FDL horrid cockpit

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

I am feeling that this cockpit is made as a balancing factor to this ship.

I've flown FDL for 2 days and I like its hardpoints, the fact that it is the only medium shield tank ship (Python is not a medium ship), the speed, the flying style.

But...

This cockpit is wrong on so many levels. Flying this ship makes me feel like I've suffered Joker's pencil trick not a while ago (it's not lethal, google it).

Jokes aside, I've might have come up with an explanation of why this ship is cockpit-locked for some people.
My lead eye is the left one, and because of that, my right eye moves according to it. Left eye doesn't meet any obstacles in its field of view, but right one gets blocked by this right beam too much, thus causing subliminal discomfort. I'm no expert though.

I couldn't even figure if fight vector is parallel to the forward view.
This becomes even worse with any FoV setting other than the default, as canopy beams structure highlights unnatural view cone very clearly.
I really couldn't get used to it. All I've achieved by trying to is worsened right eye sight for a couple of days.

Of all vehicles I've ever been inside of, this ship's cockpit is first for me to cause such issues. I have no problems flying Python, Clipper, Cutter, Cobra and even Adder.

And I've read about many more CMDRs describing similar impressions. I'm not trying to dramatize anything, but if you feel that best PvP ship in the game being literally unusable by a lot of people is not a big deal, I do not agree.


Also, I might add that when I flip screenshot with cockpit horizontally, it stills looks weird but does not cause any uncomfortable sensations.

Either alternative cockpit layouts or alternative to FDL copycat spinoff Alliance ship same as Chieftain for FAS should be added to the game.

 

[through the hole backwards]

Could you expand more on the "subliminal discomfort" please, fascinating.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I hate the off center FDL cockpit, and it's one of the reasons I don't fly it.

I'd rather be seated centrally, with the copilot behind or infront, or off center (I don't care, why does the FDL need a copilot anyway?)

All the other off center cockpits don't bother me, just the FDL.

 

[Mugur]

Yes, it's horrible. I think too that they made it this way as a sort of punishment for piloting such a good ship. [big grin]

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

Could you expand more on the "subliminal discomfort" please, fascinating.

Yeah, I know that when a tech guy tries to explain medical phenomena on a foreign language he might sound , but it doesn't change the fact that I can't stand this ship's cockpit.

 

[sgurr]

Me too OP. It's a combination of being slightly off-centre and the window bars.

Mainly the window bars though. I really dislike target information being covered by them (including stations/systems) and not being able to properly see what an opponent is doing. If you ever watch PvP fights in the fdl they usually bring the target to centre from the top left to avoid the bars.

They'll probably not be changed though. It would require major ship graphical rework cost without a clear payoff which FD have never done, and so many people fly it anyway because it's the PvP meta that they won't see a reason to.

 

[Darth Llama]

Agreed completely.. I love the FDL but man I hate that cockpit.

For me, playing in VR.. the cross bars come together in the lower right of the view and it's right in the way of just about anything I need to see. When approaching a station in Super Cruise for example, I generally wait until 0:10 and then drop to 75% throttle.. but of course, that cross bar is always right in the way where I can't see the timer so I always have to look around it or move the ship to see the destination. In combat it always seems to somehow be right in the way of where I need to look.

I love the ship, but man I wish they would fix the cockpit. It's a great combat ship and a genuine pleasure to fly, if you can actually see where you're going. [big grin]

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

Me too OP. It's a combination of being slightly off-centre and the window bars.

Mainly the window bars though. I really dislike target information being covered by them (including stations/systems) and not being able to properly see what an opponent is doing. If you ever watch PvP fights in the fdl they usually bring the target to centre from the top left to avoid the bars.

They'll probably not be changed though. It would require major ship graphical rework cost without a clear payoff which FD have never done, and so many people fly it anyway because it's the PvP meta that they won't see a reason to.

Yet something have to be done, in my opinion. Either alternative cockpit variant (Anaconda could use some of it too) or alternative ship. Maybe Alliance copycat spinoff ship, much like Chieftain or something.

 

[Brrokk]

Apart from the psychology, I don't like the fact that the cockpit design doesn't suit the HUD design. When approaching a destination the distance and ETA are partly hidden by the bar just to the right of centre. That's not something a real aircraft/spaceship designer would tolerate. (And if it's really HUD, how can the cockpit frame obscure it?)

 

[iSteel]

I agree. I bought FDL for some time again but have not flown it after the first 15 minutes or so. The bar on the right is just too disturbing. It kind of feels that it drags my brains to the right while it is on the screen. I so wish that bar could be removed with some option or such. I do not mind the off-centered cockpits so much, but the stuff in front of my eyesights make me feel discomfort.

 

[AzraelDirge]

I'm definitely left eye dominant and have zero issues with the FDL. I've had one I use heavily for a couple years, and the cockpit didn't bother me for more than the day or two it took me to acclimate to it. It's not even something I notice anymore. I think it has more to do with an inability to adjust on the part of the pilot than anything else.

