Docking stations

[moorison]

See, that's how it should/could work in my head.

Systems/Sectors would have a "Main Trade Hub" which'd be where the large ships dock, at which point NPCs or players could distribute cargo between the dock and the other stations in the region.
These "Trade Hubs" would, of course, likely become a hotspot for piracy and "emergent gameplay" so docking a large ship safely might become a Squadron operation, where the large ship would need a combat escort and cargo haulers in order to unload quickly, without incident.

I know that there are now some in-system missions in the game (or at least, depending on invading factions or visiting megaships, the generated targets happen to be in the same system), but I would like to see more of those.

 

[Crank Larson]

Yes but all of them fall into the same "shape category".

That's because there are a limited number of shapes that are symmetrical and can spin. Outposts don't have this limitation, and there are quite a few different configurations there.

Edit: I should clarify... Obviously you could spin pretty much any object, but as the spinning of space stations is to simulate gravity then for the comfort of those inside they can only be certain shapes.

 

[moorison]

It's all part of the plan, I say.
If we get the Panther but no one except a few select godlike pilots is able to get it out of the station, it will be an outcry.
So we get the ADC in advance, people are making an outcry already, but eventually will get to wrap their minds around it.
Then we get the Panther, but it will not dock/undock unless you have an ADC. See, the plot unfolded.

takes off the tinfoil hat

Well, people have issues leaving the station in the very large ships (like Beluga), I wouldn't say that the only motivation for an advanced docking computer has to be an even larger ship to be available.

 

[moorison]

That's because there are a limited number of shapes that are symmetrical and can spin. Outposts don't have this limitation, and there are quite a few different configurations there.

Edit: I should clarify... Obviously you could spin pretty much any object, but as the spinning of space stations is to simulate gravity then for the comfort of those inside they can only be certain shapes.

And the classic shape of the Coriolis isn't even optimal for this purpose.

 

[Crank Larson]

And the classic shape of the Coriolis isn't even optimal for this purpose.

Now you mention it, that's a very good point. But we couldn't lose them - they are what started Elite!

 

[Rudal]

Now you mention it, that's a very good point. But we couldn't lose them - they are what started Elite!

No one is saying about loosing them.
This is so iconic that can't be gone.

 

[moorison]

No one is saying about loosing them.
This is so iconic that can't be gone.

But there were other classic shapes, a dodecahedron for example.

Or what about larger O'Neill cylinders?

 

[Rudal]

But there were other classic shapes, a dodecahedron for example.

Or what about larger O'Neill cylinders?

Even more reasons to add more station types.

 

[RolloTreadway]

Remember (if you're an oldbie) the Lynx bulk carriers that hung around the outside of stations like interplanetary toilet brushes? Maybe that's the future, huge ships just sitting there, presumably with smaller shuttles going back and forth.