The Docking Computer thread.
- Thread starter Caledonian
- Start date
dayrth
Volunteer Moderator
I have no trouble docking and can dock faster and more reliably than the DC (which I do from time to time just to keep my hand in), but I use one anyway.
I have no trouble driving my car using the throttle (which I do most of the time), but I have cruise control and often use it anyway.
It's a convenience. If it's there why should I not use it?
Autodock is good once you're through the slot, for landing only.
If you're in a big ship, you can make it through the letterbox faster than the autodock (Autodock takes a strange pattern to the slot) but past the slot it'll probably still beat you in landing a T-9 or Conda. Plus with Autodock engaged you are free from speeding fines. So once moving through the slot I trigger autodock and sip my beverage, plot return route etc.
Autodock is great for smuggling, as often you're going too fast and will overshoot your pad, or having almost gained an insurance screen you'll be in no condition to enjoy landing. Autodock will reverse and land the ship more efficiently than a Human can turn and land in those instances.
If you're in a big ship, you can make it through the letterbox faster than the autodock (Autodock takes a strange pattern to the slot) but past the slot it'll probably still beat you in landing a T-9 or Conda. Plus with Autodock engaged you are free from speeding fines. So once moving through the slot I trigger autodock and sip my beverage, plot return route etc.
Autodock is great for smuggling, as often you're going too fast and will overshoot your pad, or having almost gained an insurance screen you'll be in no condition to enjoy landing. Autodock will reverse and land the ship more efficiently than a Human can turn and land in those instances.
Flying backwards in the station was really cool dayrth...if a little disconcerting 
Frawd
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There are speeding fines? Oops...
Frawd
Frawd
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There are speeding fines? Oops...
Frawd
Advanced Docking Computer
...that can UNdock you from a station automatically too, pull up the landing gear, wait for any incoming traffic, or queue to exit, and get you out of the slot in tidy fashion.
Obviously, like docking, you can override it, but otherwise, it'll take you to the edge of the no fire zone and stay at 0.
...that can UNdock you from a station automatically too, pull up the landing gear, wait for any incoming traffic, or queue to exit, and get you out of the slot in tidy fashion.
Obviously, like docking, you can override it, but otherwise, it'll take you to the edge of the no fire zone and stay at 0.
+1, but only if the very nice chap responsible for the docking computer has time to do it.
I'd be down for a "Smuggler Mod" Docking Computer, the undock is OK and a great idea, but ingame I always justified it by the thought that its one of the unwritten rules and/or traditions of being a Starpilot, if you're too drunk/lazy/incompetent to make it out of the dock yourself, you're too drunk/lazy/incompetent to be trusted in our space.
...what I'm looking for is a Docking Computer that performs normally at outposts but doesn't even THINK about taking over on approach to a starport until you've gone through the slot (I like to come in hot.)
*does South Park Jim Rome* Scratch that, just make the Standard Computer not want to pull a 180 when it takes over on the way through the slot. Scratch that, just make it disabled when you're actually inside the slot.
Yeah, that last one. Nothing is more fun than executing a perfect drifting quarter loop with a twist to shoot past and through the circling minions of Johnny Law before they can even think about scanning you, then having the DC want to do a noseplant into the bottom of the slot because it wants to wait in line or something.
Scratch that, just talk MS and Saitek into releasing a full HOTAS setup for the Xbox One, I think I'd be fine then.
Scratch that, just release a full on modular control panel assembly like Steel Battalion only this one will be *big*.
...what I'm looking for is a Docking Computer that performs normally at outposts but doesn't even THINK about taking over on approach to a starport until you've gone through the slot (I like to come in hot.)
*does South Park Jim Rome* Scratch that, just make the Standard Computer not want to pull a 180 when it takes over on the way through the slot. Scratch that, just make it disabled when you're actually inside the slot.
Yeah, that last one. Nothing is more fun than executing a perfect drifting quarter loop with a twist to shoot past and through the circling minions of Johnny Law before they can even think about scanning you, then having the DC want to do a noseplant into the bottom of the slot because it wants to wait in line or something.
Scratch that, just talk MS and Saitek into releasing a full HOTAS setup for the Xbox One, I think I'd be fine then.
