Don't 'fix' the docking computer

[NeoTron]

Why on earth would anyone waste an inventory slot on something that merely docks your ship a lot slower?

If the docking computer were to be a viable option, it would have to speed the process up, not slow it massively like is the case now.

Personal opinion below - I've never used the docking computer seriously for an extended period of time until I got my Anaconda. It used to be really bad, then it got better but basically broken with outposts still (pad hovering) and since I had a Python, that wasn't acceptable.

Anaconda, however, doesn't suffer from outpostitis since they can't land on those, and since it's such a slow ship in general (and expensive, making me careful), landing isn't that much slower as long as I line it up well before engaging (sounds like 1.3 will fix the slow approach which is awesome).

The main reason, however, is because Anaconda is annoying to land. The "hood" is huge and blocks most of my view. As a comparision, the T9 which is also a huge ship, is super easy to land since, with headlook, you can basically look right below your nose.

In addition, I enjoy the break it gives me.

 

[Winecork]

The best reason for using the docking computer is the wonderful rendition of the Blue Danube. Once you can happily land and take off Condas and L9's, it is a wonderful audio/visual glimpse back to the original game and 2001 Space Odysey rotating space station and a damn good reason for using it.
Now if Sarah could just add a launch capability too so we can add to our movie making scenes with launches and Blue Danube I will be as happy as a pig in the brown stuff.

Agree totally. The Blue Danube goes well with docking and lunch capacity would be awesome. After all we are a 1000 years past the WW2 style carrier landings that happens in manual And I would love the DC to be fixed. Hasn't given me to much grief - couple of hairy moments in stations, but the real annoying part is smaller smaller stations/Ports. when is stutters about then hangs over the pad as if frozen, you need to give the throttle a quick blip to move it along. It's almost like it falls asleep and needs a nudge.

 

[cowasaki]

It'll be a lot faster in 1.3. Navigation runs at full thrust and full ENG pips on approach. It won't get stuck hovering at outposts (okay, so the new dive to pad might be a bit scary at first... ), plus a load of other tweaks... All the outpost problems will soon be a distant memory...

Yes but can we have an advanced version that takes you out into space too. Getting the Anaconda out is harder that getting it in!

 

[Backelaer]

I didn't play any of the earlier versions, but yes. The Blue Danube is the sole reason I have my docking computer I used to dock manually. Which is actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it (though for the really big ships I imagine it might be harder)
But I just fitted the docking computer out of curiosity. ANd now I can't bring myself to removing it because of the beautiful music..
(and the time it gives you to get a drink, light a , press f11 and look at your beautiful ship or do whatever )

 

[Ralph Vargr]

It'll be a lot faster in 1.3. Navigation runs at full thrust and full ENG pips on approach. It won't get stuck hovering at outposts (okay, so the new dive to pad might be a bit scary at first... ), plus a load of other tweaks... All the outpost problems will soon be a distant memory...

O Great One, I fitted a docking computer for laughs the other day, and it's still bouncing me around like a blender in stations. It loves bouncing off the toaster grid, and shaking like a dice cup for two minutes before finding the pad inside the station. Outposts are not as much of a problem. I had an Eagle, with a spare slot, so I tried it for laughs (cheap rebuy).

Your AI's who attack in vic's of threes are getting deadlier. Jumping outsystem is my only counter.

Unleash your critters on those who disparage them! Crank it to 13! Punish the unbelievers!

Your fearful admirer, Ralph.

 

[Tryst]

It'll be a lot faster in 1.3. Navigation runs at full thrust and full ENG pips on approach. It won't get stuck hovering at outposts (okay, so the new dive to pad might be a bit scary at first... ), plus a load of other tweaks... All the outpost problems will soon be a distant memory...

Having it UNDOCK would be nice. I hate meeting T9's when I'm on the way out, that little slot isn't made for a T9 and anything else at the same time. I can just about scrape a Clipper past a T7, taking a bit of paint off both ships in doing so.

Undocking from an outpost is easy, just use the upward thrust for 10 seconds, retract gear and set throttle to 100%, I have that set with VA but now that I have a clipper, I never get to use it. It was helpful when I had the T6 though.

Also... PLEASE remove the throttle down to engage it, give us a keybind instead so we can decide whether to engage it or not with a key press. Having to manually turn it off from the modules pane when I dock at outposts in smaller ships is really annoying. I've lost count of the number of times I've forgotten to turn it on again when I went to a station.

 

[NeoTron]

Yes but can we have an advanced version that takes you out into space too. Getting the Anaconda out is harder that getting it in!

This would be cool actually. Not that I have a terribly hard time exiting now - turn on the "mouse widget" to get a square in the dead center of the screen. Line up said square right in the middle (dark part) of the slot, and you're good.

