Oolite Bulletins

Commander McLane wrote:

By the same logic (manual) docking should also take ten minutes

It is an inconsistency, certainly - but it's a small bonus for pilots who always dock manually.

Well, you know, following along these discussion paths, asking for "Launch Clearance" would make sense as well.

Noticed a problem with the "Docking Clearance Protocol". Sometimes I get the clearance okay - power up my engines and head for the docking port - and boom - there's a ship that launched from the station right in my face. The game should make sure - or at least wait for a bit - before giving clearance.

Also, waiting for clearance can be a little frustrating, like when you are # 14 in que... Okay, I have time to make a coffee... Come back, see that I am now (let's say) number three wait a while and when my turn is up... Told that there are some priority launches, and now I am (re)qued t number nine (!)... Sigh, okay wait some more... The told that my request has been cancelled. Then I have to ask for clearance again (SHIFT + L) and start all over again.


I know that may sound extreme, but it has happened to me (more than once).



Other subject: How do you guys get your naval energy units?
I see from pictures you posted in some threads, that you nearly always have one on your ship.
Do you keep going back to the system station(s), and eventually a ship becomes available for sale with one installed?
The best system I have found is Ceesxe, and frankly the ships for sale there seem less in number than say somewhere like, Xexedi.



Other question: Any particular reason to go to another galaxy?
Is there better passenger/cargo contracts available in those?
Not that I need the money, I can buy a fully outfitted Anaconda if I want (actually I might try one, see how bad it actually is...), but am curious is all.



Final one (for today - lol). About the game clock; do we have a time limit for playing the game? Will I eventually die of old age, or something?


Thanks guys.

DeathKnyte wrote:

How do you guys get your naval energy units?
I see from pictures you posted in some threads, that you nearly always have one on your ship.
Do you keep going back to the system station(s), and eventually a ship becomes available for sale with one installed?
The best system I have found is Ceesxe, and frankly the ships for sale there seem less in number than say somewhere like, Xexedi.

There's a mission that awards you one. Buying a ship that already has one is a shortcut, which was not possible in ELITE.

DeathKnyte wrote:

Other question: Any particular reason to go to another galaxy?
Is there better passenger/cargo contracts available in those?
Not that I need the money, I can buy a fully outfitted Anaconda if I want (actually I might try one, see how bad it actually is...), but am curious is all.

One reason is the aforementioned mission that happens in G3.
Another reason is that one mission takes you to G2, and happens to be the prerequisite for the other mission.

DeathKnyte wrote:

Final one (for today - lol). About the game clock; do we have a time limit for playing the game? Will I eventually die of old age, or something?

AFAIK, [edit]in the game:[/edit] no.

DeathKnyte wrote:

...do we have a time limit for playing the game? Will I eventually die of old age, or something?

No, Yes
Sorry about the last bit...circumstances beyond our control etc

hehe.

Okay, in game we live forever, as long as we don't get the "Press Space Commander" screen.


So the Date / Time serves as reference for certain things like passenger / cargo contracts, etc.



How do you start this naval energy unit mission? Just by traveling to galaxy #3?
There should be some kind of mention to this in the game instruction manual.
Wait.... Maybe it is in the FAQ on the wiki...
Okay, it mentions that - but doesn't inform you how to initiate it.
I wouldn't know about this "mission", unless I asked about it here on the boards.


Other inquiry involving play style: Sometimes when I shoot a Python, the pilot will eject and the ship remains motionless in space. Do you guys usually shoot the ship after, or just let it drift?

Don't rush to do the missions etc...there's plenty of time You need to complete another in-built mision first anyway and that will come along when you are ready for it.

As for derelicts, yeah, shoot 'em. You'll get some free plunder to scoop

DeathKnyte wrote:

How do you start this naval energy unit mission? Just by traveling to galaxy #3?
There should be some kind of mention to this in the game instruction manual.
Wait.... Maybe it is in the FAQ on the wiki...
Okay, it mentions that - but doesn't inform you how to initiate it.
I wouldn't know about this "mission", unless I asked about it here on the boards.

