Pad Hogger Fix? [idle timer]

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Not sure if this had been implemented, or suggested before, but I've never noticed it.

Anyhoo, idle pad hoggers are indeed a blight on this fine game.

My suggestion is very simple.
2 minute Complete idle timer. Then you're logged out.
Open and group only of course.
(Maybe even only outposts too)

Why such a low number?
Because if it was 10, people would just wiggle the mouse every 9 minutes. While they do whatever it is they do while hogging a pad. Where as 2 is easy to miss, but any legit stuff doesn't require doing nothing for ages.
Logging back in only takes a few seconds, even on my mega slow laptop with a dodgey 3G connection.
But atleast the pad is free for someone else.

And by idle, I mean no actions or signs of life. Typing, BB checking, outfitting, selling data or cargo etc all count as an action.
Even looking around and screen shots count.

The only issue i can think of is if someone alt tas to check 3rd party tools. Not sure what to do about that. (I use my phone for tools though, its faster)

 

[StuF]

Switch modes - dock - switch back
Takes less than a minute - non problem

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Switch modes - dock - switch back
Takes less than a minute - non problem

Very True.
But you shouldn't have to do that just because someone has gone to bed or fallen asleep, making dinner, or just laughing at the que in Robigo. Etc etc.
(Not that I ever go to Robigo in Open)

Think of it like illegal parking. And they've blocked a road.
You shouldn't have to find a new route (but you will because, life), that car WILl be promptly removed.

 

[xondk]

Very True.
But you shouldn't have to do that just because someone has gone to bed or fallen asleep, making dinner, or just laughing at the que in Robigo. Etc etc.
(Not that I ever go to Robigo in Open)

Think of it like illegal parking. And they've blocked a road.
You shouldn't have to find a new route (but you will because, life), that car WILl be promptly removed.

Actually no, you can't think of it as illegal parking. Because they have requested dock, and are fully legally docked there, would you fine a truck worker or such waiting for his cargo or similar if the cargo is delayed or whatnot? no, at best you would fine the people not delivering cargo on time to said trucker. And said trucker if he didn't deliver stuff on time.

If there's no room, you wait.

Though yes I know there are some people that don't have the patience for such, and I can partially understand. But there is an easy way around it, use that?

That said, would be interesting if high traffic, rich outposts began expanding dynamically to their traffic.
Say they are seeing a high amount of medium sized ship traffic, delivering stuff and such, causing the outpost to be a rich one, a rich outpost could then add more docking modules, at the cost of making the next 'step' to rich steeper, and the step down towards poor (because of higher running expenses) less, meaning if the traffic suddenly died off, they would be running at less profit/maybe loss.

Could be a cool thing to see outposts and such, dynamically scale, stations building expanding/being sold off for dynamically.
But yeah would need to be created an upgrade/downgrade path for stations, but it could be insanely cool if you ask me.

Edit: fiddled with that thought and added it to suggestion forum.

 

[Forlorn]

No thanks.

...
Logging back in only takes a few seconds, even on my mega slow laptop with a dodgey 3G connection.
...

Logging out/in is not a big deal when making others do it, but you don't feel that you should be required to?

I've never been terribly inconvenienced by pad loiterers - in fact, when I have to wait my turn I find it adds to the immersion (do I try to wait them out, or go do something else? Fly close and flash them with my headlights? Scan them with my KWS?)

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

You make good points, sir. I've changed my mind.

To be honest, I've only been pad blocked by a CMDR once at an outpost. No response to hails. Was annoying.

Most of the time the pad is empty, but I'm still denied permission to land. Makes no sense. Annoying Bug.

I shall read your other post about upgrades! Sounds interesting.

 

[xondk]

You make good points, sir. I've changed my mind.

To be honest, I've only been pad blocked by a CMDR once at an outpost. No response to hails. Was annoying.

Most of the time the pad is empty, but I'm still denied permission to land. Makes no sense. Annoying Bug.

I shall read your other post about upgrades! Sounds interesting.

Someone is sitting in hangar.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

True, Sometimes, but I'm able to select them.
Other times there's just nothing there at all.
It may be some instancing issue.
They're there, but I can't see them.

 

[GJ51]

Robigo averages around 3500 ships per 24 hrs. The majority are Asps and Pythons, both require medium pad, of which there is only one.

The only rational choice is to go into Solo or Group mode if you want to land.

HTH

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Robigo averages around 3500 ships per 24 hrs. The majority are Asps and Pythons, both require medium pad, of which there is only one.

The only rational choice is to go into Solo or Group mode if you want to land.

HTH

The rational choice is to upgrade Robigo Mines.
Seriously though, if a huge number of medium ships dock, it should get an extra medium lad. If even more dock, a large pad should be created. More or less the other guys idea!