Can't get the action button to work when not in combat. I've tried changing it from Left Control to almost anything else but it won't work. Works when in Combat mode (i.e. I can press an arrow key and the action key and I swing or kick), but I can't make him pick up objects. WTF?????
EDIT: NM, I figured out you have to press an arrow button at the same time you press the action button. This too is different from Gothic II. Sorry, my bad. Question below still applies though if anyone can help. Thanks.
Also, played Gothic II and loved it. But I hated the default controls, (and don't like these either) In Gothic II, I was able to use my gamepad, and that game was friggin AWESOME. Can I use my gamepad in Gothic I??? Doesn't seem to recognize it when I try pressing the buttons in Keyboard settings.

i get that too
but i think its ment that way when u drop out of attack it works normally
as for the gamepad u may have to see if u can bind the buttons to there keys (if u can i know alot dont allow u to bind keys to buttons)

Oh yeah, you mean using the Gamepad software that came with it right??? Wow, I never thought of that. THANK YOU. I think I do remember the gamepad software allowed you to make gamepad buttons equal any keyboard button you wanted.
Never tried the gamepad software before, so I'm not sure if that extra bit of software running in the background will affect Gothic or not, but I sure do appreciate the suggestion, because it hadn't even crossed my mine. Thanks again.

HOLY COW ! ! ! (To quote one of my all-time favorite baseball commentators). IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM. I can lean back in my chair, huge monitor and THX surround sound system blasting, with my gamepad in hand, and move, select weapons, menu choices, EVERYTHING ! ! ! (Only thing I can't do is SNEAK, for that I will have to lean my fat arse forward and press the actual key).
This is heaven. In fact, I made it better than I was able to in Gothic II with the built in Gamepad support, so, I know it was a simple suggestion, but man I never thought of it, and now I'm in gaming heaven. (I just can't STAND the default controls, sorry).
If I knew how to make this thread show the "Problem Solved" thing, I would, but I have no clue! LOL. Anyways, thanks again. And if anyone out there has already done this but found drawbacks later in the game (like crashes) due to the gamepad software running in the backround, PLEASE POST to save me the trouble. Otherwise, IT'S ALL GOOD ! ! Thank you! ! !

no problem glad i could help :)