numpad8::W
Numpad5::S
Numpad4::A
Numpad6:: D
Numpad7::SPACE


Remove the space next to Numpad6::

I'm not sure how to work autokey correctly, my key bindings work on desktop but no in-game, heres the keybinds i want changed.

e::numpad1
tab::numpad7

Any way to make it work in-game?

BETHESDA FIX THIS!

I concur with both the request and the message of shock/disappointment in this thread. 99% of Skyrim looks to be a quality project, but any work product that tolerated this inadequacy of the PC interface is in the other 1%. The apparent inability to remap this important group of keys to functions like movement and interaction is a surprise greatly unpleasant and no less unnecessary.

I have a slender thread of hope though. I remember tweaking my Oblivion.ini file to get everything just the way I liked it, including remapping various functions to the numpad and arrow keys. There may already be some protocol for using Skyrim.ini for remapping the keyboard beyond what the in game UI permits. I lost my Oblivion.ini file three years back, but other may have such files available for study.

Also, insiders may know to what extent remapping could occur through .ini parameters. If anyone knows anything about a method to fix this problem before the developers do so, there may already be hundred or even thousands of paying customers who would much appreciate the information. Please do share information on workarounds here or wherever the moderators feel is best.

Perplexed,
Demonweed

P.S. I believe the world owes someone on the PC UI working group a painfully-etched tattoo declaring in huge gothic letters, "thou shalt not reserve keys."

I've looked around for any editable config file that may contain keybinds, but all I can come up with is a file called "ControlMap_Custom.txt" in \steam\steamapps\common\skyrim. It doesn't seem to be editable.

Bethesda: FIX IT.

I'm about to start some experiments in cobbling together my own fix. My starting point involves information from

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Oblivion.ini

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Ini_Settings

I'm having trouble finding a list of the hex codes used to indicate specific keyboard buttons, and I haven't even tested yet to see if a [Controls] section would accomplish anything in Skyrim.ini. If I get something working that replaces WASD with 8456 on the number pad, I'll try to share something here that could be cut and pasted for the use of others in similar straits.

Just to say that i agree with you guys, it's a major disapointment... I play since Daggerfall, and i really can't imagine another way to play the game than with numeric pad. Even when i play with Up/Down/Left/Right, i need the numeric pad on the right to jump/wait/activate/etc...

It's really weird that Bethesda didn't think of that...

Will try autohotkeys...

I'm right handed, but I ALWAYS use the arrow keys on numpad with left hand while mousing with right hand

I am REALLY glad I did not pre-order this game - I would be severely pissed off right now (like all of you are!)

I don't understand how they screwed this up - Fallout 3 remaps OK - going backwards I guess

Autohotkeys works great, use biltong's format, except use lowercase letters. Download and install autohotkey, create a new text file on the desktop, call it "Skyrim.ahk", edit it to state this:

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%

Numpad7::r
Numpad8::w
Numpad4::a
Numpad5::e
Numpad6:: d
Numpad1::z
Numpad2::s
Numpad3::j
NumpadDot::Tab

Take the space out between the "::" and the "d", Save it, then right-click and and choose "Run Script."

Here's my auto hot key script for anyone that's interested, works like a charm. although it is for numlock off, you need different keys for numlock on (remove spaces before D, P and O - because of forum smileys):
NumpadUp::W
NumpadClear::S
NumpadLeft::A
NumpadRight:: D
NumpadPgUp::E
NumpadHome::Q
NumpadEnd::Z
NumpadDown::X
NumpadPgDn::C
NumpadIns::B
NumpadDel::N
NumpadEnter::M
NumPadAdd::L
NumpadSub:: P
NumpadMult:: o
NumpadDiv::I

Me too!

I'm left handed, the keypad is all I ever use for games. Seriously Bethesda, you've been doing games for years, what were you thinking?

Left handed here,always try to use the numpad on my games,and tbh,i was actually surprised that we can use it in here,open your favorite menu and when you choose a item,before leaving the favorite menu,press a numpad key,it will show the numpad key next to that item and when you press that key onwards you equip it,at least that is working for me.

