Newcomer / Intro Docking for newbies is a nightmare (dev's U need to do something)

[badtrip]

Sometimes docking can be extreamly easy but for sometimes it becomes extreamly difficult!
I have no problems with docking manually actually i believe the reason is my Jostick!
I cant control the thrust properly. i push too hard unintentionally then the ship goes too fast forward while docking, im off the course, then i try to go backwards the forward...

Its really not easy on my Logitech Freedom.
The thrust is so small switch, and theres no center on it. You simply cant find where the 0 is..

 

[Elprez]

The in-game docking tutorial - have you done it?

Ha, funny story.....I had no idea about the rotational correction switch. Have you tried docking with it turned off? Talk about frustrating. The station turning and me trying to line up . I was just about to give up until I realized my mistake. Rotational correction makes it much easier.

 

[Surly_Badger]

Normally when someone posts a thread like "it's too hard, Elite needs to be fixed" I reply "maybe this game is not for you." But in this case I think maybe gaming is not for you.

 

[lolanon]

Compared to the original this is a doddle.

 

[Konspiratsia]

Docking in this is a LOt easier practise on tutorial until you get it right
I set the numberpad up as follows
8 thrust forward
4 thrust left
6 thrust right
2 thrust backwards
other keys
r = thrust vertically up
f= thrust vertically down

 

[Rude Tune]

A docking computer is a waste of credits because docking is really easy and faster without automation. As others have posted, go to training and practice. Make sure you use your up, down, right and left thrusters and next thing you know you will be a pro at it!

 

[Ancipital]

For us older guys who played Elite back in the day we now don't have days on end to practise mundane stuff like this, we have lifes and families and can pick the game up for a few hours at most.

It looks such a great game and it's such a shame so please change this, thanks.

Eh? Like most people, I managed to dock first time, even before there was a docking tutorial. If anything you have more clearance with the starter ships than you had in the original Elite, when you were bringing in a Cobra MK 3. Sure, by the time you're flying something monstrous like a Lakon Type 9 freighter, you should put full pips to shields and line up neatly, but seriously... it's still not rocket surgery. The rotational correction (on by default) makes it a total walk in the park.

If you're having trouble, maybe you don't understand the controls properly, or aren't on top of your control setup. Even with relatively large ships, most people can dock at a fair speed now, and bring the ship down smoothly and quickly. Yes, you have to understand how to move with six degrees of freedom, and have your controls... under control- but there is a docking tutorial now, that you can use to practise.

However, I am at a loss how you could fail at all, after five minutes familiarising yourself with the controls. Your first couple of docking manoeuvres may be slow and clumsy, but they shouldn't be difficult and certainly not fail, if you have the requisite attention span to pay attention to what you're doing. I don't know- maybe frustration is making you overly dramatic and defeatist, and you secretly can do this in your sleep, once you have calmed down?

 

[Pogo]

I got no problem docking, but all my ships have docking computers. I need to have a wee-wee and check my e-mail.

 

[Anton_]

... dont bother us

That's a bit harsh. We were all new once, and it comes easier to some than to others.

But OP, docking in ED is much, much easier (and more satisfying) than in Elite84. Using a reasonably good joystick setup makes it really intuitive.

 

[vtecfan]

Docking computer available

I played Elite years ago and docking without the auto docking was a nightmare.

This version is worse. If you are a newbie like me it's frustrating to the point i just can not be bothered after spending 6 hours going back and forth getting to a new station and trying to land. It is and will drive your customers away. The game is supposed to fun, not about spending a day or more trying to learn how to do this. Landing your ship should be reasonbably easy, make the combat hard, but something as basic as this for a game should be 10 times easier at least.

For us older guys who played Elite back in the day we now don't have days on end to practise mundane stuff like this, we have lifes and families and can pick the game up for a few hours at most.

It looks such a great game and it's such a shame so please change this, thanks.

Seriously I'm a pensioner and using an X52 pro docking at stations and on outposts is easy.
Tons of video help out there and just take it slowly and know your up/down thruster controls

No way should this be made easier.
Buy the docking computer if all else fails.

