Even if you hate the Docking Computer...

[Aashenfox]

It's certainly a legitimate question since the answer to your "struggle" is that not everyone plays the way you do. To you 2T of cargo space is preferable to a docking computer. To others the docking computer is preferable to 2T of cargo. If you try to rationalise the use of a docking computer from your point of view then you would struggle to understand why others do it. However, the problem is not the use of the docking computer but your trying to rationalise it from your point of view.

So, as for you leading a simple life, then I presume that you also do not use shields, planetary hanger or anything else that would take up your cargo space? After all, they are not strictly necessary either.

Although in my case, shields are essential.

I'm a terrible min-maxer, that's my problem. It would hit me square in my OCD to have the docking computer take up a slot when I CAN land manually, even if I was terrible at landing, my personality still would not let me waste a slot on it.

I too use shields, not because I bounce of stuff, though I do sometimes, mainly because I feel naked without one for some reason. Probably a deep insecurity thing, where's my 500mj blankie!?

Having said that, I have a contradiction for you too, I use collector limpets in my combat ships, for collecting the mats afterwards. This is a quality of life and immersion thing, really, as I find it ridiculous to have to run over 15 cargo items at 30mps one after the other. Plus I name my limpets (they're all called cargo-bob). I thank them when they bring me something nice, I scold them when they bring me worn shield emitters and I cry when they die.

 

[MarkAusten]

I'm a terrible min-maxer, that's my problem. It would hit me square in my OCD to have the docking computer take up a slot when I CAN land manually, even if I was terrible at landing, my personality still would not let me waste a slot on it.

I too use shields, not because I bounce of stuff, though I do sometimes, mainly because I feel naked without one for some reason. Probably a deep insecurity thing, where's my 500mj blankie!?

Having said that, I have a contradiction for you too, I use collector limpets in my combat ships, for collecting the mats afterwards. This is a quality of life and immersion thing, really, as I find it ridiculous to have to run over 15 cargo items at 30mps one after the other. Plus I name my limpets (they're all called cargo-bob). I thank them when they bring me something nice, I scold them when they bring me worn shield emitters and I cry when they die.

Well played, Sir, I applaud your play style

 

[furrycat]

So, now I have two opinions, both of which espouse opposing views but neither give hard data on the subject. So I choose to believe neither of you. Sorry, it's the engineer training. Neither of you is presumed to be correct until hard data is available.

Launching from the pad is quicker. It takes just under ten seconds to descend partway, turn around and come back. Going all the way into the hangar is a lot slower. You have to descend further - at the same rate - and then shift back into the hangar before travelling - again further - all the way back.

Almost any Buckyball video will show a launch from the pad at each waypoint. Here's one, set to play from 6m21s: https://youtu.be/ubW-xaK_abM?t=381

And here's one which isn't quite the same as an enter and return. We did a race where you had to swap ships partway through. Here's me swapping into the second ship at 4m54s: https://youtu.be/Ie7kqk_hunM?t=294

The animation that plays when you swap ships isn't consistent but you can see that it's over thirty seconds from somewhere in the hangar to the surface. It's reasonable to assert that entering the hangar and returning takes no less time than that, and certainly more than ten seconds; trivially verifiable with a stopwatch.

Now for traders who for whatever reason - RSI, crappy controller, plain old age - can't operate the menu UI so quickly, it may be quicker to enter the hangar, sell cargo on the way down, return and either buy the return cargo and/or plot a route on the way back up. Then launch immediately. I'd be surprised, however, if anyone sharp enough on the controls to do half their UI work during the descending animation weren't actually quick enough to do it all sitting on the pad and save time overall.

 

[MarkAusten]

Launching from the pad is quicker. It takes just under ten seconds to descend partway, turn around and come back. Going all the way into the hangar is a lot slower. You have to descend further - at the same rate - and then shift back into the hangar before travelling - again further - all the way back.

Almost any Buckyball video will show a launch from the pad at each waypoint. Here's one, set to play from 6m21s: https://youtu.be/ubW-xaK_abM?t=381

And here's one which isn't quite the same as an enter and return. We did a race where you had to swap ships partway through. Here's me swapping into the second ship at 4m54s: https://youtu.be/Ie7kqk_hunM?t=294

The animation that plays when you swap ships isn't consistent but you can see that it's over thirty seconds from somewhere in the hangar to the surface. It's reasonable to assert that entering the hangar and returning takes no less time than that, and certainly more than ten seconds; trivially verifiable with a stopwatch.

Now for traders who for whatever reason - RSI, crappy controller, plain old age - can't operate the menu UI so quickly, it may be quicker to enter the hangar, sell cargo on the way down, return and either buy the return cargo and/or plot a route on the way back up. Then launch immediately. I'd be surprised, however, if anyone sharp enough on the controls to do half their UI work during the descending animation weren't actually quick enough to do it all sitting on the pad and save time overall.

