Even if you hate the Docking Computer...

[Imo]

I think Frontier itself did not like the idea of the docking device anymore. They probably only introduced it in Elite Dangerous because it was a real classic in the classic Elite games.

But this time, the docking computer became limited. Back in 1984 it was able to take over control 20 km away from starport. And it worked without that many issues as seen today!

 

[Darth Ender]

I have no idea what the heck you are talking about. Did you post in the correct forum or thread?

You have no idea what a bot is? Or that the docking computer is integral to the function of trade/etc bots?

Not sure what you don't understand.

The idea that the docking computer is an 'exploit' doesn't have to do with pilot skill or lack thereof, it has to do with the unintended consequences of its existence.

 

[GG7]

Beside the common jokes with friends using the docking computer, there is really nothing wrong in using it.

And based on the comments from Sarah in that other DC thread, it looks like the feature is getting a MAJOR BUFF in 2.4 that is going to make it much better at handling all of our ships. Now finally taking all the engineer upgrade aspects into account as well as being able to deal with high planetary gravity. Also some increases in the speed of the entire process from start to finish.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the increased docking speeds add to my already impressive times when I combine a manual approach into the docking bay with a hand off to the DC to plant the landing.

The other thing DC bashers need to get a clue about is that we ALL USE the Docking Computer! Even all you DC haters!

Every single time you recall your ship to pick you up on a planet, it is the DOCKING COMPUTER that is landing your ship.

Sarah's improvements should really help in these areas too by minimizing or eliminating current issues with ships landing badly, or failing to find a decent place to put down. (Although personally, I have never had a problem with this with any of my own ships)

 

[GG7]

I think Frontier itself did not like the idea of the docking device anymore. They probably only introduced it in Elite Dangerous because it was a real classic in the classic Elite games.

Wrong...

They have totally revamped the DC for 2.4. Hardly a move from a developer that doesn't care about a feature.

See my full post on this above. ^^

 

[Ebel]

Careful. One day that DC will turn round and bite you in the bum. I wouldn't take my eyes off it for a second or you'll find yourself wedged in the toast rack with all the station guns trained on you.

Yep; don't trust it.

I really do like the DC but quickly got tired of it lawn darting me after it hits the boost in my Cutter and hitting the face of the station just above or below the toaster. When not paying attention (doing other things that in fact does save some time if one has the DC) it attempted to enter a Coriolis station from the wrong end. Busy doing other thing and the next thing I know my ship is rattling around between the walls shields down and hull following fast. Barely got out of that one with any hull left. Needless to say, the DC is banished from my ships until such time as its many and demonstrable reprehensible behaviors are reported as and proven as cured. I like it but I like my ship more.

On another note, since when does a DC take a huge cargo space? Why is this tech not just "built into the system" or a firmware upgrade to your ship when you can afford it? My PC fits under my arm and it's doing the flying now right? What, did they go back to vacuum tubes in 3300? By the behavior I might guess so.

 

[MarkAusten]

You have no idea what a bot is? Or that the docking computer is integral to the function of trade/etc bots?

Not sure what you don't understand.

The idea that the docking computer is an 'exploit' doesn't have to do with pilot skill or lack thereof, it has to do with the unintended consequences of its existence.

I am fully aware of what a bot is, both the mechanism and usage, but I still fail to understand what your point is or if you really understand what you are talking about. If a bot uses the DC in order to further its purpose the exploit in not the DC but the bot and the use of the bot. The DC and all the other things the bot utilises, are just the tools with which the bot achieves its purpose. You might just as well say that the entire game is an exploit as it furthers the effectiveness of a bot.

Total nonsense.

And your flimsy and totally incorrect supposition is totally off-topic. Hence my prior post.

 

[Ebel]

DC is essential, it can combine forward thrust, boost, sidethrust, up-down thrust, rudder, climb/dive and roll at once but I can't so is faster than I can dock.