 

[CMDR EDGEL0RD]

I'm definitely left eye dominant and have zero issues with the FDL. I've had one I use heavily for a couple years, and the cockpit didn't bother me for more than the day or two it took me to acclimate to it. It's not even something I notice anymore. I think it has more to do with an inability to adjust on the part of the pilot than anything else.

Maybe so. Still I've never felt such levels of discomfort with any cockpit of any vehicle. It is simply unbearable. Do you play with VR by any chance?

 

[AzraelDirge]

Maybe so. Still I've never felt such levels of discomfort with any cockpit of any vehicle. It is simply unbearable. Do you play with VR by any chance?

I don't, I've never been very big on VR. To me, flying the FDL feels no different than driving my car as far as seat positioning goes.

 

[sgurr]

Apart from the psychology, I don't like the fact that the cockpit design doesn't suit the HUD design. When approaching a destination the distance and ETA are partly hidden by the bar just to the right of centre. That's not something a real aircraft/spaceship designer would tolerate. (And if it's really HUD, how can the cockpit frame obscure it?)

Yup.

I'm definitely left eye dominant and have zero issues with the FDL. I've had one I use heavily for a couple years, and the cockpit didn't bother me for more than the day or two it took me to acclimate to it. It's not even something I notice anymore. I think it has more to do with an inability to adjust on the part of the pilot than anything else.

I think there a difference between adjusting to a thing and not liking a thing.
I don't like it, never will, and barely fly it now as a result.

 

[Cmdr Esteban]

All the other off center cockpits don't bother me, just the FDL.

Agreed. That cockpit is the only reason I've never bought an FDL, and never will.

 

[Wasp0]

I am feeling that this cockpit is made as a balancing factor to this ship.

I've flown FDL for 2 days and I like its hardpoints, the fact that it is the only medium shield tank ship (Python is not a medium ship), the speed, the flying style.

But...

This cockpit is wrong on so many levels. Flying this ship makes me feel like I've suffered Joker's pencil trick not a while ago (it's not lethal, google it).

Jokes aside, I've might have come up with an explanation of why this ship is cockpit-locked for some people.
My lead eye is the left one, and because of that, my right eye moves according to it. Left eye doesn't meet any obstacles in its field of view, but right one gets blocked by this right beam too much, thus causing subliminal discomfort. I'm no expert though.

I couldn't even figure if fight vector is parallel to the forward view.
This becomes even worse with any FoV setting other than the default, as canopy beams structure highlights unnatural view cone very clearly.
I really couldn't get used to it. All I've achieved by trying to is worsened right eye sight for a couple of days.

And I've read about many more CMDRs describing similar impressions. I'm not trying to dramatize anything, but if you feel that best PvP ship in the game being literally unusable by a lot of people is not a big deal, I do not agree.


Also, I might add that when I flip screenshot with cockpit horizontally, it stills looks weird but does not cause any uncomfortable sensations.

Lawsuit incoming against FD, where there is Blame there is a claim!

Headlines in Gaming Monthly......'Game make player go blind'..... Only Horny videos had the ability to do that before now!

 

[Phazon Xenomorph]

This is one of the main problems I have with Elite and a large number of ships in it. The commander / captain should be centrally seated with officers behind him directly or to the sides (like Conda and Vette do). The commander should have a front and center view so he can reliably pilot, steer, and aim his ship in both fighting and docking. Frontier was I think so fearful of making every ship too "samey" on the inside they figured this would be a good idea without realizing how utterly foolish an idea it was to do garbage like this.

Hell thats part of the reason I want the damn Beluga buffed to be the proper explorer it should be (rivaling the Conda since it's main use is to sightsee and tourism), simply because of the large, central view with a huge unobstructed canopy. Now I can tolerate bars around the edge, especially on combat ships since it makes sense to structurally reinforce it, but it needs to be a unified look, not this offcenter off designed garbage. I feel like no one would complain if all the off center ships got an interior redesign to put the player in the front and center instead of off to the side. It's an all around buff to a huge number of ships. But as usual Frontier would rather do other stuff than fix and polish Elite to what it could be.

 

[Ouberos]

I've flown FDL for 2 days and I like its hardpoints, the fact that it is the only medium shield tank ship (Python is not a medium ship), .

It fits on a medium pad. This would indicate it is a medium sized ship.

 

[Stealthie]

All these people who can't deal with the FdL's off-centre cockpit must find it very frustrating to not be able to drive a car.

Assuming they're not all millionaires who restrict themselves to driving a McLaren F1, of course.

 

[Wasp0]

All these people who can't deal with the FdL's off-centre cockpit must find it very frustrating to not be able to drive a car.

Assuming they're not all millionaires who restrict themselves to driving a McLaren F1, of course.

Made I Laugh!