So, looking at the two videos, I see 10 seconds to launch from the pad and 13 seconds to launch from the hanger. That's cleared that one up. Many thanks.

 

[Spacecat]

I'm a terrible min-maxer, that's my problem. It would hit me square in my OCD to have the docking computer take up a slot when I CAN land manually, even if I was terrible at landing, my personality still would not let me waste a slot on it.

Having said that, I have a contradiction for you too, I use collector limpets in my combat ships....

Lol, I tried limpets, but went back to scooping once I realized most mats you get from combat are useless.

 

[Dark-War-Greymon]

I love a docking computer! I haven't tried it online so not sure how it is landing with other players.
But on solo, tearing through an air lock then pulling the brakes and landing with it makes things quick and easy, especially when you're back and forth between stations constantly doing passenger missions etc. (What can I say, I'm lazy) I'm pretty good without it but does take longer. I don't like using it outside a station. However the coriolis stations are a pain trying to find the air lock so it's very useful there too.

 

[DHMeyer]

I love a docking computer! I haven't tried it online so not sure how it is landing with other players.
But on solo, tearing through an air lock then pulling the brakes and landing with it makes things quick and easy, especially when you're back and forth between stations constantly doing passenger missions etc. (What can I say, I'm lazy) I'm pretty good without it but does take longer. I don't like using it outside a station. However the coriolis stations are a pain trying to find the air lock so it's very useful there too.

There's a big chance you'll receive a reply explaining location of the mail slot on Coriolis stations or telling you how easy it is and how DC is not needed for that. Just sayin'

 

[Aashenfox]

Lol, I tried limpets, but went back to scooping once I realized most mats you get from combat are useless.

I've started being more selective now that I have to keep emptying mats out every time I take a trip (always full), but to be honest, I've been getting decent mats from killing pirates that interdict me, they're usually Masters in Fer-de-Lances, which is a pretty high category of NPC, so maybe that's why? They'll usually leave me a few chemical distilleries which I like. But yeh, combat zone mats aren't even worth bothering with from competent vipers and stuff like that. Needs to be a worthwhile kill (or better a transport ship).

 

[popuptoaster]

That's great for a Sidewinder but if you do that with a t9 you'll overshoot half the landingpads. You can only come in at speed if you know you'll be landing at the back of the station.

It doesn't matter if you overshoot, the computer backs you up onto the pad anyway, occasionally the bigger ships clip some station hardware if you are to low and the computer needs a hand but generally it works in any ship although if you boost in the entrance in a clipper or similar you are likely to hit the back of the station before it can stop. I haven't flown a Sidewinder for years, my Python is the smallest ship I use regularly although I have a stripped out Asp it doesn't see much use since I made Elite, only really comes out if any new alien missions are added and even then I often use the 'Conda instead

 

[yodajedifishmaster]

Sir, your rant intrigues me, and I wish to subscribe to your pogrom of evil.

the emperor will be most pleased, as will lord vader.

 

[yodajedifishmaster]

I'm a terrible min-maxer, that's my problem. It would hit me square in my OCD to have the docking computer take up a slot when I CAN land manually, even if I was terrible at landing, my personality still would not let me waste a slot on it.

I too use shields, not because I bounce of stuff, though I do sometimes, mainly because I feel naked without one for some reason. Probably a deep insecurity thing, where's my 500mj blankie!?

Having said that, I have a contradiction for you too, I use collector limpets in my combat ships, for collecting the mats afterwards. This is a quality of life and immersion thing, really, as I find it ridiculous to have to run over 15 cargo items at 30mps one after the other. Plus I name my limpets (they're all called cargo-bob). I thank them when they bring me something nice, I scold them when they bring me worn shield emitters and I cry when they die.

i can TOTALLY relate to the lack of shields making you feel naked - me too. my exploration build asp still has a shield AND 2 shield boosters. i managed to dump the weapons for range, but i just cant even drop the engineered boosters, let alone the shield.

in the discussion of landing pads and staying on them v hangar i will say only this; i found it a good habit to get into, to go to hangar as soon as. i know it doesnt happen in solo inside stations, but it DOES avoid being strafed at outposts rather well. and that has happened to me at least once (and i play solo exclusively. i dont recall what happened to the npc pirate who strafed me).

 

[Noctover]

Lol dosent everyone do that? In what world would anyone just watch their ship dock when they can prepare for the next leg?

 

[SMcA]

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

There is no need to queue with a DC. If your ship starts to queue just throttle up, fly through the toast rack then throttle down and let the DC take over again.