It is not essential, just convenient. Hence my use of a hotas setup and VA and landing without its use. If essential, we wouldn't be able to land without it. I am faster than the DC and have never Lawn darted my ship anywhere, but it does take attention. And the "waiting in queue" makes me hit the throttle and take'er in myself anyway. More power to Cmdrs if they have good luck with it. Still shouldn't take a whole slot though.

I remember one post of a Cmdr recalling his ship and the DC darting his Anaconda into the surface right in front of him. Pretty funny video he shared. Nose in and the toppled and rolled like a felled tree. Someone might find and link that little beauty. In the mean time here is a link to one of the funnier DC vid's. Fly safe Cmdr's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC2n2_qDXCg

 

[Ebel]

I don't have separate gas pedal/HOTAS stick, just an MS Sidewinder Force Feedback 2. So it is essential, I can dock manually, but it's wayyy slower and more delicate.

Yeah, I get that. It was essential in 1984 on the C64. That was nightmarish. Combat must be a bit tough also with somewhat limited control. I have the warthog setup with peddles now. Teamed up with Voice Attack you're all set. Warthog is nice upgrade when one can part with the bucks. Had the x52 prior to the warthog. Nice setup at not too outrageous a price. Voice Attack is really affordable (about $10 us last I knew of) and makes too much difference to not own. Of course headset with mic is extra. I would like the DC to be something I can easily hit a key (or VA that is) and toggle on/off quickly. Could set up VA to do it I suppose but then I would have to give that slot up again. Once you get used to filling it with other things it is hard to give back.

When it's proven reliable and is moved from taking up one of my slots (or shares a slot) I'll put it right back in.

 

[Darth Ender]

I am fully aware of what a bot is, both the mechanism and usage, but I still fail to understand what your point is or if you really understand what you are talking about. If a bot uses the DC in order to further its purpose the exploit in not the DC but the bot and the use of the bot. The DC and all the other things the bot utilises, are just the tools with which the bot achieves its purpose. You might just as well say that the entire game is an exploit as it furthers the effectiveness of a bot.

Total nonsense.

And your flimsy and totally incorrect supposition is totally off-topic. Once my prior post.

No, because the docking computer can be removed and it doesn't impact the ability to play the game at all. However, its existence allows bots to operate in a level of autonomy that would be impossible without it.

Removing it or designing it in a way that is unscriptable to activate is preferable than allowing it to continue to exist.

If anything is done to it in 2.4, making it not a central tool for cheating should be a primary concern

 

[Ebel]

P.S.

The only way that Fdev knows what is up and problems that the community have is through these posts and bug reports. Contrary to popular sentiment Fdev does read these things and get a clue about what is up. I will admit it might be nice if they chirped up a bit more often so we were more aware of their notice of issues. Perhaps less angst would be generated that way.

 

[MarkAusten]

No, because the docking computer can be removed and it doesn't impact the ability to play the game at all. However, its existence allows bots to operate in a level of autonomy that would be impossible without it.

Removing it or designing it in a way that is unscriptable to activate is preferable than allowing it to continue to exist.

If anything is done to it in 2.4, making it not a central tool for cheating should be a primary concern

Take that to its logical conclusion and you then have to remove anything in the game that can assist a both. Anything in the game can be used by a bot. Flight Assist? Could help a bot so remove it. Comms? Could helps a bot so remove it. Turrets? Could help a bot so remove them. Storing parts of the game in memory? Can be used by a bot so removed that and bingo, you don't have a game anymore.

Again, the exploit is the bot and the use of the bot not the tools that it uses.

Your argument is still nonsense.

 

[Darth Ender]

A docking computer is not even remotely as useful to play the game as things such as flight assist or rotational correction, etc. What you are making is a straw man argument, and not even a good one.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Ok, a few things...

