Oolite Bulletins

Lengthy testing has revealed...

The Python Class Cruiser (an OXP overdue for reworking) is measurably too large for most docking slits.

Should I have Oolite check for this and autopilot-dock the PCC sideways through the slit, or should I shrink the PCC, and will either option confuse people?

I'm assuming the 'scoop' part is the real problem?
Could you 'flatten' the PCC, so it has roughly the same volume, but with a changed cross-section - less tall, but wider?
Maybe we should be looking at how stations would cope with extra large ships - external docking pylons? - since it would only apply to oxp situations, it wouldn't necessarily affect the 'strict' Oolite play.

The entire top and bottom of the hull scrapes the sides when docking. You're right, the scoop does take it over the minimum dimensions. But without it - there'd still be hardly any room to manoeuvre.

My preference is to revise the autodocking procedure and recommend you dock the PCC sideways.

aegidian wrote:

My preference is to revise the autodocking procedure and recommend you dock the PCC sideways.

My vote is for this option. It adds to the gameplay in it's own little way.

Well, that will be interesting to watch!!

aegidian wrote:

My preference is to revise the autodocking procedure and recommend you dock the PCC sideways.

Sweet! In space noone can hear your handbrake turn...

Sideways is good.

Of course you realise then that anyone docking a PCC will HAVE to do it at full speed whilst screaming "YEEEEHAAAAA!", then yell "Who's the man!!" upon successful docking.

Selezen wrote:

Of course you realise then that anyone docking a PCC will HAVE to do it at full speed whilst screaming "YEEEEHAAAAA!", then yell "Who's the man!!" upon successful docking.

Fortunately, the PCC is large enough for a gunrack in the rear window...

Maybe the stations should have secondary larger docking bays, like the normal one just taller/wider?

Stations can only handle one docking bay being attached at the moment.

StarGazers suggestion that outside docking pylons or anchors makes sense to me, the idea of of a few Anaconda & larger ships sitting snug inside the station always stretched my imagination...Also it would look cool to have smaller loading craft scurrying to & from the Station with cargo, much like an airport.

Come to think of it, in 'Final Frontiers' there were often several big ships parked around the station, some apparently derelict...

Final Frontiers? What's that?

External pylons do make sense though I have another suggestion...

When you get a certain distance away it changes viewpoint and control to a worm, launched automatically from the big ship. You dock the worm instead and assume that cargo is shipped accordingly. After all, was that not it's original function?

It does bring into question a few aspects of Elite/Oolite that could be expanded upon - I know most of them will be a lot of coding work, but they're worth suggesting (feel free to split this off into the Suggestion Box if desired).

1: could there be a 'parking zone' around the station in which ships larger than docking bays could be parked. If the player has one of these ships and brings it to a stop in the zone, then autoshuttles could come from the station and take cargo away. The pilot/player can then have an option to board a smaller ship and go to the station.

2: Additional traffic in the Oolite airspace could be added (by OXP), including shuttles going to and from stations and bulk ships.

3: The much-mentioned possibility of having escorts for larger ships. Player or NPC could take on this role.