[Quality of life][Docking Computer] Request: Please add a hotkey setting option

[V'larr]

I would like to have an option for using the docking computer, where it only engages when I press an assigned hotkey.

There are times where I wish to hit 0% throttle after requesting docking at a station but do not wish to engage the docking computer, and it gets annoying after a while fighting the DC for control of the ship when it engages without my wanting it to.

While I get the idea of convenience behind the way it works now, I would much prefer being able to tell the DC when to engage and disengage itself.

So what I envision here is a new option in the Options > Control menu, a toggle between "Allow automatic engagement of docking computer at 0% throttle" and "Use hotkey to engage docking computer" that then opens up a keybind box. (I could make a mock-up in MSPaint, but I'm lazy and I feel like this is a good description?)

Though of course, I'll acknowledge that likely means it's necessary to tweak the docking computer code a little bit too.

Pretty-please, Fdev?



p.s. edit: I don't know how the winky face wound up in the title, I must have clicked the wrong option when creating it, meant to put that in my confession about being lazy....

 

[Captain Willard]

Already has one. 1 click to the power tab and power up the DC, if you went there before it's ready to go.

 

[V'larr]

Already has one. 1 click to the power tab and power up the DC, if you went there before it's ready to go.

I really don't want to be looking over at my power settings while I'm in the mailslot or trying not to drift into other ships, you know...and that's multiple button presses to do 1 thing.

I'd rather just be able to bind operation of the DC to a hotkey.

 

[Captain Willard]

well, Write a macro for ye controller then unless it's a console, I wouldn't know. Never owned one.

 

[Six6VI]

well, Write a macro for ye controller then unless it's a console, I wouldn't know. Never owned one.

Me either. Think it was bound to "C" in the 84 version? Ugh, I feel old

 

[coca_fr]

I'm amazed to see how many people have a docking computer module... I even saw many Asp with one... Oo

People don't want to learn how to fly...

 

[StiTch]

I believe it's intentional to fit with the DC and speed limits. It's always been made clear you cannot get a bounty for ramming while using a DC, because it's in control and wasn't your fault.

This sentiment falls over if you can boost an iCutter at someone and last second turn DC on to remove blame.

So all you can really hope to be implemented is for an option to disable it until required, which - if your only concern is being able to hit 0 throttle without it activating - is absolutely covered by turning the module's power off.

Cheers for a QoL thread on the DC which isn't "you're wrong if we don't get DCs in all ships for free". But I just don't see the necessity for this at all. If we had silly little options like this for every little thing everyone wants, ED would need a control suite like this:

Spoiler

 

[V'larr]

well, Write a macro for ye controller then unless it's a console, I wouldn't know. Never owned one.

I don't feel it should be necessary for players to use macros for anything. If it is, then there's a flaw with the game and the available control settings.

It seems comparitively easy, to me, to have a keybind option for docking computer use. (Though another keybind for requesting docking would be nice too...sigh. And I know Sandro's talked about that and declined it in favor of keeping the feel of ships being 'interesting' to operate, I guess, which is why people macro it instead...to me that just means they oughta make it a keybind to begin with, but first things first here.)

__

I'm amazed to see how many people have a docking computer module... I even saw many Asp with one... Oo
People don't want to learn how to fly...

Just because someone uses a docking computer, that doesn't mean they don't know how to fly. I am quite competent at landing manually and always do when other players are around, in part because of this particular issue. I simply use it for convenence's sake, it allows me to focus on other things during the landing process.

On top of that, just watching how the docking computer does things can be a great aid in learning how to successfully dock in the first place.

So, forgive me, but I think your reaction was a bit arrogant....

__

I believe it's intentional to fit with the DC and speed limits. It's always been made clear you cannot get a bounty for ramming while using a DC, because it's in control and wasn't your fault.
This sentiment falls over if you can boost an iCutter at someone and last second turn DC on to remove blame.
So all you can really hope to be implemented is for an option to disable it until required, which - if your only concern is being able to hit 0 throttle without it activating - is absolutely covered by turning the module's power off.

That's a problem for C&P development to deal with, as I see it - not denying the issue, it's just not within the scope of this thread's focus.

Right now that's a pre-existing problem anyway, since any time you hit "0% throttle" as a command, the docking computer will automatically and immediately take over.

Cheers for a QoL thread on the DC which isn't "you're wrong if we don't get DCs in all ships for free". But I just don't see the necessity for this at all. If we had silly little options like this for every little thing everyone wants, ED would need a control suite like this:

Spoiler

https://gdb.voanews.com/ED532545-E45B-45DE-A494-4CA02C5A51BA_w1023_r1_s.jpg

That control suite is actually not as complicated as you might think, and if you've seen some player's HOTAS/virtual cockpit setups, Elite already *does* need a suite like this!

The thing is, you can use multiple-press/modifier keybinds - for instance, I use Spacebar + W/S (normally my pitch controls) to move forward/backward without touching the throttle settings, which aids me greatly when docking and just needing to move over a hair or two. So having a modifier key can essentially open up your entire keyboard to a whole new set of commands, meaning there's more than plenty room for just 1 more additional keybind that this suggestion would require.

And I haven't even used my whole keyboard yet anyway, and I haven't touched the Fkeys, numpad, or Insert/Page keys at all....