i have just started to use a mage, having been a fighter on both xbox 360 and ps3... (not having to use much magic)

its starting bug me, using the hotkeys (d-pad) for slots 2,4,6 and 8 is to say the least.. a problem, its the pads fault the direction buttons just arent designed well enough to allow you easily select them...

but for a future games i have a solution

you could map spells using a tap or double tap (UP, DOWN, LEFT AND RIGHT on the dpad)

ie

tap left for heal light wounds, double tap left for flashbolt or whatever

does anyone else have this problem on console pads?

Yes, it was a rather annoying problem. I got around it by putting important spells on up, down, left, and right and utility on the other directions.

The Mass Effect way of selecting spells and abilities I thought was pretty smart. Holding down a bumper gives you a wheel of items, and you choose them with your thumbstick.

That works much better in a third person game. First person is a different story, as the player needs to be able to move and aim at the same time, in addition to not having a tactical pause.

i'd like there NOT to be a single cast button, it made switching spells in battle realy slow.

Personally I'd change how the buttons are mapped in general, instead have a "use left hand/use right hand" button plus "defend".

Use the http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1067210 topic for this please.