 

[Maynard46]

i have no issues with docking. i never found it to be difficult. the only tricky part is when you are at a pad right at the entrance. but its not like it cant be handled.

 

[Elprez]

I played Elite years ago and docking without the auto docking was a nightmare.

This version is worse. If you are a newbie like me it's frustrating to the point i just can not be bothered after spending 6 hours going back and forth getting to a new station and trying to land. It is and will drive your customers away. The game is supposed to fun, not about spending a day or more trying to learn how to do this. Landing your ship should be reasonbably easy, make the combat hard, but something as basic as this for a game should be 10 times easier at least.

For us older guys who played Elite back in the day we now don't have days on end to practise mundane stuff like this, we have lifes and families and can pick the game up for a few hours at most.

It looks such a great game and it's such a shame so please change this, thanks.

Make sure you activate rotational correction. I didn't and I was getting ready to give up.

 

[Verz]

Let me rewind to this OPs first post. Dude, re-do your training missions. I had a bump, a tumble and flip and got thrown around. But now, i'm sailing into docks. In a matter of hours. It is not difficult. Get out into space and just fly in local space mate. Really it's not that hard. Just practice...keep going my friend : ) Request dock, launch back out....fly away, turn around, request dock again...rinse and repeat until you have it under your belt. You'll get it ^^

 

[Himmel Tropf]

approach from chevron side of pad and allign to chevron. Deploy landing gear above platform, throttle to zero. Maneuver with thrusters by dabbing them not locking them. Provide minor forward/reverse thrust to align. land.
seemples

 

[Lord Tareq]

After reading some reviews of Elite and watching some video's, I was quite frightened of landing on (and taking off from) starbases. However it turned out to be fine for me. The first time I couldn't really figure out how to land as my ship was apparently facing the wrong way (and they probably should have a painted arrow or something on the landing pads to show the direction you should be facing) but after I figured that out plus noticed the small radar that appears when you get close enough and shows the position of your ship relative to the landing pad, it became quite easy. The rotating entrance? I just take it slow.

 

[Hammerheart]

This version is worse. If you are a newbie like me it's frustrating to the point i just can not be bothered after spending 6 hours going back and forth getting to a new station and trying to land. It is and will drive your customers away. The game is supposed to fun,

This is fun!
This is what attracket people to the previous games - realistic physics. This game was not a simple shooter like Wing Commander...
This is one of the things what made Elite to stand out from the crowd.

 

[Ellen_K]

Only played for a week or so, and define myself as a newbie. Only took me a few tries to get the hang of it. Most difficult was understanding that you need to face a certain direction, which I learned from the forums. Otherwise, the training missions are good, though I only did that one once. Only chrashed once, by accidently hitting the boost on my way in and slammed in to the wall (nothing to do with the docking itself, could have been a planet). Got fined twice as well while loitering around and looking for my pad. No big deals. I guess you should spend some more time in the training missions.

Edit: wow, this thread and OP:s question was old...

 

[Schattenbogen]

Make sure you activate rotational correction. I didn't and I was getting ready to give up.

Landing in ED is far more easy than in original Elite, IF you have rotational correction activated.
Withou this t, it's more as in original : you want a docking computer as fast as possible.

 

[nats]

Lol wait until you have to land on planets and moons with varying gravity if you think it is difficult in zero G! I find docking one of the more enjoyable parts of the game, same for the planet landing in the other games. Anywhere you can use some skill is good for me so the combat and interdiction is also fun. The rest of the game needs some work mind!

Best advice for docking (and combat) is to set some of your joystick keys to up down left and right thrust so you can use those to lower yourself down onto the pad correctly (also for turning faster/barrel rolling in combat). You dont need the reverse thrust so much so I have that left on the keyboard (probably would be useful to make ships overtake you in combat though - a useful way of getting onto their tail).

 

[katheb]

There is a docking tutorial in game, there are docking tutorial videos.

I don't see what the problem is? If after you learn how to do it still don't like docking there is a docking computer provided for you.

Good luck.