Rework station entrance. Current design is dumb.

[Ashnak]

I personally think there should be an exgress mailslot on the other side. One in, one out, traffic control shoots you if you go out the in slot, or in the out slot, and new players come on here and complain about how they can't tell which one is in and which one is out until the station is already killing them, and veteran players say we're not going to improve it anymore we did it once that's enough change for the next 40 years

While that might work for a Coriolis (we don't know what's in that spike or behind it), Oculus and derivatives seem to carry the main reactor core there.

 

[cmdr chequers]

There are many things i like about Elite. The clownfest and fundamental flaws of the current mailslot implementation is not one of those things.

As far as how magnificent the game is or is not or how long it will stay, there was a lot of discussion regarding stagnation and player onboarding until some "oh no" big changes were made. Oh and remember the financial difficulty that nearly vanished when there was a 'redesign' for monetization? Yeah. whatever.

The evidence is strong. Fixing the stupid fickle mailslot situation would improve the games image, reduce player annoyances, reduce toxic player opportunity and help onboarding. PERIOD. It's OBVIOUSLY an issue. Why defend a fickle and garbage implementation when it OBVIOULY needs adjustment and fixed or redesigned.

Seems like it's only you that has an issue with the mailslot, I sense a skill issue at play here, there is absolutely no difficulty in flying any ship in ED through the mailslot.
You would have hated even more the slot in the original game, now that was a bit difficult.

 

[IstvaanDCIV]

There are many things i like about Elite. The clownfest and fundamental flaws of the current mailslot implementation is not one of those things.

As far as how magnificent the game is or is not or how long it will stay, there was a lot of discussion regarding stagnation and player onboarding until some "oh no" big changes were made. Oh and remember the financial difficulty that nearly vanished when there was a 'redesign' for monetization? Yeah. whatever.

The evidence is strong. Fixing the stupid fickle mailslot situation would improve the games image, reduce player annoyances, reduce toxic player opportunity and help onboarding. PERIOD. It's OBVIOUSLY an issue. Why defend a fickle and garbage implementation when it OBVIOULY needs adjustment and fixed or redesigned.

I started playing in late 2022, and was born a few years after the first Elite game and never played any of the intervening sequels, so I have no nostalgia about any of this.

The mailslot design isn't perfect, it's a major chokepoint in extremely busy instances like during CGs and, for some reason, Jacques Station (too many Belugas!). Now I'm not one to advocate clinging on to this game's grindy aspects, I welcomed the engineering changes and the addition of SCO FSDs. But honestly I think you're overstating the impact of the mailslot on player perception of the game. Anyone without the patience to navigate the mailslot already checked out long before that, because Elite Dangerous is chock full of design decisions that just don't click with everyone.

 

[Kira Goto]

for some reason, Jacques Station (too many Belugas!)

Two words : Tourist beacons.

 

[Ashnak]

Oh, and while we're at it - you (ok, maybe not you from the OP) can fly a Panther Clipper through the mailslot sideways.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9cqR9MeMPa8

 

[varonica]

While that might work for a Coriolis (we don't know what's in that spike or behind it), Oculus and derivatives seem to carry the main reactor core there.

Some of the stations can fit drive systems to move around, so that would be an issue if you can't put the thrusters in the direct line of center of mass, make it fun trying to steer!

 

[GrimSageX3]

The mailslot design isn't perfect, it's a major chokepoint in extremely busy instances like during CGs and, for some reason, Jacques Station (too many Belugas!).

Exactly... This issue should not even exist.

But honestly I think you're overstating the impact of the mailslot on player perception of the game. Anyone without the patience to navigate the mailslot already checked out long before that, because Elite Dangerous is chock full of design decisions that just don't click with everyone.

If anything. I'm understating the impact it has on multi-player / open world gameplay. Especially during events, cgs and actual multi-player traffic.
In Solo Play and Personal Group Sessions.. the NPC and AI derps do no happen often so there is only the stupid autodoc scrapes to contend with and those simply should not exist as a problem. Nearly all the problems and clownfest CG toxicity simply would not exist with a larger station entrance and the removal of bad collision boxes and various clutter surrounding mailslot entrance at some station types.

 

[BackToTheMud]

The mailslot make perfect sense. The relatively small opening reduce the chance of random space debris coming trough, and it's easy to seal off if needed.

 

[Capt. Hook]

I would be nice if there was two mail slots one at each end of the station, so it's all one way traffic.

funnily enough my 6 year old son said the same thing when he saw the stations for the 1st time! Failing that I'm surprised there are not traffic lights installed

 

[Ashnak]

Failing that I'm surprised there are not traffic lights installed

Look closer - there are red and green lights installed both inside and outside, indicating which side of the slot you should be passing.

Otherwise, the best indication for a Beluga coming the other way is when the traffic controller announces "access path is clear".