Why Just The One Letterbox?

Lokus Midgard

L
I'm sure it's been proposed, many times over, for stations to have an entrance in addition to an exit. The AI seems to plough through, regardless of other ships being in the way, which can sometimes cause virtual catastrophe.

So, this leads me to wonder... What's the reason Frontier have given for keeping things exclusively to a single simultaneous entrance/exit point? It seems like the simplest, most common sense thing in the world to avoid traffic accidents.

Also curious why these retractable landing pads can't also be on the exterior of stations, completely eliminating a need for any such entrance/exit.
 
Last edited:

Captain Willard

Captain Willard
An easy reason to see. The opening is the weakest part of the station, why would you make 2 weak places in the vacuum of space. OH my bad, for your convenience. :)
 

JuicerPrime

JuicerPrime
Captain Willard said:
An easy reason to see. The opening is the weakest part of the station, why would you make 2 weak places in the vacuum of space. OH my bad, for your convenience. :)
Click to expand...

Why make ships with glass canopies, letting in all that solar radiation, when cameras would do just as well or better?

OP, it's probably because the single letterbox is a harkback to classic Elite. Like the docking computer.
 

Lokus Midgard

L
Doesn't have to be a weakness. Just give them ultra-strong shields and/or armoured doors which slide into position.

I'd rather have a logical traffic route than nostalgic art design (which, considering how different many of the ship models are to their original versions, is probably null and void, anyway). It doesn't matter so much in the small ships, but you swiftly trade up from those.
 

Shar

Shar
Also openings require large amounts of internal space. The stations are realistic the way they are and consistant with engeneering principles no change required.
 
Last edited:

playfuldreamer

playfuldreamer
It's a design from the original Elite which itself was inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey.

2001odyssey.jpg
 
Last edited:

Lokus Midgard

L
It might well be, but for stations which are meant to be dealing with high volumes of traffic, as opposed to a few small shuttles every now and then, it doesn't make much sense.

The opening should either be made twice as large or there should be one for entering and another for exit. Anything less, considering the sizes of craft which regularly use them, is an accident waiting to happen. I've lost count of the number of Belugas, Type-9s and so on, which obliviously swing out of nowhere and proceed to collide with either me or other NPC ships which are moving in the opposite direction.

Failing that, traffic control should have holding patterns implemented, but that would cause things to crawl to a much slower rate.
 

DubiousPhysics

D
As far as the pad positioning goes, there is technical reasoning behind that if I understand correctly. The stations spin to create artificial gravity for the various habitats within, but for handling insanely huge masses of cargo canisters and the like, it becomes a lot more manageable if you stick to the near zero G at the centre of the station.
 

Cyrgon

Cyrgon
The mailslot is huge. And considering the exponential increase in shield size the bigger the opening, there are a lot of RP-ish explanations for not making it bigger. The thing is like 55mx90m, which is FAR larger than any ship in either width or height. The conda is only 32m high, so you have a lot of extra space. It just feels smaller than it is. You get a better sense of scale in VR. You could fit a 5 or 6 story buiding under a conda with the leftover space.
 
Last edited:

Hooplah

Hooplah
Is there air inside the station? How do we know? Never see any life forms walking around just enclosed vehicles scurrying along on roadways...Oh, maybe those palm trees and parks are a clue...What was the date on CMDRS getting out and walking around?
 

Agony_Aunt

Agony_Aunt
Hooplah said:
Is there air inside the station? How do we know? Never see any life forms walking around just enclosed vehicles scurrying along on roadways...Oh, maybe those palm trees and parks are a clue...What was the date on CMDRS getting out and walking around?
Click to expand...

Yes, there is air. That's one reason there is the forcefield across the entrance.
 

cometcruiser

cometcruiser

CptXabaras

CptXabaras
Hooplah said:
Is there air inside the station? How do we know? Never see any life forms walking around just enclosed vehicles scurrying along on roadways...Oh, maybe those palm trees and parks are a clue...What was the date on CMDRS getting out and walking around?
Click to expand...

Have you ever entered a station with broken canopy and oxygen depleting?

That feeling when you start to breathe normally again and sound comes alive..

Have you ever docked at an outpost with broken canopy and oxygen depleting and no repair available?

Don't.
 
Last edited:

Rocky-451

Rocky-451
Would be fun to try boosting in one end of the station and out the other without asking for docking permission.
 
Last edited:

Father Cool

Father Cool
Also positioning pads on the outside of the station would mean that the artificial gravity would be trying to throw you off the station rather than pulling you onto it. Ok we have magnetic landing gear but I'm sure that its not designed to hold the ship onto the pad at forces of negative gravity at the highest value on the station. I would aslo imagine trying to unload your ship or even just walk around out there with magnetic boots on would be a major acheivement. Don't forget to do those laces up tight!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom