Bring back the Docking computer.

One of the biggest annoyances of the original Elite was docking. It wasn't hard as such, it was just a PITA finding the entrance on a cubic station, orientating yourself with the entrance and finally moving forward and keeping it lined up so you didn't crash. However, once inside with this version, now we also have to deal with finding the right pad since it's not the only one lit up, micro managing systems to get there and line up perfectly, only to get a fine for loitering near another pad that wasn't even noticed because it wasn't flashing on the way in.

It might cost us a couple of thousand extra credits but a docking computer would be far better. When in range, hit the comms for a docking request and the docking computer does the rest if you turn it on. It's harder to dock than it was before with Elite, Frontier and First Encounter but even back then, we had a computer that could do it for us for a few credits extra. For god's sake, we now have self driving cars, how hard would it be to have a computer dock your ship for you so far in the future? We've already proved we can do it manually god knows how many times before we earn the credits to buy a docking computer, why drag out the game by making us do it EVERY time?

You're already inside a no-fire zone and the computer would do everything you would normally do so there is no reason not to automate it. It doesn't help someone who is under attack, in fact it would move more slowly than a player so the chances are, you'll be dead before you get inside so it won't break PVP as I can see some players declaring. It will probably make the player even more vulnerable since it will take the safe option and wait until it is clear before entering the station, unlike a player who will zoom in behind another ship and barely avoid a collision inside the airlock.

Docking really is a major annoyance in this game now and will probably be the main reason some people will play it less. It is the one thing that has been boring the hell out of me so far and I have only done 10 trade runs to get some credits so far. I played for a couple of hours then logged because I really couldn't face manual docking yet again on my next run.

I like the game, considering I have yet to move outside the system I started in. I've now learned how to drop out of cruise almost perfectly with the station I want right in front of me and almost within hands reach as I drop out. However, it's taking me almost as long to land my ship on the pad as it did to fly a light year across space in cruise and what makes it worse is that I know I have to do it EVERY time I want to dock.
 
What makes you assume they don't exist?

I have one in my ship.
Either you have a special ship or the manufacturers screwed up when they built mine. I'm still in the basic Sidewinder starter ship and I have not found a docking computer.
 
Either you have a special ship or the manufacturers screwed up when they built mine. I'm still in the basic Sidewinder starter ship and I have not found a docking computer.

Check high tech worlds shipyards for docking computer module.
 
Either you have a special ship or the manufacturers screwed up when they built mine. I'm still in the basic Sidewinder starter ship and I have not found a docking computer.

They have been in the game for months now. You might have to check stations in a different system.
 
Either you have a special ship or the manufacturers screwed up when they built mine. I'm still in the basic Sidewinder starter ship and I have not found a docking computer.

Well, you have to buy it before it will show up on your ship. it's like 4500cr.
 
It's not as much fun as you might remember. Especially on larger ships - I installed one on a Lakon 6 and it kept crashing me at speed into the landing pad, giving me delicious repair bills.
 
Either you have a special ship or the manufacturers screwed up when they built mine. I'm still in the basic Sidewinder starter ship and I have not found a docking computer.

You have to buy it. 4,500 Cr and it replaces that useless exploration scanner nicely.
 
Either you have a special ship or the manufacturers screwed up when they built mine. I'm still in the basic Sidewinder starter ship and I have not found a docking computer.

The DC is a module, it must be purchased. don't you think it be a good idea to actually play the game a bit first? Writing a huge post about a missing feature that is not actually missing, seems a little pointless don't you think?
 
It's not as much fun as you might remember. Especially on larger ships - I installed one on a Lakon 6 and it kept crashing me at speed into the landing pad, giving me delicious repair bills.

What, you don't like the sound of your skids scraping the deck as the docking computer slams you down and grinds you to the left?
 
Yeap, still here and being oiled :))))

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