Difficulty change for scooping?

[Niolator]

I have not played Elite Dangerous for a while until now and when I tried to scoop up materials I noticed it being a lot harder than before. Practically impossible, really. I used to be able to scoop up thing rather easily before but now the thing I am trying to scoop up hits my hull and is destroyed after a few attempts. I suppose it is my hull but it looks like it hits something invisible far ahead of my ship. If it is supposed to be my hull it hits this animation really needs improvement.

So have the difficulty level been drastically changed lately? In that case, how are you supposed to pick up things nowadays?

 

[Dillon Fallon]

I haven't noticed a difference, but different ships do make it harder. The FdL, for instance can be a pain because the hatch is right at the back of the ship. I'm also forever hitting things in my Clipper if I don't aim the cross hair to be slightly above the cargo I'm scooping. In a small ship, it's an absolute breeze in my experience.

 

[Neilski]

I this this problem recently in my Anaconda and someone kindly pointed out that the hardpoints can block the cargo hatch. Indeed, this solved the problem for me.
So, just in case: were your hardpoints deployed when you hit the trouble? If not, I'm all out of ideas, because scooping (with hardpoints stowed) has been as easy as ever.

 

[PORNSTAR]

I returned a little over a year ago. Didn't notice any difficulty change in scooping cargo in my sidewinder , cobra mk 4, until I purchased my first python. I manually collect cargo and with the python it's not as simple/carefree. At times it looks lined up just above the dot and I crush it. I slow down from 30ms to 20 or less and I manage it. Even after half a year flying my python I still end up bouncing or crushing (I'm so very sorry Escape Pod).

Not very helpful I know but hey ... your not alone!

 

[geoffrey.hdt]

Nope, no difference.
Started to play back in 2014, then been back after an 8 year break.
Be sure to fly below 40m/s, use secondary flight mode for pitch/yaw, and keep the scopable centered.

 

[Nowski]

I this this problem recently in my Anaconda and someone kindly pointed out that the hardpoints can block the cargo hatch.

Inadvertently deploying landing gear can have the same effect on some ships.

 

[vanFace]

So have the difficulty level been drastically changed lately? In that case, how are you supposed to pick up things nowadays?

Not to my knowledge. I'm scooping manually just as before with iCourier, DBX, Corvette, iCutter, Sidey, Hauler, Phantom, Python MK2, iClipper. At least these are the ships I remember doing that in the last months. Maybe you have a specific ship where something changed.

 

[Hugh Jardon]

I have not played Elite Dangerous for a while until now and when I tried to scoop up materials I noticed it being a lot harder than before. Practically impossible, really. I used to be able to scoop up thing rather easily before but now the thing I am trying to scoop up hits my hull and is destroyed after a few attempts. I suppose it is my hull but it looks like it hits something invisible far ahead of my ship. If it is supposed to be my hull it hits this animation really needs improvement.

So have the difficulty level been drastically changed lately? In that case, how are you supposed to pick up things nowadays?

It depends a lot on the ship. Python mk1 and mk2 are both relatively difficult.

 

[jmp470]

Nope, no difference, I sucked when I played before and I suck now at scooping items up! Limpets are your friend!

The 3C/3B Operational limpet controller is great.

 

[aRJay]

Scooping is as always extremely ship dependent, deployment of weapons or landing gear can be a significant issue on some ships. Reflections and various light sources in the cockpit can also increase the difficulty as they reduce visibility in the scoop display.
The Alliance Chieftain et al are extremely good to scoop with.

 

[Uxi]

I can scoop fine in my Anaconda even... unless there are sync issues. If it fails 2 or 3 times even though it's right in the crosshairs, then a Mauve Adder is usually right behind.

 

[Felix DiCestria]

Hitting mats shouldn't damage them though if they were generated from a kill they will be on a timer.
As stated earlier, landing gear, hard points and ship kits can all interfere with the path to the scoop.
If you have a controller or HOTAS there may be some unintended input if your thruster controls are getting worn.

 

[Bigmaec]

What everyone says about the different ship classes. Otherwise not different to before.

 

[Niolator]

I happen to be flying a Python Mk1 but I did so before too and had no major problems scooping. I am going to have to check if I have mounted anything just in front of the cargo hatch but I dont think that is what is causing the problem. It is like my ship has become repulsive to cargo containers. I can approach the container at the slowest possible speed but when I get 30-40 meters from the container it starts to veer off and it is impossible to try to adjust for the veering. A faster approach is no more successful. I must be doing something wrong.

 

[Niolator]

I tested to play a little now before work and it works a lot better now. I managed to scoop up a few things but it still hard, I have to be extra careful. Maybe the extremely hard scooping was a glitch?

 

[Felix DiCestria]

I happen to be flying a Python Mk1 but I did so before too and had no major problems scooping. I am going to have to check if I have mounted anything just in front of the cargo hatch but I dont think that is what is causing the problem. It is like my ship has become repulsive to cargo containers. I can approach the container at the slowest possible speed but when I get 30-40 meters from the container it starts to veer off and it is impossible to try to adjust for the veering. A faster approach is no more successful. I must be doing something wrong.

Sounds like erroneous thruster input.
You could try visiting a HGE to get a feel for it, or try exhaling before the you get within 100m.

 

[Hugh Jardon]

I tested to play a little now before work and it works a lot better now. I managed to scoop up a few things but it still hard, I have to be extra careful. Maybe the extremely hard scooping was a glitch?

It's always been difficult with a Python. Use a different ship or use limpets.

 

[Walter2]

Scooping became a lot easier after I upgraded my sticks.

 

[Stealthie]

Unless FDev have fixed the "transaction server" issue, that's probably what's causing problems.

It's the same as when limpets fail to deliver items into your cargo hold or when your SRV just bounces over things instead of collecting them.
Basically, any situation where you're "taking ownership" of an item can just fail to happen for a while, while the server has a think about it.

The same issue can also occur when manually scooping mat's/cargo.
The only difference is, of course, that the object bounces off your ship instead of being collected, thus causing it's destruction.

 

[DjVortex]

I assume you are using the graphic replacing the nav compass to scoop?

The only change I have noticed is that, perhaps because of the same reason as everything else that lags the game (such as jumps and drops taking an enormous amount of time), it may take a considerable amount of time before the game registers you having scooped an object. It may sometimes take literally 10-20 seconds between you having scooped the object and it appearing in your inventory. This never happened before, so I'm assuming it's caused by the same reason as eg. why some jumps are taking so long.

And during this wait you can't scoop anything else. You just have to wait. But you can see if you can scoop something else or not because of the text on top of the scooping graphic. You have to wait for it to disappear.