If we have a landing gear warning why dont we have a docking permission warning?

bullfrog

bullfrog
I just lost a cargo of gold which was nearly 1m Cr, most of my capital, because I zoned out approaching the station due to being preoccupied with Christmas arrangements and forgot to get docking permission, entered, realised too late, could not get docking permission inside the station and due to being in a type 6 full of gold was unable to turn around in time to get clear before the station opened fire. To be fair I did get out of the station entrance but it carried on firing regardless.:rolleyes:

I am not particularly upset because its only a game and I have bigger fish to fry but in retrospect a warning would have saved my cargo and I wondered why do we get a landing gear warning but no docking permission approach warning? :cool:
 

buellpilot

buellpilot
You do, its is being shouted from the station tannoy system.

Also life is a and so is Elite, was your cargo bay just full of gold or did you also have some frankincense and myrrh?

Christmas can be a difficult time for wise men following stars :)
 
Last edited:

adoredtv

adoredtv
The station gives a trespass warning of 20 seconds or so? It starts before you even cross the threshold I believe.
 

5PIDER

5PIDER
You get a trespass warning before you enter the door and must get away from the door before the timer runs out. This was completely your fault.
 

Thrace Fulton

Thrace Fulton
The trespass warning could be more prominent, but overall I think the system we have is fine. The only way I could see it being tweaked would be to extend a "bubble" outside of the mail slot by a few hundred meters to show it sooner, to give larger ships a chance to take evasive action prior to passing into the wire frame structure.

That being said, I personally am of the mindset that those in the pattern should be focused and attentive to prevent accidents, just like the airspace around any airport here on Earth. There should be no reason to get complacent, especially with such a valuable (and heavy) cargo.

I would love to hear a pattern radio chatter when I was close to a station (with an option to tune in/out), but maybe that's just my flight sim dreams getting ahead of me.

EDIT: To respond more constructively to the OP, I would suggest coming up with a short mental checklist to form a habit of performing before docking. Ever since beta, for example, any time I drop from SC to a station, I do the same thing every time. I boost, full pips to engines. I watch for the 7500m to roll past, immediately request docking. Within 4000m, since I'm at full speed, I initiate my voice command docking procedure, which diverts four pips to shields, two to engines, turns on the ships lights, and lastly lowers the gear. This will result in the gear being lowered in time even at outposts where the pad is more accessible.

I do this the same way every time. I will even cease my voice comms in Teamspeak while I'm doing it to make sure I don't miss anything. Since I started with this procedure, I've yet to be popped for trespassing.

Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:

Beermachine

B
I'd bet there are few truckers who haven't done this at least once when zoned out, half asleep or drunk.
---------
Small / fast ships you can turn and get out the door before the shooting starts and request. Dedicated trader ships / space cows are much harder. Lost a Type 9 full of superconductors myself to this, and I bet it will happen again some day.
 

Denizen

D
I thought i was past doing this myself but it just happened about 10 mins ago due to my mind being on other things. Luckily i could get out in time.
One thing i will say though is if it happens when you're in a large ship with turning difficulties and realise at the entrance or just after, you're probably best just to stick it in reverse, hit the power and pray there is no one behind you. :D
 

AndyB

A
I've done this about 6 times, I hit thrust reverse, firewall it and hope for the best.. Haven't been shot down yet but I've only done it in small ships.. God help me when I get a lakon;)
 

bullfrog

bullfrog
I just tested it in a sidey and there is a small red visual warning once you are inside, which for comparison is like warning you your landing gear is not down when you hit the deck. Also the station opened fire when I turned the ship around and headed back to the dock without getting landing permission first ... and destroyed my ship again ... rofl ... is not turning into a very good day for my commander.
 

adoredtv

adoredtv
Best thing is not to panic, just go forward a little bit and do a 180 (pitch not yaw :p) and head out the door again. You'll have around 5 seconds to spare.
 

smsKONG

smsKONG
The warning we get is plenty.
Obviously is not much help when you've got 4 pips to engine and about to enter the slot!

I've battered a few of my ships trying to get back out in time :D

Definitely should stay as it is - I love the chance to kick myself for getting something so basic (and by now ingrained!) wrong!
 

Simon Darkstep

Simon Darkstep
I would agree with having a warning message. Along the lines of the pad-loitering warning if we approach the letterbox without a proper request.
 

bullfrog

bullfrog
I would say the warning is enough if you know its coming in a sidey to cobra sized ship, its definitely not enough if it takes you by surprise in a hauler. Its the first time that has happened to me and it took about ten seconds to twig what I had done in the first place and the reason was that I had no landing pad cue in the direction finder. I didn't even notice the red warning as it got lost against the station entrance and interior as well as the ship dashboard and I couldn't read the timer even when I realised it was there and what it was because it is pure red and I cant focus on pure red or pure blue.

I would add that I like how dangerous it is, as it makes the piloting gameplay meaningful however I think the trespass due to failing to get docking permission should get an audible warning from betty as loud as the landing gear warning... IMHO. :p
 

PiLhEaD

PiLhEaD
Because with a warning we wouldn't have the fun of a full-reverse backing out at high speed, muttering 'no no no no no no no....'

Which oddly I love...

Always have... ahem....
 

Lestat

Banned
Lestat
Well I learn always look to see your Docking Que. If you have a Docking number and time Limit you know you can dock. But yes I do like that OH man I did it again. Boast out asap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom