ATC need more love

[lysan]

As far as I understand it's all there, some of the dots are just not connected.

When you use the DC you get assigned to holding patterns, however if you dock on manual you can do whatever as long as you got the permission.

My suggestion:

Departure, this is also controlled by the ATC, you are not released until it's your turn.

Docking, if on manual you are asked to wait until it's your turn.

Reduce the time to get in/out add a visible holding pattern point where you need to wait until it's your turn.

Smuggling, this is not going to help smuggles, so to give smugglers more game play, they need to connect with someone in the station to pay the cops not to scan you. Maybe you buy a false docking pass, maybe you give some guy "coffee money" to look the other way.

A lot just around the docking game play can be done.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

Game is slow enough as is and getting slower in some regards.
I think most of this will prove more of an annoyance and repetitive as time passes.

 

[lysan]

Game is slow enough as is and getting slower in some regards.
I think most of this will prove more of an annoyance and repetitive as time passes.

It would remove some of the griefer opportunities some are exploiting.

And if done right it would not be slower than using the DC.

It would also make the game lean more towards a SIM than arcade play style, just to point out some extremes.

Edit:

The reason we find the game slow in some parts, is because the game lacks deeper mechanics to carry it along, like autopilot and a more fleshed out ATC mechanic.

Most of this was in the original games.

 

[M00ka]

We can't even get players to not speed around a station when they complain about being rammed by the System Authorities, so you really think they will sit their patiently waiting for their turn to dock? Going by what is read here in the forums, I consider myself in the very small minority that doesn't boost in and out of a station!

As for the idea of holding on departure, I think the game already does that, it just doesn't tell you. I know I have clicked on the 'launch' button and nothing will happen for several seconds until you hear the clunk and the ATC announces the corridor is clear to exit.

 

[lysan]

If done right the clearance to dock need to be in two phases, if there is a heavy traffic you need to wait, you will be assigned to a holding pattern (docking denied) you are noticed when you can get clearance (you're number x in line) when your turn comes docking approved. We already got these mechanics but they are lacking more information and need to be tighten up.

It's should not change anything from today regarding time to dock, only make it more informative and a bit more controlled.

Same goes with departure clearance.

 

[M00ka]

If done right the clearance to dock need to be in two phases, if there is a heavy traffic you need to wait, you will be assigned to a holding pattern (docking denied) you are noticed when you can get clearance (you're number x in line) when your turn comes docking approved. We already got these mechanics but they are lacking more information and need to be tighten up.

It's should not change anything from today regarding time to dock, only make it more informative and a bit more controlled.

Same goes with departure clearance.

Yeah that would work, well thought out.

The only ones who wouldn't like the idea are those who don't want to be scanned (smuggling, passengers who are umm shy etc.)

 

[lysan]

Yeah that would work, well thought out.

The only ones who wouldn't like the idea are those who don't want to be scanned (smuggling, passengers who are umm shy etc.)

Sure, that is why a more fleshed out mechanic need to be implemented.

It could be buying a false transponder signal on a black market, it could be a bribe mechanics where you bribe some of the police forces you know, be there between 20:00 and 22:00 and I let you pass through, we need more depth around many of the existing game loops.

 

[Para Handy]

They can't even get the traffic voice sequence to work properly if you have a docking computer fitted, plus the automatic traffic welcome at engineers doesn't work, so I don't see them putting effort into other enhancements, it is obviously too difficult for F D to get sequencing to work.

 

[RidingTheFlow]

Game is slow enough as is and getting slower in some regards.
I think most of this will prove more of an annoyance and repetitive as time passes.

Agree with Banana on this. This is a game, I don't want to waste time on pointless "ticking boxes off formal checklist" - just get to the point of getting my ship on the landing pad (or off it and into hyperspace).

 

[babelfisch]

Smuggling, this is not going to help smuggles, so to give smugglers more game play, they need to connect with someone in the station to pay the cops not to scan you. Maybe you buy a false docking pass, maybe you give some guy "coffee money" to look the other way.

A lot just around the docking game play can be done.

This is the part where SLF with docking functionality could come into play. Park your cargo ship outside, dock with your SLF, bribe someone, return. Hope that nobody used hatch breakers on your vessel...

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

The thing is this already exists in the game to a degree. If you're slow requesting docking clearance to an Outpost(space), a naughty little NPC can queue jump which means you have to wait. On other occasions they're already in the hanger and requesting docking is the only way to move them on if you're in a hurry.

I know what you're suggesting is more about the bigger stations, to save confusion, but you're pretty much asking that smuggling not be about getting allied with the faction in control, less risk and scans unless silly pilot, and just buy your way out of it because money is so easy to get these days.

