Docking computer for leaving station

I understand the position that Frontier doesn't want to make an outright autopilot. I've moved on from that. However, I feel like the docking computer is used to avoid hitting other NPCs while docking and avoid fines with some larger ships. Also so newer players can get into the stations.

What I'd like to see is if a user has a docking computer, have that computer (IF enabled) fly the ship out of the large stations. Much like the docking computer only works within X kilometers of the station, have the docking computer take off, and fly straight out of the bay say 4 Km and just stop there. Still complies with the no autopilot requirement but helps players make sure they exit the station safely.
 

Lestat

Banned
Having a docking computer exit out is not out of line. One thing I do tell new players is to use the Trainer on Elite Dangerous and practice docking and landing their ships.
 
To be clear I'm only really talking about the large sized stations that have that small entry way. Which isn't many, but it's a choke point that makes them the most difficult with larger ships. Outposts and planetary bases really shouldn't apply to this.
 
Wondering if anyone else has some input. I feel like this is only really needed for a single type of station since all the others have wide open spaces in which you can leave.
 
I think all ships should just have an in-built docking computer. Turned on for the new player.
We can command our ships to take off and orbit a planet, why not an in-built docking computer? :)
 

Lestat

Banned
I think all ships should just have an in-built docking computer. Turned on for the new player.
We can command our ships to take off and orbit a planet, why not an in-built docking computer? :)

How will you ever learn to dock?
 
I've been playing for years and have no problem docking or leaving the station. Until it comes to flying my Beluga Liner that is. I still manage to scrape the hull on egress from time to time and it is the only ship I use a docking computer for. I can certainly understand wanting the docking computer to automate the station exit on a bird this big ... or maybe delegating that task to an NPC crewmember.
 

Lestat

Banned
learn to fly, you mean?
You are going to learn how to fly no matter what. Everyone should learn how to dock. Even if they use docking computers. Because what if the docking computer fails. I think if they add a feature to launch

I start hunting traders. Hay give me your cargo or lose your Docking computer :p
 
How will you ever learn to dock?

Stations have auto-dock facilities listed. So for those that don't have it, you are forced to land by hand. My angle on this is to help the new player. Make it too hard, and they say F this game and move on. Might be easy for you, maybe not for others.
 
Last edited:
Making the letterbox bigger would be nice, some of those parcels are rather bulky after all.

This is really the only stations I would want this feature active for. On planetary stations you can just go up, the sky is the limit literally. Same with outposts and megaships. There is no choke point where ALL ships have to enter/exit.
 
I've been playing for years and have no problem docking or leaving the station. Until it comes to flying my Beluga Liner that is. I still manage to scrape the hull on egress from time to time and it is the only ship I use a docking computer for. I can certainly understand wanting the docking computer to automate the station exit on a bird this big ... or maybe delegating that task to an NPC crewmember.

It's not even totally about hitting things with big ships. The way frontier has designed the NPC pilots and the way the leave the station is they pull out and whoever is first leaves. Which is contrary to the voice in the stations saying "Make way for larger vessels". I'm flying a Type9 or Type10 or Anaconda and a Cobra just pulls out in front. Since I don't want fines I'd rather have the docking computer pull me out of the busy station a few KM and then just park and say it's completed.
 
It does my Aya Nappa in when I’m leaving a station and the controller says ‘high volume of traffic please make way for on coming traffic” WERE ALL ONCOMING or worse still is “make wayfor larger vessels” then some numpty NPC in a cobra clips my CUTTER and I get a message warning me of “careless flying”, he bloke the rules, I’m supposed to have the RIGHT OF WAY but the donut eating controller gets in my ear, it doesn’t make sense.
 
Wondering if anyone else has some input. I feel like this is only really needed for a single type of station since all the others have wide open spaces in which you can leave.

All stations have a mail-slot - Coriolis, Ocellus, Orbis and Asteroid. Only orbital outposts and planetary bases have not.


@OP There are visual cues to assist you in lining-up for exiting - helpful in large ships.

lixwVfm.jpg

You just need to get used to interpreting your sensor / radar display for NPC ships which for some reason cannot tell that you are there even though they can be pin-point-accurate with rail-guns elsewhere.

BTW I would have no objection to the D C also managing un-docking of our ships.
 
Last edited:

Lestat

Banned
Stations have auto-dock facilities listed. So for those that don't have it, you are forced to land by hand. My angle on this is to help the new player. Make it too hard, and they say F this game and move on. Might be easy for you, maybe not for others.

Making the letterbox bigger would be nice, some of those parcels are rather bulky after all.
Let start looking at people who are posting like you. Spacemanz first log in 04/03/2018 and Mere Mortal 01/03/2018. Have you tried any of video or tutorials frontier listed on the game? a few days flying dose does not make you an expert on docking. So instead of going it too hard why not start practicing the tutorials and watching videos instead of asking for docking computers.

It's not even totally about hitting things with big ships. The way frontier has designed the NPC pilots and the way the leave the station is they pull out and whoever is first leaves. Which is contrary to the voice in the stations saying "Make way for larger vessels". I'm flying a Type9 or Type10 or Anaconda and a Cobra just pulls out in front. Since I don't want fines I'd rather have the docking computer pull me out of the busy station a few KM and then just park and say it's completed.

It does my Aya Nappa in when I’m leaving a station and the controller says ‘high volume of traffic please make way for on coming traffic” WERE ALL ONCOMING or worse still is “make wayfor larger vessels” then some numpty NPC in a cobra clips my CUTTER and I get a message warning me of “careless flying”, he bloke the rules, I’m supposed to have the RIGHT OF WAY but the donut eating controller gets in my ear, it doesn’t make sense.
There a few trick for this.

1 Watch your Radar. You can watch the ship coming and going. You can see how many ships are flying in front of you.

2 Target each ship. Then you can target each ship and see if they are flying at you or not.

While using both Radar and targeting each ship. You get a basic idea of ship location if he facing at you or not.
 

Lestat

Banned
Really isn't this lazy, come on nobody needs to have auto take off and fly out of slot.

I don't mind the auto-launch or landing. But I want people to at least use tutorial and video to help when someone new starts a new game.
 
Back
Top Bottom