Newcomer / Intro Not enjoying my first day with Elite...

[Jubber]

trainer is really nice - looks excellent on 5760 x 1200. After playing with game for a while get Thrustmaster HOTAS Ridiculousname working along with various keyboard settings I'm pretty happy with it and looking forward to playing Elite. After a day of the trainer decide to have a crack at the full game. Some problems show themselves...

1) 1200 monitors clearly don't exist at Frontier. HUD for everything is clipped along bezels - making use problematic. Mucking around with the FOV eventually fixes it in some places - but distorts view and probably isn't making my gpu too happy either. 5760x1200 lovely for external visuals however.

2) Even with FOV fix, plenty of other HUD elements still broken - eg Galaxy map menu which is cut in half by bezels. Can't find a solution for this one. Very unpleasant to use.

3) Supercruise. Using that for the first time was .. an experience. An experience of overshooting, crashing out of warp and general and profound swearing at the screen.

4) Internet connection. Something I didn't realise is that the game requires this to function. This was significant because my second attempt to play the game had the START option non-selectable. Because DELETE SAVE was also not selectable I assumed my save game was broken. However no option to restart so I quit out with some further fruity language. I do have an internet connection - can only assume it didn't work fast enough to get me permission that time. Has worked since, if I drum my fingers on the desk for a few moments. Some kind of CONNECTING TO VERIFY GAME message while this happens couldn't hurt.

5) Docking. Actually flying into the dock is very easy, especially if you used to play this on a BBC Micro - but the actual docking mechanism at the very first in-system space station I flew to is complete .. external spermatogenesis enclosures. It asks me to land at pad 36, which is visible ahead. No problem - already tried the trainer. Easy peasy. Except this time the compass points somewhere else, the radar has highlighted a point in space and no amount of gentle flying up and down will let me land. Before you ask - pointing the right way and using landing gear. Fly out and try again. Same thing, with new dock, but still won't register. So I make cancel docking request in order to make another. Big mistake. Instantly fined 400 credits and given a few scant seconds to get out of there. 400 credits when you start with 1000 means I'll be restarting. Subsequent reloads fixes dock problem, but too late to avoid crippling fine.

6) Use of tamest profanity in the English language - word most often found after 'The Dog's' - sets off this forum's profanity filter and a page asking me to go back and edit message. No visible clickable link so I press back on browser. Entire forum post deleted. Fantastic feature, well done to forum designer - splendid work. You complete string of asterisks.

Anyway - that's day two. I'm sure things get better.

 

[Deleted member 56127]

In order to put 400 billion systems in a game, you need clustered servers. Internet connection is required I'm afraid. The compass is pointing to the inside of the dock, not your actual landing pad. If you are looking through your windscreen you will see a yellow area to land in. If you do not see this, fly slowly to the back of the station and loop back. You will then see your dock pad near the entrance. If you listen to the space station chatter coming through the intercom you will hear them give you the procedure for docking. They go onto say in the event you need to cancel, to first exit the station and re-request docking. Please see my post on "The Logbook of Lessons". Good luck.

 

[Jubber]

Hi - thanks for the response. As it happens I had completed the docking procedure beforehand in training, so had no trouble finding my orange illuminated pad. It just didn't register I was trying to land at it. This is a bug, not a feature. I was able to complete the manoeuvre on subsequent reload of the game with no problem, when the number the HUD told me to land at actually worked. I had already completed the (very simple) procedure on the training mission. It failed twice in the same session on this one occasion - rather expensively. The radar (sorry, not the compass) had a different location in the station highlighted, although I couldn't land there. I couldn't land anywhere and tried multiple orientations, speeds, swearwords...

The fine for disengaging docking request isn't ameliorated by the fact that it may have been audible in background chatter. I still have to restart. Also - seriously? Who would listen out for that on their first landing, when time is ticking down and the game won't register a landing? Still, a spirited if erroneous defence on your part sir.

