Docking Computer - Undock

Namshub

N
Well this is personally from a selfish reason. Just bought an Anaconda and proceeded to fly out of the space station manually. And Didn't! :( - Boom - wiped out by security lasers for failing to clear the space station. Obviously trying to fly this ship initially out of a station is very expensive. Now to my point....

If we have a docking computer to help us dock, why isn't there a feature to auto undock, at which point at a safe space from outside the station you are returned to manual flight?

I know a docking computer is a contentious issue with some, but as people have mentioned, the slot is just not big enough (well it is obviously) and just added stress to an enjoyable game whens struggling to dock/undock in large ships.
 

MBaldelli

MBaldelli
Stand in line... You're not the only person that's asked for this and it's not selfish... You're the third this week, and tenth I've seen in three. But I've said it once, I'll say it again....

While it's a good idea, I'm more concerned about the schizophrenic AIs that seem to be hell-bent on turning Orcas, Belugas and Type 9s in mad cows stampeding in and out of the stations. With that in mind, I'd hate to think you using an un-docking computer and thinking "oh, I'll be safe to leave the station.." and then WHAM! a Type 9 decided to make your day painful to the bank account. .

Until the NPC AI issues and the landing computer can be worked out to be closer to 100% safer, I think it's actually safer if you do all the docking and undocking.

Oh and don't be fooled by the size of the mail slot. Our perception of it from the cockpit is terribly skewed. Having been to the back of the station, I have seen a Federal Corvette coming in and an Anaconda leaving and both had enough space between them and the walls of the mail slot that the paint wasn't even scraped. Commander (player) impatience is the cause for more damage and destruction as they don't have the patience to work out distances properly and think 9 minutes to land is too short a time.
 

V'larr

V'larr
Just take it slow next time, don't forget to retract your landing gear, and stay below 100 around other ships.

The blindly stampeding AI does need attention from Fdev, though.
 

Teh Smoo

T
Remember: if you get stuck in a space station, NOTHING IS FIRING AT YOU FOR A WHILE. LOG OUT.

There is no delay, because no ships are engaging you in combat. If you log, it's instant, and you'll log back in near the station. I did this once, when I think that I managed to snag a Hauler/Adder in my Cutters wing on the way in, because as I docked, it went nuts. So, I relogged, and reappeared near the station to try again. It's hardly combat logging, the docking is mostly stupidly designed because it's the design from the original Elite games.
 

Alexandr

A
I agree. We pay a slot for docking computer - it should repay us with a full service. Actually the docking computer should be integrated to ship's computer to be launche whenever it is necessary.
Chur
 

Namshub

N
Thanks for the updates... very Funny..

Yep i think it was the landing gear that got me, managed it last night, bit of a beast to fly. Just need the practice, just bloody expensive if you get it wrong. Not to mention a NPC flew straight across me as i was exiting the station, and i got fined for dangerous flying... go figure... :D

I'm off again though in my ASP Explorer, to rake in a load of credits exploring the spiral arm. I can then try again to my hearts content without fear of burning through my credits. Especially as i want to try for the Beluga as well.
 

juddadredd

J
Totally agree Undock would be great if it could be implemented correctly.

But I'm just glad that the Auto pilot isn't jigging around anymore when I dock as I use a Rift so that used to make me feel sick.
 

MBaldelli

MBaldelli
Teh Smoo said:
Remember: if you get stuck in a space station, NOTHING IS FIRING AT YOU FOR A WHILE. LOG OUT.

There is no delay, because no ships are engaging you in combat. If you log, it's instant, and you'll log back in near the station. I did this once, when I think that I managed to snag a Hauler/Adder in my Cutters wing on the way in, because as I docked, it went nuts. So, I relogged, and reappeared near the station to try again. It's hardly combat logging, the docking is mostly stupidly designed because it's the design from the original Elite games.
Click to expand...

+1 this.

I remember when I swapped from a Logitech Extreme 3D to a Thrustmaster T1600m, I didn't realize that the keyboard was all but disabled on this. I had no idea where the keybindings were and didn't realize I would be hunting for them in the control panel of the game. Logged out, went to read on the controls, logged back in. Found my ship on the outside of the station.

As long as it's not combat logging, this is a good method until you work out how to aim through the mail slot.
 

ctbram

C
have you seen a baluga coming in the mail slot? It looks like it has mm's of clearance. Serisouly, I would not buy a beluga out of simple fear of not getting it out of the station. BTW I don't seem to have any problem getting in the station with any ship. But for some reason getting out has always been dicy for me in a big ship like a conda.
 
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sandkid

S
In my own opinion, the only ship that actually 'fills' the mail slot in any dangerous way is the Beluga Liner. If you can stand to hear the proximity sensors screaming at you, pick up landing gear and you should be fine. The real danger, as already mentioned several times in this thread and quite literally hundreds of times in others, are the AI pilots.

Even then, except for exceedingly busy stations - patience pays. If you're docking, be mindful of the radar and it will tip you off to exiting traffic. I rarely have docking issues though - undocking is where the AI invariably flys in. That is, in large part, due to the fact a player is present - the server begins loading AI into the station at a higher rate when you're there. So warp-in tends to see you with little traffic beyond station defenses...but a few minutes later, traffic heightens and complicates departure.

For large ships, I recommend aligning to the slot and hovering above or below it - you'll find below it is better for field of view purposes. Check the radar for any signatures directly in front of the station and look for the easy-to-spot orange target diamonds. If you see any, you've probably got incoming. Hang out below the mail slot so they can get in past you...five minutes is plenty of time to depart.
 
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