New Pilot, same old newb questions.

[superbatprime]

Hello fellow commanders, I can't believe it took me so long to find this game.

I'm probably on the younger end of the player base, but while I never played the original Elite as a gamer I was always aware of it's legendary status (and indeed, the lack of any real "modern" equivalent).

But now I'm here and I'm very happy with what I'm seeing.

So on to the nooblet questions.

I'm naturally trawling through the OXP list to build my game into what I want it to be, mostly just ambience and getting some life into th universe around me.

My issue is not actually an OXP, it's with the the Docking Clearance feature, I know it's in there and working as I got fined for manually docking at the Lave station without clearance, I used the small OXP to switch the featurew on (I'm no code monkey and never fiddle with the games guts manually no matter how simple the procedure).
My problem is I can't get clearance, so I did a few searches and whatnot but couldn't find anything to help.

So is this the correct procedure: approach station, target with R, press L to request clearance?
The R part seems to be working but nothing happens when I press L torequest clearance.

I can live without this feature, but it would add so much to the experience for me.

I know I'm doing something wrong or missing something brutally obvious, but I just can't figure out what.
I also stripped out all OXPs except the Docking Clearance switch flipper one but still no response when pressing L.

Thanks in advance for any help, I will probably have a bazillion other questions as time goes on but this is the important one for me right now.

[Switeck]

I have to use shift+L to get docking clearance.
I don't need it to prevent fines, I use it to prevent other ships from suddenly ramming me in the face.

[superbatprime]

Yes!
Thank you very much sir.

The wiki says to press just L, naturally it never crossed my mind to try shift+L but yep, that works.

Now all I need to do is load up all my OXPs again and get playing, I've only actually been out to the buoy and back (about 20 times lol) while trying to sort this out. :/

Now I'm ready to see what's out there.
Thank you, you've made my day.

[Cody]

Thank you, you've made my day.

<grins> Welcome aboard, Commander... enjoy!

[Rese249er]

...I've only actually been out to the buoy and back (about 20 times lol) while trying to sort this out.

Sounds like somebody won't be needing docking computers any time soon!

[Smivs]

...I've only actually been out to the buoy and back (about 20 times lol) while trying to sort this out.

Sounds like somebody won't be needing docking computers any time soon!

Docking computers are for wimps Use injectors

...and Welcome! superbatprime.

[Cody]

Docking computers are for wimps... Use injectors

<nods emphatically>

[S-P]

I found by the time I could afford a docking computer, I could manually dock with my eyes shut.

[superbatprime]

Cheers dudes.

Docking is no sweat, I've played a lot of Orbiter.
I'm also using mouse control to rotate and Delightful Docking OXP to make station rotation a little more graceful.
It's still quite tense but in a good zenlike way and verrry satisfying to slide in smoothly.

On a side note... I just found out what the D key does, seeing my precious cargo of furs (all the assets I had in the world) float gently away into the void was... enlightening.

The initial learning curve is steep in general in this game tbh, but it really opens up quickly once you get what's going on, noob mission OXPs are next (from what I can see the handful of basic unmodded missions seem to be for advanced commanders only) and a new HUD.

Great game gentlemen, only wish I'd found it sooner.

[Hober Mallow]

1500 cr for a docking computer? Never more!
The annoying endless "up - down - right - left..." with the computer? No!

I bought a docking-computer because I thought it might be good to have one but I never use it.

Fly to the buoy, set course to the station, hit the injector until you're close to the gate, compensate rotation and then dock with full speed. That's the way!

[JazHaz]

The wiki says to press just L, naturally it never crossed my mind to try shift+L but yep, that works.

Have updated the wikipage for the Docking Clearance protocol to clear up that misunderstanding.

[DaddyHoggy]

I'm guessing shift+l = L, is where the mistake occurred?

[superbatprime]

I'm guessing shift+l = L, is where the mistake occurred?

Exactly, so the wiki was actually correct tbh, I was just too dense to understand, I guess sometimes something is so obvious it's easy to miss, plus all the keys are marked in higher case on my keyboard so I thought it meant just press the button marked 'L'.

I feel a little foolish now but it's all good and believe me it's not the worst mistake I've made in this game so far.
As somebody who plays WASD control games a lot, my muscle memory wants to roll the bird with A & D and when under pressure instinct kicks in and cargo jettisons out... So yeah, I'll be investing in a scoop asap. :/

Or maybe just reassign that key.

[superbatprime]

I do have a proper question... about 2 minutes ago I dropped out of hyperspace and got two maydays in 30 seconds from a lone Python.

Is there any way to respond or do I just go and look?
I cruised over to him but he was alone, I didn't see anything on scanners that looked dangerous, he then just continued on his way and didn't repeat the message.
So am I missing anything in this scenario or did the pilot just have a fire he managed to put out?


Also, would pirates be capable of putting out fake distress calls?

[Cody]

Is there any way to respond or do I just go and look?

All you can do is go look... it might lead you into serious trouble, but hey!

Also, would pirates be capable of putting out fake distress calls?

I've often suspected that this happens, but I don't think it actually does... a pity, really.