Death by Docking CPU.......

Krommicus

Krommicus
This morning I figured since I finally have some some time to kill, I would do some Bounty Hunting in a local RES. I'm out about an hour and have right at 1 mill CR (I am in a well fitted out Vulture) when I see a Conda wanted and all by himself. I do a KWS and go after him. It's a very good fight since it was just me and him (at first). Right before I dropped him a lone eagle entered the fray and started to attack me also (I think I killed his Brother earlier, since he was in a faction called Brothers). My shields were almost gone at this time but I had decided since the Conda was almost done (no shields and power plant at 9%) for I would press the attack on him. By the time I finished off the Conda, my shields were gone and the Eagle had done some damage to me. As I Turned to finish him off, he got my cockpit and put a major gash in my HUD (disabling the HUD readout on the center of my screen). I am now losing atmosphere out of the cockpit and have just over 7 min to get back to a base. I find an out post that is near and lock on. I figure not a problem , it will be close but I can make it. I turn and boost away from the Eagle retracting hardpoints and putting all power to engines. Then I remember that I am Mass locked in the asteroid belt. I do another Boost and it gets me free and I hit SC. To line up with the Outpost I have to use the compass, The center of my cockpit screen is not working with the HUD. At this time I start wishing that the *&@$%&@ CPU would shut up. I can see the clock counting down an how much time I have left. I am almost to the out post and BAM I get interdicted. A lone Sidwinder decides to take me on. I submit to the interdiction, and normally I would show him why it's not wise to take on a Vulture in a Sidewinder. This time I keep the throttle on and wait for my FSD to finish it's cool down (did I mention that I wished that Damn CPU would shut up!). I activate the FSD and get going to the outpost. I now have lost 30-40 seconds in the interdiction. Since my HUD wasn't working I had to use the compass and Distance/speed meters on the dash to judge my distance and speed coming in. I drop out of SC just at 8k from the out post with 1:30 left. This is going to be tight. I decide to go in hot. I hit full throttle as I am getting permission to dock. I get approval for bay 1 and head for it. as I get close I throttle down and the Docking CPU takes over. I am just above the landing pad and I have right at 1 min left. The Docking CPU now decides to take it's time . I am getting the countdown (There really should be an override for that, I can see the timer) I hit 0 on the timer 6 feet above the landing pad.

BOOM!!!!

Lets do some Math . Just over 1 mill in bounties for the outing, 2.5 Mill in uncollected bounties in Fed and Alliance (I was thinking about taking the Cobra out a collecting them). And the 1.5 mill in insurance. Kinda a expensive morning. I think I am going to re-look at my loud out and try to move up from a D rated life support. Another 30 seconds and I would of made it. On the positive side I now don't have to trek all over the universe to turn in some bounties.
 

Bane Six Echo

Bane Six Echo
That sucks!

To me it sounds like you should reconsider using a docking computer, particularly on a ship as maneuverable as the Vulture. ;)
 

Bortas

Bortas
Never dock with the docking computer, when you are in a hurry. You can disable it in the modules section of the right panel, whenever you want to dock manually.
 

Eisen

Eisen
Sorry for your loss... but in such a situation the last thing I would do is using a docking computer. Your are sitting in one of the most agile ships available, landing should be absolutely no problem. Docking-Computer can be overridden by simly speeding up or deactivating it on the modules screen.
Eisen
 
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Whiterose

Whiterose
It has happened to us all, except I made it and it was a manual landing. Had to do two landings as the first outpost did not have a repair facility. Recharged my oxygen for the next boost to a station. Made it by 25 seconds. Since then the first thing I upgrade is the life support.
 

Rubellen

Rubellen
Sorry to hear of your loss Commander but a Vulture with a docking computer? That's like a La9 full of hull boosters and KWS and FSD interruptors and no cargo hold :p
 

Krommicus

Krommicus
Ya I know.. A Vulture with a Docking CPU?? It's just I HATE docking.
In hindsight I should of disabled it and gone in manually. But it still would of been a close one. And they really do need an override on that countdown from the CPU. It was irritating .
 

Steve50

Steve50
Krommicus said:
Ya I know.. A Vulture with a Docking CPU?? It's just I HATE docking.
In hindsight I should HAVE disabled it and gone in manually. But it still would HAVE been a close one. And they really do need an override on that countdown from the CPU. It was irritating .
Click to expand...

If you hate docking it's better to dock manually.. Why? It's far far faster and gets it over quicker :)
 

TriumphANT

TriumphANT
Krommicus said:
Ya I know.. A Vulture with a Docking CPU?? It's just I HATE docking.
In hindsight I should of disabled it and gone in manually. But it still would of been a close one. And they really do need an override on that countdown from the CPU. It was irritating .
Click to expand...

The Docking Computer and The Annoying Voice don't interact I'm afraid. What may seem like a fast'n'smooth docking when you're sitting smokin' a cigar with a handful of bounty vouchers is a tortuous edge-of-the seat "HURRY UP!" when your canopy is blown. Docking manually at an output (remember to "Enter Hangar" immediately!) with you canopy blown can be done in about 30 seconds from 7.5km in a Vulture. They slow down SO fast. You might hate docking, but very Commander hates losing Credits even more. Get some practice in for emergencies. And honestly, manually landing a Vulture is as much fun as flying them. Buzz in fast from the wrong side to an outpost, hit "zero throttle" and spin 180 and level out as you slow down through the blue zone. Is that a "01" I see before me? 10 seconds later you're on the pad and smoking a really good cigar in the hangar.

's true. I do it every day. :)
 
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Metalstardust

M
Docking computer is great but not at outposts. In big ships at outposts you can be left hovering 1km directly over the pad.

As for the Vulture, you discovered one of it's weakness. Shields down......... run. Taking on more than one target and your shields have nearly gone.......... run.

The best one I had was 1% Hull, 30 seconds of air left.

The Vulture is great but it has flaws. Which is as it should be. It is knowing what the limits are and working around them. Did I mention if your shields drop....................run.
 

Rikk

R
Rather than being irritating I'd have thought the countdown was a good indicator to take over and finish off docking manually myself.

Lesson learned though, rely on the docking computer when your life does not depend on it.
 

SkeletronPrime

Banned
S
I use the docking computer all the time in my current ship, a viper. Obviously docking in a viper is incredibly easy, but having a cup of tea, checking screens and thinking about what I'm going to do next is even easier.
 

Lestat

Banned
Lestat
Fault lies with the user. The docking computer could of been damaged and malfunctioning. Really I would use that spot for something More important. I can understand large ship Docking computers.
 

GammaZ

G
Also when fighting in RES it is nice to find a system within jump range, which has stations very close to star. You just jump and dock there, instead of flying away from planet, which is slow.
 
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Zplintz

Zplintz
It is easy to dock by yourself in any ship in the game (and unless you goof it up completely) faster too.

You'll get no sympathy leaving a Clank in charge of your ship and your livelihood (from me anyway) :cool:
 
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Phoenix366

Phoenix366
Come n youre in a vulture, make docking fun

I can spin around the inside of a Coriolis port in a vulture and still drop it onto landing pad 10 in seconds.

My personal favorite is when the pad is above you, go in upside down and barrel roll dock! scores 10 points.

please note, 1. Ive done this far too much.
2. I recently launched and whilst retracting my landing gear accidentally locked onto something. 'No worries' i thought, forgetting i was playing elite for a second. 'ill just press b to unlock my OH GOD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

That was fun. i just sat at my screen and laughed whilst face palming myself for being so stupid.
 
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