Please, oh god, PLEASE fix docking. Solutions inside.

[Gnaget]

I was all excited about this game, and invested about $300 (HOTAS + game) to be able to play it right. After 1 night of play, I'm ready to call it a waste. Docking sucks.

I was flying on fumes, and made it to a small starport with around 2% of fuel remaining. This port had only 2 landing pads, and people just sit on them. For 20 minutes, I sent hundreds of requests to dock before I finally got in. Needless to say by the end I almost rage quit. I didn't have enough fuel to go out and find another port.

Unless your intent is to make this game as frustrating as possible, you need to make this better - and soon. Here is how:

1) When someone docks, it immediately puts them in the hangar. No more lallygagging around while others wait.
2) When someone launches, it pushes them far enough away from the dock so the next person can get in.
3) Implement a queue system (You are 3rd in line to dock) so we don't have to send requests over and over and over and over.

Note: I have learned of the trick to go solo mode, and I suppose it'll work for the time being, but that is no solution. Quit, wait 15 seconds, solo, dock, quit, open world. Bah.

 

[Somillian Hiigara]

The fact that there -isn't- a queue system for docking has bothered me since Outposts released.

 

[The Law]

1) No, people sometimes just dock to refuel - check bulleting board and go on their bussiness. Forcing them into hangar would be stupid.
2) It would mean the whole take off mechanic would have to reworked, so not happening.
3) This I agree. Dock privilige docking would be great.

 

[TheEponymousBob]

Move out of the starter systems. I've not had to wait for a pad since the start of Gamma.

Though I'm surprised FD haven't tweaked the starter are outposts to address this.

Edit: Also, don't judge a game less than a week released based on one night's play.

 

[pdizzle]

I 100% disagree with one and two, 100% agree with three. I hate dock spamming.

 

[Martin1956]

I was all excited about this game, and invested about $300 (HOTAS + game) to be able to play it right. After 1 night of play, I'm ready to call it a waste. Docking sucks.

I was flying on fumes, and made it to a small starport with around 2% of fuel remaining. This port had only 2 landing pads, and people just sit on them. For 20 minutes, I sent hundreds of requests to dock before I finally got in. Needless to say by the end I almost rage quit. I didn't have enough fuel to go out and find another port.

Unless your intent is to make this game as frustrating as possible, you need to make this better - and soon. Here is how:

1) When someone docks, it immediately puts them in the hangar. No more lallygagging around while others wait.
2) When someone launches, it pushes them far enough away from the dock so the next person can get in.
3) Implement a queue system (You are 3rd in line to dock) so we don't have to send requests over and over and over and over.

Note: I have learned of the trick to go solo mode, and I suppose it'll work for the time being, but that is no solution. Quit, wait 15 seconds, solo, dock, quit, open world. Bah.

NO NO And NO.

Do you think the hangars are Tardis like, they don't have infinite space, if a ship goes down there it can't come back up if someone else is on the platform can it, and you can't go down into the hangar for outfitting or anything else as it is already occupied.

Yes it is an inconvenience and darned annoying but it is realistic. If you want to play a Sim this is the price you pay for a modicum of reality. Try moving as close to the pads as possible and you may jump the queue a bit.

 

[GrillMonkey]

1) No, people sometimes just dock to refuel - check bulleting board and go on their bussiness. Forcing them into hangar would be stupid.

You end up going into the dock anyway so it can turn you around. I go down as soon as I land to speed up the launch process.

 

[Morlock5K]

I only think point 3 is needed. A queue system would help and wouldn't be a nerf, just an added system that does make sense, like space traffic control.

 

[skydivertricky]

Yes, no queue system is annoying. Also, I don't think going into the hangar clears the pad for more to land.

Solution. Travel a few Ly from your start point. (like 50). Probably wont be busy there.

 

[Gnaget]

Implementing 3 alone will still be far too frustrating. If you end up with a queue of say 5 people for only 2 landing pads, you might still have to wait 20 minutes while people just hang out on the launch pad. Realism is nice, but this is still a game. If it isn't fun, then what is the point?

It would also be good to drop the time to dock. Do you really need 10 minutes?

 

[Katkon]

I honestly think docking is pretty close to perfect. As others have suggested you can bypass realism by simply switching to solo mode for convenience.

 

[Joe Spivey]

A volley of dumbfire missiles soon clears the pads on these outposts.

 

[Tinman]

Queue system, yes.

The other suggestions, no. (For reasons already mentioned)

Workaround: Save to main menu. Start game in SOLO. Dock. Do whatever it is you want to do. Then log back into OPEN.

 

[Keyne]

Queue would be nice to reduce dock spamming... in this day and age you should be able to get inline and get a PING when a dock is ready. Beyond just docking I think customizable alerts should be available... for instance I want a PING or alarm when I am within 20 seconds of a SC location so I can start to slow down... also would like one when an enemy is within scanner range (but other times might want to turn it off).... These things are available in products that exist in our current century... let alone when we are living in space!

 

[pdizzle]

A volley of dumbfire missiles soon clears the pads on these outposts.

zmg I almost ended up with coffee coming out of my nose

 

[FX2K]

1. The hangar has enough space for one ship, so that's of no use here.
2. No thanks.
3. A docking request queue would be nice.

 

[Kicks]

Like the idea of a queue system, but that's about it. "You are #45, average pilot-wait time: 5 minutes". Great stuff.

That aside, I am noticing a trend on the forums lately. People are mostly happy with the mechanics - until something goes wrong for them.

Docking mechanic? Fine.. 2% fuel? Not fine.
Mission Timers? Fine... Kid just woke up and tried to stab the dog, had to log off... Not fine.
2K light cargo runs to stations? Fine. Stations is over 900,000ls from the star. Not fine. Actually, I think these ones should award massive rep.


It's not nice when things go wrong. I think a queue system is needed, but 1 & 2 points just don't cut it, really.


Dock safe, Commander!

 

[smsKONG]

As you said - just drop into solo for 2mins.

It might not be ideal but it's quicker than waiting 20mins right.

Changing the way the system currently works could cause other problems - or people may not like it and create a thread asking for it to be changed

They could put you into a separate instance with no players when you get to an outpost but I could imagine others not being happy about having their group split up every time they decide to use the small docks.


To be honest though I haven't even come across this problem yet so I have no compassion

 

[Nutter]

Have you tried coming in hot at full boost flashing your lights, coupled with a comms to the station stating your brakes are out! ? - Works for me!

 

[oomwat]

Just a thought ... if all pads are occupied, and you switch to solo to dock ... what happens if you switch back from solo before undocking?

Does anyone fancy trying this out - if we get players on all pads, then we can be sure that they don't undock.