Docking and Stations: A small logical issue

[Lazerus Artificial]

One thing that i could not understand so far.
Each and every station has one "Mailslot" for docking and undocking.
And it is causing chaos and havoc.

The Slot is so small, that only one decent ship can pass through at any given time.
Thats illogical.
Why would someone design such a thing in the future?
A "Street" with just one line but without rules?
There is no order when you dock or undock.
No Indicator on how many ships are incoming or flying out
No waiting-line to create that order
Its just "press docking or undocking and hope that there is no type 9 hidden in the shadows"

The docking computer allready shows such a thing "waiting in line" or so.

I mean...i dont know how many haulers and sidewinders i have smashed into the station with my cobra, because i could not see them docking or undocking. How many times have i pressed Alt+F4 because a Type 9 decided to push me back into the station...


So, the suggestion would be a small design change.
Either add a second Mailslot and treat them like one-way streets, or add a waiting-line feature.
Undocking ships need priority, only if that line is empty, ships can dock. A docking ship has a whole lot of space to wait, while an undocking ship has just the space inside the station. So the docking ships want the space that the undocking ships still use.

 

[GJ51]

The mail slot is way larger than it looks from the pilot's chair. Anything smaller than a Cobra can actually go through the narrow channels on the ends perpendicular to the slot.

I've actually squeezed past an L-9 in a Python. Not easy or recommended, but certainly possible. Patience, timing, and learning to watch the radar screen are the keys to safe transit through the slot. It's not as difficult as it seems when you're first learning how. Experience is the best teacher.

 

[Lazerus Artificial]

The mail slot is way larger than it looks from the pilot's chair. Anything smaller than a Cobra can actually go through the narrow channels on the ends perpendicular to the slot.

I've actually squeezed past an L-9 in a Python. Not easy or recommended, but certainly possible. Patience, timing, and learning to watch the radar screen are the keys to safe transit through the slot. It's not as difficult as it seems when you're first learning how. Experience is the best teacher.

still its a very illogical design that would normally not exist.

 

[Anni Bonney]

ilogical but fun...
I like to dock undock FA: Off just for the sake of it. Rarely I have to wait some 20 secs before I pass through. Ocasional bumps, nothing too serius.


"Always mind your surroundings" (it should be on the back of your brain by now)

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

There are two lanes unless something the size of a Clipper or T9 appears (Yes, even the mighty 'Conda follows these rules now). Look for the green/red lights on the ends of the safety rails on the outside of the station, and besides the slot on this inside, they are green and red. Green is the side you should travel through, and red is the side you SHOULDN'T travel through. If there is a slot-filling ship, just wait a minute, you have 5 minutes to leave and 10 minutes to enter

 

[icewyrm]

It's like someone built a huge opulent mansion and then forgot to put in any entries or exits except for Mr. Fluffys cat door.

Having said that, the cat door at one of my old houses was big enough that I could squeeze through it if I forgot my keys...

 

[Lazerus Artificial]

There are two lanes unless something the size of a Clipper or T9 appears (Yes, even the mighty 'Conda follows these rules now). Look for the green/red lights on the ends of the safety rails on the outside of the station, and besides the slot on this inside, they are green and red. Green is the side you should travel through, and red is the side you SHOULDN'T travel through. If there is a slot-fillinf ship, just wait a minute, you have 5 minutes to leave and 10 minutes to enter

Docking Computer flies right through the middle, also all the AI ships are perfectly centered.
Or is that changed in 1.2?

also:
if that would be the "rule"...why do the arrows on both sides point into the station, but none out of it??
Why are the lights on the inside of the station the same color as on the outside?
Based on these visual things, there is no side for "in and out", only in.

 

[icewyrm]

Docking Computer flies right through the middle, also all the AI ships are perfectly centered.
Or is that changed in 1.2?

also:
if that would be the "rule"...why do the arrows on both sides point into the station, but none out of it??
Why are the lights on the inside of the station the same color as on the outside?
Based on these visual things, there is no side for "in and out", only in.

Last thing I remember, I was
Boosting for the slot
I had to map the return trip
To the place I'd parked my space yacht
"Relax, " said the station,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can undock any time you like,
But you can never leave!

 

[Negative Entropy]

I take great pleasure from pushing cobras back in when they try to leave, please don't take that away.

using ALT-F4 to escape from this situation is a bit like combat-logging. despicable!

 

[Dizzy B High]

One thing that i could not understand so far.
Each and every station has one "Mailslot" for docking and undocking.
And it is causing chaos and havoc.

The Slot is so small, that only one decent ship can pass through at any given time.
Thats illogical.
Why would someone design such a thing in the future?
A "Street" with just one line but without rules?
There is no order when you dock or undock.
No Indicator on how many ships are incoming or flying out
No waiting-line to create that order
Its just "press docking or undocking and hope that there is no type 9 hidden in the shadows"

The docking computer allready shows such a thing "waiting in line" or so.

I mean...i dont know how many haulers and sidewinders i have smashed into the station with my cobra, because i could not see them docking or undocking. How many times have i pressed Alt+F4 because a Type 9 decided to push me back into the station...


So, the suggestion would be a small design change.
Either add a second Mailslot and treat them like one-way streets, or add a waiting-line feature.
Undocking ships need priority, only if that line is empty, ships can dock. A docking ship has a whole lot of space to wait, while an undocking ship has just the space inside the station. So the docking ships want the space that the undocking ships still use.

Yeah 2 slots 1 for entry 1 for exit would be much better.
I believe there is only 1 slot is due to the physics, if you have 2 gaping holes either end, the structure is a lot less strong. I read that on the forums from a dev during the beta phase, though i can't remember what post it was in. (if someone knows remembers where feel free to point me in the right place).

 

[Magic Man]

Nothing wrong with the design given that of the rest of the station. Just like harbours and ports.

People just want to be able to race in and out without paying due care and attention.

The red/green is for orientation only currently. Any 'lanes' are purely commander convention at the moment.