I open a separate thread because it's very specific on OSX. So I just can't play with the default controls of Land of Lore that can't be customized by the game.

First I tried open the mapper included in DosBox, Ctrl+F1. But that doesn't work. By searching on the net I saw it was a known bug of DosBox 0.7 or something. So I downloaded current DOSBox last clean release for OSX, DOSBox 0.74. Launch it and found that in this version Ctrl+Cmd+F1 opens the keys mapper.

I tried that same combination of keys in GOG Lands of Lore, nothing. That's the first possible path to solve my issue, update DOSBox used by GOG Lands of Lore OSX. But it seems not simple at all, I wish GOG had done it themselves.

So I started investigated other possibilities and found OSX programs that could easily allow define new keyboards then have it in the keyboard menu and just select it right before launch the game would have been perfect. Alas I realized it was for no effect because clearly DOSBox ignore OSX setup and use internally its own keyboard mapping from hardware key to output keys. So it's a no go. But it opens another solution. Find in GOG Lands of Lore OSX where is defined the keyboard for DOSBox and change it for what I need. But again not sure how GOG Lands of Lore is organized so for now I also gave up.

Still pushing further the exploration I discovered that one application can simulate Hardware outputs. And that is working in DOSBox. Alas that application can't disable the original output of a key binded. So the original key is generated and the bind key is generated. It's no go.

So I'm stuck and and see only two possibilities to solve my problem:
- Upgrade the DOSBox version inside GOG Lands of Lore OSX. I wonder why GOG is using an old version of DOSBox. Those GOG OSX release are very recent. Do it myself seems complicated.
- Change DOSBox file defining the mapping for my language and keyboard inside GOG Lands of Lore OSX. But no idea where is that stuff.

If someone could help me on that. I suppose go in DOSBox forums would be more logical but GOG bundles are special stuff they won't know.

Well with more investigation the culprit is Boxer. The author decided remove the DOSBox keyboard mapper but don't replace it with any serious substitute.

I have seen an exchange about this in his blog, and it's just unbelievable, he has his own opinion on the subject and affirm that start mapping keys lead to a nightmare so it's removed.

He decide for users... no way I'll send any donation to someone who don't listen users and think his program is his own property. Fine his property then zero money for him.

I'm quite unhappy that GOG supports Boxer.

I'll finally have all the troubles to do all by myself and not use GOG Osx installations, really sad.

Well for mention, it's not as simple than just use the OSX Gog Installer but after to have play LoL1 few hours with custom controls I'd say it well worth the effort.

So here a way among many to use custom controls in LoL1 with OSX.

First I downloaded GOG Windows version of the game and PlayOnMax. With PlayOnMac I installed LoL 1+2 with GOG installer. Run this version of LoL1 didn't worked but the purpose was to get LoL1 files installed. PlayOnMac allows see where are the installed files so I copied the LOL1 folder to a more appropriate location for using it with a DOSBox Frontend.

I downloaded DGBL 0.74 (I had a previous version but get the newer one was a good opportunity). Launch it and create a profile for Lands of Lore 1. DBGL has a nice feature allowing search game information and profile on MobyGames. It found one for LoL1 and I just added the mount information to links the files get from GOG Windows installer.

Launch the game and it worked fine. The only thing I changed is the Cycles in Machine tab, from auto to 10000 to have more fluidity but not an accelerated game, just fine with good controls.

Then when the game is launched Ctrl+Cmd+F1 opens the DOSBox keyboard mapper. If it doesn't work you can try with pressing also the Fn key or in system keyboard setup deactivate special functions on Fkeys (then to have them you need use Fn+Fkey).

Now in DOSBox keyboard mapper I setup custom controls I wanted. But to have it work well I had to:
Select the key I want bind. Then delete current event. Then add new event which is the control LoL is expecting. For example Select r in the mapper then "Del" so no r will be triggered then "Add" then press on my keyboard Numpad0 key for having moving forward bind to r key.
And do the reverse to also bind Numpad0 to trigger r only. I had trouble when I didn't used such switching.

I did the same for all movements keys which was the only controls I wanted rebind. And it works well, huge change for me in term of gameplay pleasure.

With Lands of Lore 2 the game allows custom controls so use OSX GOG version based on Boxed is fine and quite more simple. But I'm not sure it's a good idea to not let users have a way to customize, that includes keys binding but also from a setup base try change CPU cycles for example. It's a thing to offer a first setup ready on the go, another thing to close customization possibility.

Since decades Mac isn't about closing possibilities unlike many PC users believe. First Mac OS was allowing hack into resources of application with Resedit and do both cool things and break the application. But since OSX it's not even closed anymore because it's a Unix system nothing is more open and certainly not Windows. Boxer does stuff well but in a wrong way by closing user customization, very wrong approach not at all Mac Friendly.

This is pretty damn unacceptable.

If a game is advertised as OSX compatible, it should very well take in account that Apple keyboards are different to PCs. I have purchased Lands of Lore and Screamers, and so far neither one is really playable.

I refuse to purchase anymore games from GOG until they fully resolve all these issues. To borrow a phrase from AVGN:

"What's the most important aspect of any game? To be able to f**king play it."

GOG's credibility has been tainted.

Get smart, guys. Use Bootcamp, for goodness' sake. Why do you think Apple ships Bootcamp code and has made Bootcamp an official component of OS X for as long as OS X for personal computers will be around? A: Apple wants you to *use it.* Grab a copy of Win7/8 (I'd advise 7 for you guys--8 will be tricky for you) You'd be amazed how much easier it would be for you to run games originally written for x86 DOS (and not OS X) in the first place. If you want to use OS X to support software never intended to run on OS X, but written to run under x86 DOS--use the Bootcamp software and snag a copy of Windows for yourself. DOSbox works *a lot better.* At best you'll greatly broaden your knowledge and perspective in general computing, amaze your friends with your new-found expertise, and you'll get access to exponentially more games than you will ever see with OS X.

Q: Why does Windows boot natively on today's x86 Mac?

A: Because today's Mac *is* a "PC" in every single sense of the word. Anything you've heard to the contrary is purely Apple marketing + a dose of wishful thinking. (I think it is kind of sad, really.)

Don't complain to Gog when you haven't done your part. It isn't Gog's fault you bought a Mac and can't get OS X to properly run these games under DOSbox.

Booting with Bootcamp doesn't change any differences inherent in the keyboard layout.

I just recently ran into this discussion trying to play Ultima Underworld I and 2 on my iMac with OS X Maverick and for the life of me I can't open the key binder and have tried all the combinations listed here like control command and f1 as well as playing with the fn key, etc. I also can't get to the exit menu in game for some reason. when I press esc on my mac keyboard or fn and escape nothing happens. I want to be able to get to the main menu instead of always relying on shortcuts. Can anyone help? Oh and when I tried the enhanced renderer the game became quite slow.

This may help?

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/dosbox_boxer_macos_key_mapping

Hi, I already use Karabiner to map the 6 direction keys. Works great.

Ok so I also can't post links…right…

Look for post #13 of the topic titled "Configuring controls" for a solution
to the problem of mapping 789456 to qweasd on a mac. Even works on a
mbp! (running ventura)

Btw this game and all other dosbox based Gog titles I've tried works perfectly
fine under Mac (I am however using customized Windows versions so I suppose
I can't vouch for the MacOS versions per se).