Wish I Could Dock

[Hellfire85]

I am.... Lost for words...

I can't remember, Is it that hard for a newcomer to dock? I mean, it's just putting your ship into position, lower the laniding gear (the ATC actually tells you if you forget it, same for a flashing message in the middle of the screen), flatten it out according to the pad, look at the display in the middle that tells you your orientation and put the thing down until the clamps grab it.
I mean... It's no rocket science, is it?

 

[Jaggid Edje]

I am.... Lost for words...

I can't remember, Is it that hard for a newcomer to dock? I mean, it's just putting your ship into position, lower the laniding gear (the ATC actually tells you if you forget it, same for a flashing message in the middle of the screen), flatten it out according to the pad, look at the display in the middle that tells you your orientation and put the thing down until the clamps grab it.
I mean... It's no rocket science, is it?

It is if you don't have all the right keys bound (lateral as well as vertical thrusters, etc.). Crazy difficult then.

Also difficult if you don't wrap your head around having a light touch on said thrusters and the throttle at first. I struggled with my first couple of landings, all because I just was applying too much thrust and not counter-thrusting appropriately. I also didn't pick up on the fact that which way my ship was facing mattered outside of the orbital stations, so that gave me fits the first time too, on an outpost.

I got the hang of it with some practice though, maybe a half dozen or so landings. (the outpost direction issue also got cleared up after screwing it up only twice....)

Getting through the slot was even hard for me the first few times; Once again, too inclined to go too fast while still learning.

 

[Cmdr Nemo]

The training video's should be mandatory prior to playing the game. Sure one could just start and exit quickly, but then they wouldn't or couldn't cry about not knowing the basic.

 

[Krash]

Now the docking computer is too difficult?

 

[Bloodsign]

Now the docking computer is too difficult?

FDev, give us a Docking Computer Assist module!

 

[Hacker#451563]

He's playing 'Titanium Man' mode.

When you die you uninstall the game, smash all DVDs, burn all copies of your download keys and reformat your hard drive with a military grade electron-magnet.

He's showing the rest of you ies up.

 

[Bloodsign]

He's playing 'Titanium Man' mode.

When you die you uninstall the game, smash all DVDs, burn all copies of your download keys and reformat your hard drive with a military grade electron-magnet.

He's showing the rest of you ****ies up.

I'm pretty sure he threw his whole computer into a trash compactor too. Accidentally compacting his hand didn't help with the docking problem either.

 

[Schmack]

I hated manually docking in the original & I hate doing it in ED as well.

I just bumbled along, trading until I had enough for my first ship module.....a docking computer, then I was happy & the learning curve became less steep.

It's not that I can't land myself, it's just that I take it that slow, even now, that it's quicker using a DC.

Sympathy with the OP on that part, but I've 2 accounts + store items & only paid £100 in total to Frontier.

Ironic, considering your user name

 

[Schmack]

So if you imagine someone who launches the ship and they cannot figure out how to ever land it... maybe not even how to request docking permission, they are basically stuck in their ship somewhere. They can wipe the save, but how do they know what that will do? They've never even read the mission board or probably anything else. I don't get the "100s of hours" comment though. How can you go 100's of hours without docking unless you're an explorer, but I mean having never docked?

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks... DUH! That's the "Distress Call, Threat 0" USS I keep seeing everywhere. I enter and the dude is in a sidey out of gas. It's HIM!

 

[Bloodsign]

So if you imagine someone who launches the ship and they cannot figure out how to ever land it... maybe not even how to request docking permission, they are basically stuck in their ship somewhere. They can wipe the save, but how do they know what that will do? They've never even read the mission board or probably anything else. I don't get the "100s of hours" comment though. How can you go 100's of hours without docking unless you're an explorer, but I mean having never docked?

He really, and I mean REALLY, likes the training missions.

 

[Achilles7]

Wha?!

Hopefully my noob guide to docking can help...

 

[Jakester13]

Wha?!

Hopefully my noob guide to docking can help...

