Newcomer / Intro Can't dock properly - help

Hello. I really want to get into this game. Loved it as a kid. I have tried and tried on the training module and can get into the space station but become completely disorientated trying to land on the allocated numbered pad. Find it impossible.

Any tips? Its really quite frustrating because if I could master this, I could start the game.
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
When you enter a station the "compass" (at the top left of the central portion of the HUD) points to your landing pad - solid dot = in front; hollow dot = behind.
 
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I'm also new so don't take this response too seriously. I don't have too much trouble docking though so I think I can try to help at least.

First, make sure you are flying with flight assist on (default is on). You can find it in control settings.

When you are in, the position of your designated dock should be shown in your radar and the little blue indicator to it's left. You should be able to turn to it and see the number fairly easily. Slowly fly to it, cutting back throttle as you approach. If you stop, give just a little not to overshoot the dock. You have to land facing the building side. When you are close enough the radar will switch to the landing helper mode so you will see your ship, a circle with arrows pointing to it in the middle and a red dot connected to the bottom of your ship by a red beam. Now, if you positioned yourself roughly over the dock and facing the building site, it should not be hard to keep yourself horizontal relative to the dock. Now try to bring the dot into the circle just using the side thrusters and throttle. Don't roll or pitch! When you manage to stop with the red dot in the circle it should turn blue. Now just move downwards with the appropriate thruster.

If you are patient and practice this enough times, you'll get faster and more precise in a relatively short time.
 
Can you be more specific as to the issue you are having.
OK so you have Requested docking from station and entered OK.
Basic rules: come in through the slot slowly until you are used to it, Look for the designated pad number.
If you cant find it, look at the tiny radar indicator to the Left and just above your main scanner. The blue dot will indicate if its to left, right above or below you.
If its not directly in front and below you, then roll left or right to have it appearing in front of you so you are lined up with the pad or the numbers.
Move toward the pad slowly, you must be FACING the BACK of the station when you are touching down. If you are not facing the back wall you are going the wrong way.
The Bay number is at the BACK of the pad. You approach the pad from the side furthest away from the PAD number and come in over the top of the pad.
Lower the gear as soon as you are through the slot, This slows you down and adds safety by disabling you boost. You dont want to be a splat mark on the back wall.
Come in well below the number close to the pad for starters facing the landing tower that is always just in front of the numbers and slow down.
When you are above the pad and low down, you get an indicator showing your ship above the pad. (if you are too high, no landing indicator even when you are above the pad)
Its really important that you have some buttons or keys mapped to your manouvering thrusters. Use these to slide left or right, forward or back for starters.
Then you will see the position on the pad in the scanner, once all in the center it will change colour. Lower the ship gently.
Remember although you can land like you would a plane, that not how you would normally do it.
Use main engines to get close to pad and very low down SLOWly and parallell to the pad facing the back of the station. Once you get the landing radar, you then use your maneuvering thrusters, no more Pitching and rolling.

I have mentioned alot of things you dont really need when experienced but there might be a clue as to what you are missing.

Also in an outpost, there is no back of station so as you approach you adjust your approach so that the numbers are at the back of the pad and you approach the numbers from the far side. that is always the correct direction.
 
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At any point during the docking, you can come to a complete stop, pitch down (and turn if necessary) to take a look at the pad's position relative to you. Pitch up again and then:
(1) Roll so that your ship is parallel with the pad's surface.
(2) Yaw until you're pointing at the same direction as the pad, i.e. aim towards the back of the station.
(3) Left/right thrust, combined with forward/backward throttle, should bring you somewhere above the pad.
(4) At this point, the landing indicator will appear - use it to make small horizontal adjustments as you thrust down.
 
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I find approaching the landing pad from a steep angle with nose well down helps a lot with seeing what's going on until the "target" appears in the landing radar. Approach slowly, and don't be afraid to stop to work out what your next move should be.
 
I find approaching the landing pad from a steep angle with nose well down helps a lot with seeing what's going on until the "target" appears in the landing radar. Approach slowly, and don't be afraid to stop to work out what your next move should be.

This is the approach I always use, I literally "fly" in as if I was in an aircraft with gravity.
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
Hi,

To make things really easy just fit a docking computer.:cool:)

Arnak

Unfortunately, the safety record of the docking computer Mk XXIX is not beyond reproach. There have been a number of documented cases of pilots ending up with huge insurance bills when using that particular piece of equipment.

Fly safe, commanders.
 
I find approaching the landing pad from a steep angle with nose well down helps a lot with seeing what's going on until the "target" appears in the landing radar. Approach slowly, and don't be afraid to stop to work out what your next move should be.

Agreed! Also, when getting 'close' to the pad, I use thrusters: forward, back, left, right to align that red dot (instead of using throttle - I felt like an idiot bouncing around the landing pad coz my dang ship wouldn't 'stop' the last time I throttled in!) then just thrust down until you dock. But overall, just take your time for the first bit, and after a while it will become more natural and smooth to land on that pad.
 
Hi,

Yes, I agree that the docking computer has a bad reputation but personally I use it all the time and have only had one bad instance.

I even use it to dock my T9 and so far in at least a week of playing no problems at all.:cool:)

Arnak
 
Docking computer is cheap and does a good job, and just like the original Elite back in the 80's you listen to 'The Blue Danube' as you dock....and as long as you pay attention and stayt ready to take over at a moment's notice you are good to go. The docking computer moves the ship at a decent speed by the way, it's not annoyingly slow as you might expect.
 
Docking computer is cheap and does a good job, and just like the original Elite back in the 80's you listen to 'The Blue Danube' as you dock....and as long as you pay attention and stayt ready to take over at a moment's notice you are good to go. The docking computer moves the ship at a decent speed by the way, it's not annoyingly slow as you might expect.

you aint know thee homicidal docking computer from the early elite: dangerous days. that thing was realiable in killing you. Just do it manual
 
i am a new player less than 12hrs play time under my belt am 55yrs old and love playing games like ED i had elite on the amiga years ago. i too thought landing would be my weak point however i found it quite easy all i can say is don't panic
and take it easy.
i took the liberty of linking to videos i captured using shadowplay on myself docking using keyboard and mouse, 1 is landing at a platform type thing the other is docking in a cube station

https://youtu.be/qDWYt_sLWQk

https://youtu.be/ufeIuN4noKM
 
i am 55yrs old and love playing games like ED i had elite on the amiga years ago

Ahh.. Ditto but a bit older!!!

Haven't seen specifics of OP's issue yet but learning to use all 6 thruster keys really helps. And do panic when the station warns you about loitering.. CLIMB Quick!!
 
Ahh.. Ditto but a bit older!!!

Haven't seen specifics of OP's issue yet but learning to use all 6 thruster keys really helps. And do panic when the station warns you about loitering.. CLIMB Quick!!

Agreed .. thrusters are your friend, especially inside a dock.
Make sure Rotational Assist is also ON, in your right hand panel, will match your ship to station rotation.
The compass should help locate your pad, hover above it and gently thruster down ..

How easy it is to say! :D
 
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