The clustered server requirement only exists if the game has to be always online. Again - not much to do with the problem I encountered where I didn't know this, or know that the game was trying to get permission to allow me to load my game from an external server. It just seemed to be broken with no explanation why I couldn't start. As an aside, it's not obvious to me that the solo play version of this game *does* require servers, clustered or otherwise - but again - this is not the issue I raised, which was an interface issue.

I shall however definitely read your post and any others I encounter. The original Elite was pretty baffling the first time I loaded that up too - it was quite a jump from Snapper. Also, thanks for taking the time to respond

 

[NinjaTrek2891]

About the docking, I see a lot of people trying to land backwards. Then when they don't get a lock on, they try to bounce with their vertical thrusters downwards. Surprisingly I see this more then often in the space docks. The outposts are always funny to watch.

I'm sure people need to get the hang of it. But I have never not been able to dock. Even on stations where there's no (seems like) docking guidance. Training takes some time. There are already lots of tutorial videos by FD and players, I recommend everyone to watch them. Or if ur lucky and I see you in space during docking. I might contact for some hints and tips.

 

[Jubber]

Of course you're quite possibly right and I was doing the procedure incorrectly - but I'm absolutely sure I wasn't. I tried multiple orientations, leaving and re-entering the station, a gentle landing a butterfly would have envied, landing exactly in the orange light, facing the con tower, not facing the con tower, landing upside down, landing on one wing edge, ploughing into the deck at speed, landing on every other numbered or illuminated pad, shooting the little trucks, headbutting my keyboard, cradling my bleeding head and weeping...

and then I tried reloading the game, and it worked.

I had already achieved success with the training mode as well.

Perhaps I should submit a bug - but if literally nobody else has ever experienced this...

 

[Dobbie]

Me too

Perhaps I should submit a bug - but if literally nobody else has ever experienced this...

If also had these issues. What I found sometimes works is to 'land'. Even though it's not recognized and then whilst still on the landing pad star rotating using either A or D. At some point in the rotation it registers and aknowledges the landing. At that point I'm usually not straight or perpendicular on the landing pad. Probably at 30 degrees. So I agree with the assessment that it's a bug.

 

[MaruKage]

When you approach landing pads you will see a ramp with arrows pointing landing direction. Landing from other direction won't work unless you rotate ship which is slow with zero speed. Watch the arrows and approach from that direction.

 

[KingVerdict]

Of course you're quite possibly right and I was doing the procedure incorrectly - but I'm absolutely sure I wasn't. I tried multiple orientations, leaving and re-entering the station, a gentle landing a butterfly would have envied, landing exactly in the orange light, facing the con tower, not facing the con tower, landing upside down, landing on one wing edge, ploughing into the deck at speed, landing on every other numbered or illuminated pad, shooting the little trucks, headbutting my keyboard, cradling my bleeding head and weeping...

and then I tried reloading the game, and it worked.

I had already achieved success with the training mode as well.

Perhaps I should submit a bug - but if literally nobody else has ever experienced this...

If it makes you feel better, I know what you are talking about. It usually only happens to me when I come in too hot. But hasn't happened enough for me to figure out what is actually causing it or to consider it a bug. In a perfect world I suppose, it would just work regardless...but, you are not alone.

 

[Greyshadow]

There is currently a bug in the game where if you fly over the pad (the correct pad) you get no docking radar even if you touch down. This issue is more common if you are landing on a pad that was used by another ship just before you. In stations the only way to fix this is to leave the station, cancel the docking request and request it again. Even if you get the same pad it will work the second time. An easy way to tell if the pad will work or not is as you approach see if the pad goes down into the hangar, rotates and comes back up. If it does then you will either not be able to land, the pad will be reversed or it may work. Outposts are better because all you have to do is leave the pad straight up, cancel docking request it again and then land.

 

[CMNDRMK]

There is currently a bug in the game where if you fly over the pad (the correct pad) you get no docking radar even if you touch down. This issue is more common if you are landing on a pad that was used by another ship just before you. In stations the only way to fix this is to leave the station, cancel the docking request and request it again. Even if you get the same pad it will work the second time. Outposts are better because all you have to do is leave the pad straight up, cancel docking request it again and then land.