 

[cowasaki]

There needs to be a docking reticule. Markers to show where to line up on the hud would be ideal. I doubt that they wouldn't have that in the 33rd century It's never been a problem till the Anaconda which I'm sort of getting the hang of now but still it would be better and as I keep saying WHY OWE WHY can't the training missions reflect your current ship !!!!!!!!!! Being able to practice would be rather helpful. I know it's Elite Dangerous but not even giving people a clue as to where to line up when they first get a ship is plainly silly.

 

[Sergio Smegolia]

I think the docking computer should have a personality, depressed but in a funny way, happy etc. So when you engage it the computer gives audio clues to it's current state of mind. Watch out for that going to crash in a fit of depression moment

Like this?



Smeg

 

[clouddancer]

Don't see what the problem is, never used the docking computer don't need one and I fly an anaconda. With the displays in the cockpit landing is a piece of .

 

[Jens]

It'll be a lot faster in 1.3. Navigation runs at full thrust and full ENG pips on approach. It won't get stuck hovering at outposts (okay, so the new dive to pad might be a bit scary at first... ), plus a load of other tweaks... All the outpost problems will soon be a distant memory...

I always felt it missed an undocking feature. You get help with docking, but I also want to get out

 

[clouddancer]

It seem the forum did not like the last word of my last post. It started with p and ended with s and you do it a lot when you drink beer.

 

[Commander Debic]

It seem the forum did not like the last word of my last post. It started with p and ended with s and you do it a lot when you drink beer.

Yes the profanity filter seems to be working fine.
But lets be honest I don't think many have trouble landing or taking off. I think new pilots need to learn to dock manually until they have moved up the elite rank ladder say about three ranks in one of the three trades.
My reason for using it in my 'Conda is simply the Blue Danube is so iconic. I don't think I will ever get tired of watching my ship dock slowly and majestically to that Elite composition. Now if Sarah can just make it so we can rotate around our ship as it is docking and undocking, if it is implemented, with the debug camera, as at the moment it is in a fixed position when under automatic docking I would be in movie maker heaven. Yes I know a bit nerdish but I don't care.

 

[Coyote]

It'll be a lot faster in 1.3. Navigation runs at full thrust and full ENG pips on approach. It won't get stuck hovering at outposts (okay, so the new dive to pad might be a bit scary at first... ), plus a load of other tweaks... All the outpost problems will soon be a distant memory...

I haven't had one for a while since I rather preferred a 4 ton rack - but this statement makes me consider getting one again.


@Clouddancer: there is no "problem". It's a matter of comfort, not a matter of skill. I paid a lot to get an automatic transmision in my car. It's not because I can't stick-shift and don't know how to handle the clutch. It's because I don't want to.

 

[Herik]

Thanks Sarah; I'll be using it about half the time. Speeding this up is appreciated!

 

[Deleted member 37733]

I think the docking computer should have a personality, depressed but in a funny way, happy etc. So when you engage it the computer gives audio clues to it's current state of mind. Watch out for that going to crash in a fit of depression moment

That's been done to death. Think Marvin from Hitchhikers, Holly from Red Dwarf or countless others.

 

[Caleuche]

The best reason for using the docking computer is the wonderful rendition of the Blue Danube. Once you can happily land and take off Condas and L9's, it is a wonderful audio/visual glimpse back to the original game and 2001 Space Odysey rotating space station and a damn good reason for using it.
Now if Sarah could just add a launch capability too so we can add to our movie making scenes with launches and Blue Danube I will be as happy as a pig in the brown stuff.

I first tried out the docking computer on a lark (I was too manly to need one) and laughed with glee when the Blue Danube fired up. Brilliant! I wish it would start playing as soon as the DC engages rather than at the mailslot. Also, does anyone else hear the sound when you finally dock that sounds like someone hitting a mic. As a former sound engineer I find that really annoying.

For the time being I've continued to use it because I'll sometimes pile credits late at night and docking is where I find I'm most likely to make a mistake. I've already lost a Python when I zoned out a bit while docking. I snapped to the attention of the trespass warning and mistakedly hit my boost button. With a DC, I can break my focus for a few moments.

 

[Stumbling]

It'll be a lot faster in 1.3. Navigation runs at full thrust and full ENG pips on approach. It won't get stuck hovering at outposts (okay, so the new dive to pad might be a bit scary at first... ), plus a load of other tweaks... All the outpost problems will soon be a distant memory...

Yippee!

Although I thoroughly enjoy using it on my t9 (and yes, I have shields on my t9, frequently run into another ship on exit), it does dock a little slowly and I can't always be reading the forums and posting while it docks. Looking forward to the faster version, will ahve to speed up my coffee making process to compensate!

 

[Mikey2305]

surely cant beat the oolite DC and presumably the original game although i cant remember. enter station space proximity till S, press shift C and you were docked as if by magic... how cool was that

 

[Metalstardust]

Great in stations. Useless in a Python at an outpost. Just hovers above the pad.