I don't think either is particularly great as is but adding something just to cater for players who use a docking computer or want to fly a SLF into a station first to avoid any repercussions seems weird. It's like a get out of jail free card...as long as you have oodles of money...which kinda defeats the purpose of smuggling for profit.

So, what this will result in is players being able to smuggle harmful goods into any station they wish to undermine regards the BGS and it would be far too easy because money is plentiful.

If anything, and as Crime and Punishment is a thing, it should be very hard to smuggle anything illegal...and if caught then bad things should happen.

 

[lysan]

The thing is this already exists in the game to a degree. If you're slow requesting docking clearance to an Outpost(space), a naughty little NPC can queue jump which means you have to wait. On other occasions they're already in the hanger and requesting docking is the only way to move them on if you're in a hurry.

I know what you're suggesting is more about the bigger stations, to save confusion, but you're pretty much asking that smuggling not be about getting allied with the faction in control, less risk and scans unless silly pilot, and just buy your way out of it because money is so easy to get these days.

I don't think either is particularly great as is but adding something just to cater for players who use a docking computer or want to fly a SLF into a station first to avoid any repercussions seems weird. It's like a get out of jail free card...as long as you have oodles of money...which kinda defeats the purpose of smuggling for profit.

So, what this will result in is players being able to smuggle harmful goods into any station they wish to undermine regards the BGS and it would be far too easy because money is plentiful.

If anything, and as Crime and Punishment is a thing, it should be very hard to smuggle anything illegal...and if caught then bad things should happen.

So other than saying no no no no noooooooooo. You don't have any suggestion to improve what clearly is broken regarding ATC.

Why dock? Why not just instantly access the market and teleport everything from your ship to the station?

What I'm suggesting is already in the game, what is lacking is information and holes for people to grief other people, a better ATC would improve the experience and plug the hole used by grifers.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

So other than saying no no no no noooooooooo. You don't have any suggestion to improve what clearly is broken regarding ATC.

Why dock? Why not just instantly access the market and teleport everything from your ship to the station?

What I'm suggesting is already in the game, what is lacking is information and holes for people to grief other people, a better ATC would improve the experience and plug the hole used by grifers.

I gave good reasons why...
I'm saying that throwing money at it isn't the best solution. It makes smuggling less of a thing than it currently is...which isn't great compared to having to silent run a good while back.
Docking has always been a thing in Elite and it was a lot harder in '84. If carrying illegal goods then it should be hard to smuggle these things in. What you are suggesting is an easy way to smuggle with no risk, solely dependent on how much money a player has.
At this point you're not smuggling for profit but to do things in the BGS with little or no risk, because you have money...which is abundant

You'll need to be clearer on the griefing point you're trying to make because it's not something I do so do tell how this would stop it?

 

[Flin]

Start with baby steps such as ATC giving more info about the incoming and outgoing traffic.

E.g. Commander, there are X ships inbound and Y ships outbound.

This is sort of obvious when looking at the radar, but useful as a first step.

Second phase is queue details. E.g. [ship callsign] T-9 inbound. Please make way.

Or even noting that there's a ship killing system authority ships just outside the exclusion zone, etc.

Lastly, getting commanders to stick with queuing is going to be a hard sell. Plenty of rants already for waiting for a place to dock.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

This is the part where SLF with docking functionality could come into play. Park your cargo ship outside, dock with your SLF, bribe someone, return. Hope that nobody used hatch breakers on your vessel...

And the ships that don't have SLF? We just say goodbye to them as smuggling options?

 

[The Wallet Inspector]

Turned it off because it seems 1 in 3 stations are the cringe yorkshire accent. It;s like a joke that's funny for a few times, then is making you hate the game after you hear it 300 times.

 

[Sonof Hibachi]

I'd be happy if they just stopped NPCs flying in and out of the letterbox, at speed and on the wrong side, with no regard for other ships.

 

[lysan]

Turned it off because it seems 1 in 3 stations are the cringe yorkshire accent. It;s like a joke that's funny for a few times, then is making you hate the game after you hear it 300 times.

When I fly from my local airport they also always say the same thing, so you get use to it, like the uncle telling the same joke at the family dinner

If they wasn't there I would miss it, as they in a strange way add life to the station.

 

[Schmack]

I could swear the ATC takes control of your ship if you use the DC, but oddly enough they blame you if someone runs into you while they have control. Isn't there a message that states the station has control when you use the DC?

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

So you want to add a delay to every time we leave a station. No thanks, though I'm quite certain 66% of the forum will agree with you.