I mean that was just sloppy overshooting your pad.

o7

EDIT: OK, now I'm being a hypocrite... I overshot too

PS What's a good video-editing programme? MovieMaker just is rubbish... Never publicly made an E: D vid before...

 

[CMDR_Coenen]

I remember, back in 2014, that I had difficulties with docking because I didn't understand the basics: What is back and front of the landing pad, how to align and so on. But if you know this, it's just practise practise practise practise. Don't give up if it doesn't work within a day. Just continue and try to find out what you are doing and how it should be.

But in all fairness, just buy the advanced computer for your ship. Learn to fly and enjoy the game.

 

[Demascus]

Op please do not operate a motor vehicle .....or at least warn ahead of time so I can get the dog and loved ones indoors.

 

[S3B4ST13N]

Spoiler: Image

One post (this one). No other messages since Saturday.

This account was made for trolling
And trolling's what it'll do
One of these days these mods will mod all over you .. dududududu

EDIT: ... Well, that timing... LOL

 

[idleberger]

Many thanks to all who responded to my "Can't Dock" post, even the critical and sarcastic were fun reading. What seems to puzzle a few people was the fact that I purchased the game twice, well here is the reason:- all my sons have lives of their own now but I have a nephew who used to watch me play the 1985 version so when the modern ED came out and (shame, shame) I failed docking I handed my account to him. On visits I played the game because he had purchased the (to me) the elusive docking computer. So when the April 23 patch came out boasting "easier for beginners" I took the plunge and bought it. Now, thanks to those of you who were instructive in your replies, I know I will be enjoying the game again. To those who were critical, I say "I wonder how your reflexes and reactions will be when you are my age (79yrs), that is those of you who live that long hahahahaha. Happy gaming (while you can)

 

[Han_Zen]

Bought and paid for the original "Elite" way back in the last century, game was terrific. So when the modern version came out. I paid 100 English pounds plus another 35 pounds for it. Alas! after hours and hours of attempting to to dock my ship I think I fluked it just 4 times and as for docking on the pad ..... NEVER. Frustration finally won and I gave up playing. After all its meant to be enjoyable right?
Then along comes the April 23 patch which I miss-read as being easier for beginners so I forked out A$84.95 and again bought the damn game. Again alas no simplification to the space-station entry or docking. The improvements only apply to players who have already mastered the docking procedure.
I would like to suggest that on purchasing "Elite" there is a further option to further purchase a docking computer for say A$20 dollars. I will now go do battle to retrieve my A$84.95.

If you could dock in Elite, you can dock in ED. It is the same, only a lot easier.

 

[Vasious]

Many thanks to all who responded to my "Can't Dock" post, even the critical and sarcastic were fun reading. What seems to puzzle a few people was the fact that I purchased the game twice, well here is the reason:- all my sons have lives of their own now but I have a nephew who used to watch me play the 1985 version so when the modern ED came out and (shame, shame) I failed docking I handed my account to him. On visits I played the game because he had purchased the (to me) the elusive docking computer. So when the April 23 patch came out boasting "easier for beginners" I took the plunge and bought it. Now, thanks to those of you who were instructive in your replies, I know I will be enjoying the game again. To those who were critical, I say "I wonder how your reflexes and reactions will be when you are my age (79yrs), that is those of you who live that long hahahahaha. Happy gaming (while you can)

Welcome back into the Cmdr's Chair

 

[S3B4ST13N]

To those who were critical, I say "I wonder how your reflexes and reactions will be when you are my age (79yrs), that is those of you who live that long hahahahaha. Happy gaming (while you can)

Don't specify your age and people are going to assume you are in a particular age bracket ( 79 is not within that age bracket )

 

[Siobhan]

Don't specify your age and people are going to assume you are in a particular age bracket ( 79 is not within that age bracket )

Although, by no means unique, to be fair. Many of us are old enough to have lost the "twitch reflex" of our younger compatriots - I believe the average is late 40s to early 50s, though I would be happy to be corrected on that point.