1. The bit about the DC "exploit" is me being facetious, because it's a sort of rally-cry around there that people love to throw around.
2. I have made thousands of DC-assisted landing in my Type-9, and never had a problem. That said however...
[video=youtube;QTwMNwx7iqM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTwMNwx7iqM[/video]

... I have seen the DC screw things up first hand. Never to any disasterous consequence, but still, it shouldn't do things like that either.

3. My approach to both of these stations is not ideal - approaching both from opposite of the mail slot, which would further shorten the process, if it were're for the increased time it would take to supercruise around to make a better approach.

 

[CptXabaras]

And based on the comments from Sarah in that other DC thread, it looks like the feature is getting a MAJOR BUFF in 2.4 that is going to make it much better at handling all of our ships. Now finally taking all the engineer upgrade aspects into account as well as being able to deal with high planetary gravity. Also some increases in the speed of the entire process from start to finish.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the increased docking speeds add to my already impressive times when I combine a manual approach into the docking bay with a hand off to the DC to plant the landing.

The other thing DC bashers need to get a clue about is that we ALL USE the Docking Computer! Even all you DC haters!

Every single time you recall your ship to pick you up on a planet, it is the DOCKING COMPUTER that is landing your ship.

Sarah's improvements should really help in these areas too by minimizing or eliminating current issues with ships landing badly, or failing to find a decent place to put down. (Although personally, I have never had a problem with this with any of my own ships)

OH as an added value to the DC, people should try it while in VR and standing on the bridge of your ship, looking out of the windows. That's an amazing VR experience imho.

 

[ChiefRedCloud]

I don't own but 4 ships and none have a DC. No queue delay.

If you engage a D.C. And then find yourself in a queue just throttle up and thus temporarily disengaging the D.C. And then once through the slot, simply throttle back to zero to have the D.C. take over once more.

But I suspect you know this. Others may not though.

Chief

 

[GG7]

OH as an added value to the DC, people should try it while in VR and standing on the bridge of your ship, looking out of the windows. That's an amazing VR experience imho.

I don't doubt it.. But you also must remember, 99% of the haters have never used the DC. They base all their misinformation about the feature on from other haters who have also never used it.

Credibility = 0

Which is why I ignore the majority of their posts on this topic.

 

[GG7]

Indeed I've done this myself when in a hurry Found it by accident.

This is basically the core technique behind the "hybrid" approach and landing technique, where you fly the first two thirds of the approach/landing manually, and then hand off to the DC once inside the docking bay and/or in front of your pad, thus cutting a respectable amount of time off a full manual landing.

Even more time savings involved at Outposts and Planetary Bases.

This is how I dock when I'm in a hurry to get the ship down.

This is likely to improve even more with the 2.4 DC upgrades.

 

[Ebel]

I used to use the DC almost exclusively on my smaller ships. The only one I have had problems with (like it really is a small ship) is the Python. After 2.1 it gets in just fine but if you have a pad toward the back of a particular type of Coriolis (inside red and dark) there is a spire that it will hit just about every time on the way (I think it's pad 40?). Don't remember for sure but I have even gotten stuck on it and had to wrest it free by hand. Really bad behavior started in the Anaconda (darting and paint scraping) and got really bad with the iCutter. I think it was my Viper that it "landed" at the wrong end of a Coriolis when I wasn't paying attention. I really would like it fixed, promised that it is fixed, and if it caused you to end up at a rebuy screen it should be free and your NPC lived through it. After that, I'll find room again.

Kinda like these "self driving cars" they are talking about. If it's in control, why should I carry the insurance for the manufacturer?

 

[avow555]

Should really be standard kit on all ships.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

If you engage a D.C. And then find yourself in a queue just throttle up and thus temporarily disengaging the D.C. And then once through the slot, simply throttle back to zero to have the D.C. take over once more.

But I suspect you know this. Others may not though.

Chief

Don't even need to disengage it or turn it off, just throttle up manually. I do this when smuggling in my Type-9, and I can boost my way all the way through the toast rack, then cut throttle and let the DC take care of finding the pad and putting me down safely.