In a hurry there, pup?

[Ralph Vargr]

How about you don't use the docking computer, and as you're fond of FAA regs - "See and Avoid" would seem to be the case

If you slap on the DC and walk off, and somebody bumps you, then...... unlucky.

By the way, an aria is a long accompanied piece of song for solo voice, as opposed to "area"

Are toasters on Unicom 1, or Unicom 2?

I forget the relevent FAR's.

 

[Scoob]

I Use the Docking Computer too, mainly cos I suck at docking, but equally because it seems to work fairly well. Since the recent updates (post v1.1) the DC is MUCH better at avoiding other ships - as is NPC AI in general - my T6 will regularly strafe to avoid NPC pilots once in the station. However, it does have a bad habit of parking right in front of the docking port when entering the station if required to queue - subsequently blocking other ships.

I have noticed that NPC's appear to always take priority over my ship too. I can be sat there waiting in queue as an NPC ship approaches from quite a distance, when he wasn't even on radar when I initiated the manoeuvre. Still some refinements needed methinks.

Scoob.

 

[Parmo]

Do airline pilots (both) leave the cockpit with the autopilot on?

I hope not.
But people driving cars sometimes seem to use auto-driver. Done it myself.
Bit like cross-country running, when your fit; body's just doing its bit and your mind is kind of somewhere else.
Unless something makes your proximity alarm go off.

 

[ChubbyBunneh]

Personally speaking, if you're in the middle of the letterbox and I'm on my way out, my Anaconda makes for a nice wedge shape which will generally push you out of my way...

Or the nice triangle shape can help to irreversibly wedge an Anaconda, T7 and Clipper inside the slot. Know this from experience

 

[Mifune]

From what I can tell, across all versions of the game, including Oolite, the docking computer has always been considered to be an expensive joke.

The DC in Oolite actually works flawlessly. In fact once inside the station's range you can immediately auto dock without waiting for the blue danube.

 

[Parmo]

'Docking request granted / denied'
So, there must be an entity acting as flight controller in the station. It could be sending dodgy info to the docking computer.
I've wondered that there isn't a speed restriction in the station. There's a no loitering restriction why not for speed?

As for bombing out at full speed - yeah guilty. Came a cropper once though. In Sidewinder or a Viper, pedal to metal - eeeeekkkk! A Cobra III was jammed upright in the Letterbox. Yup, wasn't paying due care and attention.
Veered off to the left a bit but hit the side and got stuck myself. For some reason the local jam sandwiches took umbrage and kicked my rear end into claiming insurance.
Should be an undocking computer!

 

[Rezri]

I tried the docking computer only once, just to have tried it. Gave it a go the week it was introduced. I sold it immediately after docking.

I don't hate it, or anything. I just can't help the giant grin, nor do I want to stop wearing said grin, every time I come in to dock. Call me crazy, but I absolutely love this part of a flight every single time. Docking is fun. I don't want a computer taking that fun from me

 

[Mysturji]

Great way to start a Friday.

Every time you encounter a sarcastic comment in this thread you take a shot.

Arrange the mini-cab ride home first. You'll be legless by the end of page 2.

LOL i'm totally up for that game. Going for a couple of bottles of whisky BRB

Have some rep

Oh, THAT kind of shot!
Have some more rep!

 

[Jigster]

Remember you only get five mins to leave a station and can't cancel.

I was in a T9 once and impatiently waited for two, yes two, other CMDR T9s to dock whilst my five minutes counted down. I only just made it out alive!

 

[bigmuthatrukka]

So those lambasting him for using a docking computer, I would ask what's the point of having a docking computer in the game?

1.1 highlighted that the access and egress is problematic, with NPC's just bulldozing their way through. I would expect a suitably expensive docking computer to handle these situations.

On the BBC B and the Spectrum with wireframe graphics and only pitch and roll it was pretty essential it also allowed you to get in the station safezone and cut straight to docked without the faff

 

[Gracey Field]

I don't wizz out of the stations anymore. Not after waiting for some prat who was doing a dance at the letterbox and my time was running out. So I gunned it and misjudged it. Kaboom. Awh well you love and learn.