My idea for future Landing Pad design

[Try4Ce]

Hello fellow commanders,

I don't know if this has been discussed before.
Landing in Elite Dangerous in crowded systems can be a real pain from time to time, even on big stations. It happens quite often that players go AFK after they docked, which is of course understandable. But it blocks out other players longing to dock, maybe even having comprimised goods on board.

For future player expansion and future improved interaction between players, I thought about a little concept how landing pads / hangars could be built in the future, to allow more players on the bigger stations (not outposts). I know space is limited, but maybe its doable. With this concept, other players might even get a look at your ship, and vice versa.

What do you guys think? It's a very rough mockup of course... But I hope you get the idea.

EDIT: This might be only possible for the small landing pads. Big landing pads should be for single ships, would be more logical and believable...

UPDATE: New Layouts (Overview, Interiors)

 

[wizzpig]

Funnily enough, I was thinking about this the other day.
The way the pads are laid out in the docking bay, I'm not sure you'd have room to lay them out as you have.... however, there is nothing to suggest that you couldn't just have another level under each pad.
Currently, when you enter the hanger, you drop down 1 level. No reason (I assume) you couldn't just have another level below this which would effectively double the stations' capacity. When sat in your ship in the hanger, there is a gaping hole in front of you anyway. Multi-story docking bays

Like your thinking though Commander

 

[starjump]

Its a neat idea. I like it. Being able to look at other ships is cool. Just add all the cargo containers and towers on the side. I might go do some mockups as well. Its fun hehe.
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Should post suggestions in the suggestion section of the forum though. I think it gets more attention there.

 

[gdir]

I like the idea, especially if we could see other players' ships while being moved into our slot. There could also be several levels of hangars.

Maybe you should move this post to Dangerous Suggestions.

 

[Try4Ce]

Thanks guys.
I updated my vision. Interiors should be more open and more lively, as illustrated in OP. That way it would be easier to see other players currently docked in the same bay.

 

[Belsameth]

I believe you only block other players from docking when you're sitting on the plate, not when you're actually inside the hangar. They can stack an infinite amount of players there (theoretically).

Still nice design tho!

 

[Try4Ce]

Funnily enough, I was thinking about this the other day.
The way the pads are laid out in the docking bay, I'm not sure you'd have room to lay them out as you have.... however, there is nothing to suggest that you couldn't just have another level under each pad.
Currently, when you enter the hanger, you drop down 1 level. No reason (I assume) you couldn't just have another level below this which would effectively double the stations' capacity. When sat in your ship in the hanger, there is a gaping hole in front of you anyway. Multi-story docking bays

Like your thinking though Commander

Thanks mate.
Actually, in the current state, your ship gets railed back quite a few meters. If thats reduced by a half, you would have enough space "infront" for another docked ship, as well as left and right. IMO, the amount of rail-length below is way too much, that space could be used efficiently for more ships

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My thoughts as well. Maybe you only have a specific allowed time to stay on the plate. Then you either get underground automatically or a warning (or even fine after some ignored warnings).
But thats just a thought...

EDIT: Posted it, as suggested, in the "suggested" forum area