I have had this several times, however its never actually stopped me from docking using hand eyedar.

 

[Greyshadow]

I have had this several times, however its never actually stopped me from docking using hand eyedar.

I have acutally touched down (literally hit the pad) scraped my ship along the surface and it would not let me dock. Not until i canceled the request and re requested it.

 

[technophebe]

Juber, I'm a long time Elite devotee and I had the same experience; very disappointing first day or so.

I've been working on a new players guide which is intended to spare others the same frustrations I went through. It's here. It covers a lot of what you mention, and includes a lot more of the tiny bits of arcane knowledge that you otherwise have to build up slowly and painfully by trawling the forums. Stay dangerous!

 

[Noogillim]

Maybe timing issues across the network having to leave enough time for all instances to catch up?

 

[RealNC]

Supercruise. Using that for the first time was .. an experience. An experience of overshooting, crashing out of warp and general and profound swearing at the screen.

There's a secret to it. It's been posted around a lot: Go 100% throttle, and when you are 8 seconds away, drop throttle to 75%. This will always get you there in the least time possible.

6) Use of tamest profanity in the English language - word most often found after 'The Dog's' - sets off this forum's profanity filter and a page asking me to go back and edit message. No visible clickable link so I press back on browser. Entire forum post deleted. Fantastic feature, well done to forum designer - splendid work. You complete string of asterisks.

Yeah, this is the poshest forum I've ever seen. Is heavily censored. As an alternative, you can try the EliteDangerous subreddit instead.

 

[Lucas Kell]

Of course you're quite possibly right and I was doing the procedure incorrectly - but I'm absolutely sure I wasn't. I tried multiple orientations, leaving and re-entering the station, a gentle landing a butterfly would have envied, landing exactly in the orange light, facing the con tower, not facing the con tower, landing upside down, landing on one wing edge, ploughing into the deck at speed, landing on every other numbered or illuminated pad, shooting the little trucks, headbutting my keyboard, cradling my bleeding head and weeping...

and then I tried reloading the game, and it worked.

I had already achieved success with the training mode as well.

Perhaps I should submit a bug - but if literally nobody else has ever experienced this...

Occasionally the docking guide hasn't come up, so it seems like you aren't landing, but usually if you get right down in the middle of the pad and wiggle backwards and forwards it'll suddenly accept the docking attempt.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]

I have acutally touched down (literally hit the pad) scraped my ship along the surface and it would not let me dock. Not until i canceled the request and re requested it.

Being on the pad isn't enough. You have to be in the right place at the right rotation which can be difficult without the guide. Like above though, just drop into the middle of the pad until you touch down. Jet up an inch, then wiggle about a bit. Once you've done it once or twice you'll get the hang of it[/FONT]

 

[Antigonos]

In order to put 400 billion systems in a game, you need clustered servers. Internet connection is required I'm afraid. The compass is pointing to the inside of the dock,

this is false information. once INSIDE the dock it actually does point you to your landing pad.

 

[Zeyi]

In order to put 400 billion systems in a game, you need clustered servers. Internet connection is required I'm afraid..

Not true. They procedurally generate the star systems as needed. They are not stored on any clustered servers they are generated using a seed on the host computer.

 

[Perjoss]

It seems that many people get frustrated when they first try to learn to use supercruise. If the tutorial hasn't changed since a few weeks ago then it really needs an overhaul, I found the tutorial was super vague and it was almost as if it was designed for someone who had made many successful supercruise journeys already. The cobra missions that is supposed to teach you about silent running was another disaster (again I only tried it a few weeks ago so forgive me if its been fixed). The youtube tutorial videos are great, but why spend that effort making something external, would have been time better spent to just make great tutorials within the game.

The first few hours are usually critical in getting a new player hooked by showing them how to have fun with the game and then hopefully going off to tell their friends how great the game is, so having bad tutorials boggles my mind.