These idiots didn't lose their ship going afk :cool:

You might want to look up the definition of that word, I do not think I means what you think it means.

Excusing a broken game mechanic. .. just because. .. is pretty idiotic of you ask me.

Having a dig at someone complaining about said broken game mechanic is unreasonable.
 
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daan2002

Banned
I use docking computer religiously. It lets me sit back and enjoy whatever movie/TV show I'm watching while trading for a couple of minutes. But I'd never leave my PC while it's docking my ships.

indeed this ^^^^^^^^^ since i started using it 2 or more weeks ago made cargo runs a lot better !
 
So what you're saying is you had no money for insurance?

*never fly without insurance.....ever*

And never leave a ship unattended on autodock....EVER!!!!
OP should have scanned these forums for other examples as to why you never, ever walk away from computer unless you are already on then PAD and in the hanger(if you play in open)
 
I tried the docking computer on launch day, first time I turned it on it proceeded to bash me into the side of the station. I managed to turn it off before my ship was destroyed. docked manually and sold it and never bought another. it's useless the music is nice though. ;)
 
First, here is an instructional video showing just how well machines can be trusted to navigate. I apologize the quality isn't fantastic.

[video=youtube;BIakZtDmMgo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIakZtDmMgo[/video]

And, here a video on the lesson to be learned.

[video=youtube;unQJNB_8HiI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unQJNB_8HiI[/video]
 
My experience with docking computers showed they are fairly reliable. But you DO NOT leave them unattended. They're great until you get bumped or something else goes wrong. If you had been there to keep an eye on what was going on, you probably wouldn't have lost your ship and cargo. The docking computer is a convenience to give you a break. It is not there to make complex on-the-fly decisions. Only a living pilot can do that.

Also never fly without your rebuy money. Unless you like starting over in a sidewinder. All it takes is one mistake or unforeseen occurrence.
 
Its a simulation and ED have got it spot on. (what fantastic attention to detail they have built in faults on purpose)

Do you recall the car company in the US that had the faults and people died. I would have chosen not to drive those models when I heard about that. The only missing is that the company who make the docking computer owe you millions in compensation.

They should recall all docking computers and fix them
 
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Its a simulation and ED have got it spot on. (what fantastic attention to detail they have built in faults on purpose)

Do you recall the car company in the US that had the faults and people died. I would have chosen not to drive those models when I heard about that. The only missing is that the company who make the docking computer owe you millions in compensation.

They should recall all docking computers and fix them

Great idea about compensation :) Next time I use the auto park feature in my car I'll get out and go a take wizz somewhere, if it crashes I'll sue the company. Or perhaps I'll engage cruise control on the highway and get in the back and have a quick nap... on second thought, nah I'll keep an eye on it.
 
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I like docking - it's one if the more interesting parts of the game. I take it as a challenge as how fast i can get onto the pad.
 
I have some sympathy for the OP's autodock issue as I think he said it was the first time he tried using one. Not so much on the 'no insurance' bit tho - but that's his own decision and I'm not going to slate him for it.
Regarding the DC being broken, I'm not sure it's that bad. Most issues I've seen or encountered have been due to not being optimally set up before engaging the AP - reading the OP, it sounds like he might have left it a bit late. I triggered the AP once when I was just at the entrance to the toast rack and it tried to flip over, move back to the start of the floating billboards and go from there. In the process it caught the long poles and the resulting situation was impossible for it to recover. Fortunately I was able to take control and get out of there, albeit with a loitering fine :).
Also the vid in the first post of this thread (https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=106039) shows what happens if you a) approach too fast in a fat lumbering ship that responds too slowly and b) don't get your approach optimal. Skip to 2:20 for the docking part if you don't fancy watching the rest. Needless to say I've ditched the DC for a shield cell now ;)
 
I love that thing. And not only for the music.
Had a coupla gasping moments, including one 90° letterbox entry.

The only thing that bothers me is that it restores Power levels - putting power to weapons seems a waste - I'd rather see it boost SYS to max and use the rest on engines.

Landings are a bit rough at times, so shields are advised - particularly on a costly to touch-up vessel.

All in all: Wonderful!
 
Three ways the docking comptuer can kill you

Now I should have video captured this but, I'm lazy and frankly too much work. With all the "the docking computer killed me" posts, I figured "hey lets see how!" but that won't help them, because they tend to be the types to fly without insurance too.

Anyways way #1.

Missed docking pad. Occasionally the ship will slip to the side before the docking lock on the pad happens. Your ship will then slide to the side of the pad and start to damage itself.

Solution: Hit the throttle a bit to get control back from the computer and land manually.

Way #2.

Won't enter station at a timely manner. This is the rarest of the faults but it happens. I decided to take over when the landing timer hit 3 minutes and start over. Perhaps due to traffic, there are times your ship simply won't go into the mail slot. This could kill you if it finally does and the timer runs out. Solution, request a new docking slot and try again.

Way #3.

This is the oddest one to me. Sometimes it just stopped and acts almost like the docking tutorial. I usually get this one right after it enter the slot but its happened even right above the pad. It goes from "autodock in progress" to "approach landing pad". It would kill you because you foolishly went afk and ran out of time. Solution, just land like normal you lazy slob.


Did I mention I was bored? Anyways, there you have it, three unique ways the docking computer can kill you. I hope in the future they add more unique and interesting ways :D
 
Way 4: opening a side panel during docking sometimes makes the docking computer try to dock you sideways.

Solution: don't open panels while under the control of the DC. I usually browse the net during docking.
 
I don't really understand why people buy it.

I've never owned one, docking is easy.

+1

Docking really isn't as hard as people seem to make out. I think it took me 3 tries to land the first them, and that was all down to the fact I didn't realise the throttle on the joystick had a little notch to take it from 25% to 0% ;P
 
#5 collecting one from outfitting and it falls off the storage racking onto your head

I don't own one and the only valid reason I can see for one, is to use it as a music box...I stand by the statement 'never trust a toaster'
 
#5 collecting one from outfitting and it falls off the storage racking onto your head

I don't own one and the only valid reason I can see for one, is to use it as a music box...I stand by the statement 'never trust a toaster'

I barely trust myself and the other live pilots not to kill me at Toaster, but I play hardcore Toaster. FULL SPEED AHEAD MISTER SULU THAT SHADOW IS PROBABLY A CANOPY SMUDGE AND NOT A T9
 
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