Sugestion for a new Docking AI

[JazHaz]

I quite like the docking system as it is now, but I go crazy because it does everything at a crawl. Why can't the max speed be upped a little, say to half speed?

[SandJ]

It would be nice that if stuck in a queue the pilot pointed you at the station so you have something to watch whilst you wait.

Interesting idea. You could change one line in the docking AI as follows:

Code: Select all

	STATIONKEEPING =
	{
		ENTER = (performIdle, "setSpeedTo: 0.0", "pauseAI: 10.0");

into:

Code: Select all

	STATIONKEEPING =
	{
		ENTER = (setDestinationToTarget, performFaceDestination, "setSpeedTo: 0.0", "pauseAI: 10.0");

That way the ship will not go 'Idle' when entering the waiting loop, but first doing a turn towards its destination and this will always be the station for docking.

I made this change as soon as you posted it and it has kicked in half a dozen times since then. As I write this I am watching a line of ships docking into an Imperial AstroFactory while I wait my turn.

The above change is so much better than staring into blank space that it ought to be core functionality (IMHO). Anyone who has not made this change manually, I thoroughly recommend it.

[Eric Walch]

The above change is so much better than staring into blank space that it ought to be core functionality (IMHO). Anyone who has not made this change manually, I thoroughly recommend it.

I fully agree, after my initial experiments with it and I couldn't see how it could conflict with existing code, I added the code to trunk. It means that now also the other waiting ships will point to the station, but we may assume that they, like the player, like to watch the progress and not only want to wait till they get a progress message through their intercom.

[Cody]

I'll make a note of the current code snippet then, so I can revert to it in a future version.

[Commander McLane]

The above change is so much better than staring into blank space that it ought to be core functionality (IMHO). Anyone who has not made this change manually, I thoroughly recommend it.

I fully agree, after my initial experiments with it and I couldn't see how it could conflict with existing code, I added the code to trunk. It means that now also the other waiting ships will point to the station, but we may assume that they, like the player, like to watch the progress and not only want to wait till they get a progress message through their intercom.

Sometimes I also like to watch the docking routine of a station. However, in these cases I point my ship's nose to a point about 2000m in front of the dock rather than the station itself. The station sits at the side of my screen and I'm able to overlook more of the approach line of the NPCs this way.

[Disembodied]

Is it worth suggesting some (occasional) random waiting-to-dock radio chatter?

Come on, come on, some of us have jobs to do!

Oh why, are we waiting, why-y are we WAY-ting ...

Soon as we're docked I'm hitting the Evil Juice.

I hear there's big money to be made shipping <randomcargo> to <randomsystem> ...

Help! We are assailed by - oh, wait, no, my mistake, sorry.

In the name of <randomdeity>, what is taking so long?

Last one in is an evil monkey!

and so on ...

[Switeck]

And at the same time as the random radio chatter...have them roll a morale check.
If they fail the check, they break off from the docking queue...and either seek out a less busy station, try to force a quick dock on this station, or just hyperspace out.

[SandJ]

Is it worth suggesting some (occasional) random waiting-to-dock radio chatter?

Thank you for holding. Your passing trade is important to us.
You are number one in the queue.
Please continue to hold.
F8 to view our incredible Commodity Market prices.
The musak is complimentary and was chosen especially for you.
Sooner or later, everyone comes to Oolite.
What do you want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?
Docking will commence when I've finished this game.
Would you like to listen to some of my poetry while you wait?
Commander, I have reserved a table in the restaurant for you.
I'm in the middle of fifteen things, all of them annoying.
Fire drill in progress. Please wait.
Hang on, hang on. I've always had a hard time getting up when it's dark outside.
Boom. Sooner or later. BOOM! Sorry, is this mike on?
Please continue to hold while we sweep the remaining wreckage from the docking bay.
You can come in when we find the "Open" switch.
Commander, wake up. You missed your slot.
Inventory scan still in progress. Continue to hold position.
Klaatu barada nikto.
There is no charge for enjoying the view.
Please wait while the regulars dock first.
Sorry to keep you waiting, my family are arriving.
Commander, we'll let you dock once you've had a shower.
Your reputation precedes you, Commander. Wait there.
Your manifest record is implausible, Commander. Continue to hold.
Station defences are locked on your ship. Do not move.
We're having a little trouble with the auto-dock, Commander, it keeps killing people. Hang on while we just try something.
Back in a minute, Commander, I'm going for more coffee.
Sorry for the delay, we're short-handed because of the planetside annual orgy.
Sorry for the delay, we're short-handed because of the plague. But thanks for coming.
May we remind Commanders that all unattended cargo will be confiscated.
Commander, we are having to re-arrange the entire docking bay to accommodate your ship. Just saying.
Won't be long, Commander, we just need to deal with someone important first.
Next time, Commander, try saying "Please".
No flushing of ship's heads in station aegis, please.
Please wait, Commander. Important people are docking.
Please wait, Commander. Station supplies being delivered.
Please wait, Commander. The station's Lethal Brandy delivery takes precedence.
Look Commander, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.
I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal.

[Disembodied]

Thank you for holding. Your passing trade is important to us.
(etc.)

this has to be included!

[Eric Walch]

this has to be included!

You could create a custom oxp and add above phrases to the current ones:

Code: Select all

	"station-hold-position" =
	(
		"Please be patient - you are being held in a docking queue.",
		"Docking sequence will recommence shortly. Thank you for your patience.",
		"Traffic is heavy, please continue to hold until we can clear an approach for you.",
		"You are being queued for docking. Thank you for your patience."
	);
	"station-acknowledges-hold-position" =
	(
		"Please be patient - we are preparing to accommodate your vessel.",
		"Docking sequence will recommence shortly. Thank you for waiting.",
		"We are preparing an approach for you. Please wait.",
		"Preparing approach for docking. Thank you for your patience.",
		"Your docking request is acknowledged. Please hold for clearance.",
		"We are manoeuvring in preparation for your approach. Please hold."
	);

	// Space station docking clearance
	"station-docking-clearance-acknowledged-d-ships-approaching" =
	(
		"Your docking request is acknowledged. Please hold for clearance.",
		"Please wait until all ships have completed their approach. Your queue position is %d.",
		"We have inbound traffic, commander. Please stand by. You are number %d in the queue.",
		"We cannot clear you for docking due to prioritized incoming traffic. Your queue position is %d.",
		"We have ships on approach to station. Please hold for clearance."
	);
	"station-docking-clearance-holding-d-ships-approaching" =
	(
		"Please be patient - you are being held in a docking queue.",
		"Traffic is heavy, please continue to hold until we can clear an approach for you.",
		"You are being queued for docking. Thank you for your patience.",
		"Please wait until all ships have completed their approach. Your queue position is %d.",
		"We have inbound traffic, commander. Please stand by. You are number %d in the queue.",
		"We cannot clear you for docking due to prioritized incoming traffic. Your queue position is %d.",
		"We have ships on approach to station. Please hold for clearance."
	);				

I think the first three are transmitted once only, but the last is transmitted every time a ship docks while being queued. At least when you have docking clearance enabled.

[Thargoid]

Why do I feel the evil urge to go and find an .ogg file of Greensleeves?

[DaddyHoggy]

Why do I feel the evil urge to go and find an .ogg file of Greensleeves?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greensleeves.ogg

Free too...

[jadenrayn]

I bought the longshot in-game and she will not auto dock. i like the super hubs and the big outside dockers. that way you guys ships wont have to fit in the itty bitty cor. station. what if you gave the station a bigger opening?
or a heli landing pad outside for the med size ships touch and sell/save ect.