I'm glad that Autohotkey is working, though let's not forget the essential point: Bethesda screwed the pooch.

By missing this essential detail, it's clear that Bethesda now regards its PC audience as some sort of bizarre third appendage.

Don't forget where the hell you came from, Bethesda.

My first gamesas game was Terminator: 2029. Pre-TES.

My last one may very well be The Elder Scrols V: Skyrim.

If you don't FIX this slap-in-the-face crap. NOW.

You'd think after this :

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/02/11/interview-dead-space-2-disability-campaigner-gareth-garratt/

hit the industry a few months back that games companies would be a bit more keybind aware too.

I'm gonna try to make sure this topic stays visible.

Occupy Bethesda! or something.

I need to rebind to the numpad. The fact is, for me at least, if I am unable to use the keys I need, I will have wasted $60.

Autohotkey doesn't rebind in the registry.

That's mentioned in the documentation, which is confusing, so I could see how that mistake could be made.

Autohotkey only "rebinds" keys while running.

It works.

There are still numerous interface problems, but you can bind to the numpad with autohotkey.

I have tried to set my q menu key binds as follows
1 Iron mace
2 Iron shield
3 Long bow
4 Heal
And every time i change to bow from maces then back to bow i loose my bow or mace key bind.
The spell binds all work fine it just seems to be those things.

Autohotkey and similar tools are good for self-help, but you shouldn't need them when buying a PC game at the end of 2011.

This shouldn't need an external tool or a patch, custom controls are an essential part of PC-gaming.

Autohotkey has saved my life. It's actually only keys numpad1-9 that aren't mappable for whatever reason. It's easy to disable it when you're not playing the game too - you just close the program.

I do think it's a bit strange that Bethesda overlooked this after it not being a problem in Morrowind/Oblivion.

Again, the other major problem for me is that you can only get out of certain menus by hitting 'TAB', and other keys like the book page turning keys, etc aren't re-assignable. TAB is literally a million miles away from the numpad!

Can't you remap TAB to a key closer to the numpad? If you can't do it in game, you could also use Autohotkey for that.

Very good point JOG!

Hi, I'm one of those ppl that do not use default keys on games. Rather, I use IJKL for moving because I have more keys in the vicinity to bind all the spells and such (dates back to Jedi Knights and later to WoW (I can cast any spell with the keys around my movement keys and in WoW with alt and ctrl and shift i could really do everything without raising my hand from movement keys))

So, I bind all the keys to new ones around my movement keys. And so far, things I have noticed:

1. When in inventory the favorite key I bind does nothing. The "1st person / 3rd person" key acts as the favorite key in inventory
2. The favorite key does open the favorite options in game, but I can't close it with the same button. Instead I have to use the DEFAULT favorites key (Q) to get out of the favorite menu
3. My newly bind left and right (J and L respectivly) don't work when lockpicking, instead I am forced to use the DEFAULT "A" and "D" to roll the lock
4. The tooltips refer to the DEFAULT keys when they tell me to press something to get something done. For example when in inventory it says "R" to drop item, even though I have bind "Sheathe weapon" to "B." So in order to drop items i had to check the manual what "R" did with default keys and noticed ah it's "sheathe weapon" key.

This is not a big thing to change but VERY annoying to those who use their own key bindings. And even more, this just after 20 mins of playing, i'm sure there will be more occasions where im forced to use the default keys. This really annoys me, could it get fixed in a patch, please?

I think they know about this and it's going to be fixed. There was a developer around here in another thread that was discussing a similar issue with another user. I didn't read much of it though.

O.k, the game is great so far but the favourites key in the menu doesn't work. It's listed as F in the menu and C in the in-game help topic. When i open the inventory of a dead enemy i can use F to bind someting to the favourites menu, but in my own menu it never works. While i can bind wepons/armour this way easily i cannot do the same for magic. It's really bugging me as i'm playing a battle mage for my first playthrough, usiing magic and weapon to mow through enemies.