Scratch that, just release a full on modular control panel assembly like Steel Battalion only this one will be *big*.
Just bought one at:
Neto system
Ising Vison station
I first went to GD 219, as per the Wiki, but they were completely out!!!! Cried for a bit, then noticed another high tech system just 2 systems away (Neto), so took my ship there, and blimey they had one
This time tears of joy
Blue Danube, baby
Neto system
Ising Vison station
I first went to GD 219, as per the Wiki, but they were completely out!!!! Cried for a bit, then noticed another high tech system just 2 systems away (Neto), so took my ship there, and blimey they had one
This time tears of joy
Blue Danube, baby
The Blue Danube music is the only reason I would ever use the docking computer. Since I have it in MP3 format, I don't need some docking computer to play it for me. I used to use it when I was flying an unshielded T-7. Then I learned how to dock properly and got rid of it so I could carry more cargo.
I use the DC off and on. NEVER had an issue with it crashing me, flipping/turning any of my ships, etc. In fact, it has saved me a couple times when NPC ships take off right under me (out of my field of view)--the DC holds my position while the NPCs do their thing.
Certainly everyone has their own experiences and reasons for using it or not. So, I don't see the point in posters calling out or worse, any player that either uses or doesn't use it. What is the point? At the end of the day, unless you are paying the tab for my gaming experience shut the h-e-l-l up.
Certainly everyone has their own experiences and reasons for using it or not. So, I don't see the point in posters calling out or worse, any player that either uses or doesn't use it. What is the point? At the end of the day, unless you are paying the tab for my gaming experience shut the h-e-l-l up.
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lol , it reminds me of old elite versions , scary as hell , it always made me think i fly through the station instead of it docking ,but somehow it always turned to work out well.
Hopefully it works well .. i am just too lazy to fly manually when it can be done automatically
Hopefully it works well .. i am just too lazy to fly manually when it can be done automatically
It has certainly improved vastly from the first release I used in Gamma. It was very slow and annoying but now it races in at 99m/s. Perfect. Also has never crashed me into a station or another ship, infact it has 'seen' other ships I did not and avoided collisions. It would slew 20m port or starboard when above the pad and I would think that it is going nuts but alas an NPC will go shooting past, an NPC that I did not see taking off and would have collided with otherwise. I only use it on the Anaconda and occasionally the Python if there is a spare slot.
Overall 9.9/10 for the DC.
Overall 9.9/10 for the DC.
The DC showed me how to land in a better way manually than I did before. Crashed my Clipper twice into a station until I noticed that it's better to activate it just under 5km from the station to let the DC not activate the Boosters...
Now I'm using it only randomly when I'm too lazy to land on a pad on my own but only inside the station because the movements outside are frightening aaand also sickening... lol Funny thing, I always thoght it's a must have when you fly a T9, but... well it fit's perfectly through the mailslot and the cockpit view is almost as good as the ASP's, I'd say.
Now I'm using it only randomly when I'm too lazy to land on a pad on my own but only inside the station because the movements outside are frightening aaand also sickening... lol Funny thing, I always thoght it's a must have when you fly a T9, but... well it fit's perfectly through the mailslot and the cockpit view is almost as good as the ASP's, I'd say.
EXACTLY...same experience here. Also, if you happen to be using DC and station is under attack, the DC has held my position and moved me at its discretion. My buddy, docking while station came under attack, did not see (or ignored) the "hold position order" from the station and was blown up royal.
lol that's funny
Anyhow i finaly as a noob got me one also and it does speed up to 200 sometimes then back to 99 and speeds in.. i couldnt even dock so fast even if i was experienced i think.
hopefully it works well now and it wont crash me into anything
Anyhow i finaly as a noob got me one also and it does speed up to 200 sometimes then back to 99 and speeds in.. i couldnt even dock so fast even if i was experienced i think.
hopefully it works well now and it wont crash me into anything
That is still a bit beta... at the current state the DC simply switching you ship to full AI control. None of your ship systems can be used by the pilot while docking. I think this will be improved over time. I hope they implement Sarahs solution with the fix for the return to the 1km point while flying already near the pad at outposts.
I recall the programmer saying that it's a bit of a hack and it'd be a bit more work to make individual controls like the lights work manually while on computer control.