The idea is that you discover the missions yourself. Just do your normal thing in game and sooner or later you will meet the conditions for getting them to start. There is a certain element of surprise for the player involved in this, which is why there is no mention in the game's manuals. It's for the same reason that the "0" (zero) key is mentioned in the Reference Sheet as "Activate specialist equipment" without further hints as to what it does. Admittedly, the surprise value is diminished by the information in the wiki and by discussions like this very one we have now on the forum.

I still remember the sound of my jaw hitting the floor when the Constrictor mission kicked in while I was playing the Spectrum version. I thought I had seen it all in the game and then that happened. I was thunderstruck and couldn't believe that they actually built something like this in the game without anyone saying anything about it. Definitely one of my most memorable "WOAH!" moments in gaming.

another_commander wrote:

I still remember the sound of my jaw hitting the floor when the Constrictor mission kicked in...

I felt the same - absolutely amazed - I'd had no inkling the mission existed. When I saw that "Incoming message..." my first thought was that something had gone wrong and the game had crashed. As far as I know that was the only mission available on the Beeb, but it completely reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the game, as I felt I'd pretty much done it all until that happened.

another_commander:

Okay man - understood. And thank you.



I'll enjoy the game as is (not hard to do, I play it every night since having discovered it).

I'm learning how to use my side lasers now, but still quite hopeless with the aft one - lol.


Relating to energy units; I have purchased an "extra" energy unit for my Fer-de-Lance, but it still shows as having just two of them on the HUD display. This normal?
Didn't bother me so much when I was using the Boa Class Cruiser, cause it has so many already.


Concerning the waiting time for the landing clearance protocol, I just turn on the television, and see what's on the news while waiting, or brush my teeth, change the litter for my cat, or whatever else that requires a few minutes. When I'm number 18+ in the docking que, I might clean the furnace ducts, or rotate the tires on my car (lol).

Oh ja, I'm getting pretty good at manual docking now too.

DeathKnyte wrote:

I have purchased an "extra" energy unit for my Fer-de-Lance, but it still shows as having just two of them on the HUD display. This normal?

The extra energy unit improves the recharge rate of the energy banks, it doesn't add them.

See also at [wiki]Extra Energy Unit[/wiki]. The Elite Wiki has much useful information on all  equipment you can buy.

Ah!
<slap head>
Ja - you're right. I should have checked the wiki for that.
Excuse me guys.
I usually check the instruction manual first, before saying anything too stupid.
Didn't have enough coffee yesterday, before posting that.


Tackle this one, if you please:

I see that the Random Hits oxp was originally made by LittleBear, who seems inactive now.
Who's responsible for it now? Like I mean, who is making sure that it still works with the current version of Oolite?

Thanks

DeathKnyte wrote:

I see that the Random Hits oxp was originally made by LittleBear, who seems inactive now.
Who's responsible for it now? Like I mean, who is making sure that it still works with the current version of Oolite?

Eric Walch maintains it.

DK I use my front laser till it overheats and then flip over and continue firing using my aft laser this means I can take out a python or a rock hermit/pirate bay in one double volley a lot faster than just using the front laser. This is how I fight groups of up to 5 pirates at once without running or dog fighting. HTH

When I used to play Elite, a few years ago... ::cough:: ::cough::
...I think I remember being able to press a key which reversed the controls and I use to do this when I flipped over to use the aft laser, haven't found this yet if Oolite has this functionality?

Cpt:

I can't get my brain to grab the concept to work the aft laser properly.
I know that it just means reversing my pitch axis, yaw is the same, and roll don't matter.
But I can't get my hand to do what my brain says.
Best I can accomplish, so far, with the aft laser - is blowing up asteroids, or if I'm not moving - to laser any cargo pods I eject and don't want to pick them up again by mistake.

I have managed to become somewhat proficient with the side lasers though, strangely enough....
I'll try and over heat those first, and save my front one for final shots and/or for big emergencies - like a hardened missile.



Svengali:

Thanks, buddy.



Eric Walch:

You have to tell me how I can get my ship (Fer-de-Lance) to look like the one that Viceroy 'Honest Crook' Mitchel uses - please.
I saw it on display, at a Seedy Space Bar, in one of the contracts offered.
It's beautiful - the loveliest ship design I have ever seen yet.
Sleek, stylish, simple, and elegant.
If it requires programming knowledge (like just about anything it seems, in Oolite modifications), tell me which course I need to take and in what school.