Oolite Bulletins

Posted: **Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:16 pm**

Hi all,

As the title suggests, I am a noobie to Oolite

In actual fact, I played Elite many moons ago on the Amiga and I clocked up many weeks of play.

First, I have to say that the implementation of Oolite is superb. Well done to all involved, either directly of via oxps. Well done.

Now to my 3 noobie questions.

1. I often find that the "lollipops" in the IFF display are sometimes difficult to read. Particularly I am thinking about the vertical sticks that are part of the display. These sometime get "lost" in the IFF grid and it isnt always obvious which way to go. The Amiga (as I remember) had these wertical bars thicker. So, is it possible to thicken these bars using some magic configuration? I am using the standard HUD, but I am open to changing it if needed.

2. I am using the keyboard arrows to navigate the Mark III Cobra. The sensitivity of the controls I am finding to be a bit high. I only have to "tap" an arrow key and the ship veers quite a way off its line. Is there any tweak in the configuration files that will reduce this sensitivity?

3. Lastly, and a real noobie question

Someimtes when I approach a planet, I end up in a situation where there are no beacons or any of the orbitting stations shown in the IFF. At this point, I do not know which way to fly and therefore I tnd to wander around until something shows up. While this is OK while I am clean and making simple trades between planets, it won't be good enough as I get used to things. Am I missing a setting or do I need to look somewhere in particular?

OK. Once again, well done to all and I hope this games keeps on progressing for many moons to come!

Cheers,

Blighted

Posted: **Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:27 pm**

Firstly greetings, welcome, hiya, Riedquat, left at Albuquerque yada yada yada

1) I don't think this is possible.

2) It can be done yes, but it's a little tricky. The pitch and roll (amongst many other things) for the ships are stored in .plist files within the game structure. These are text files and can be editted to suit. If that prospect isn't scary for you then the way forward can be pointed. Alternatively you can buy other ships within the game once you have enough money saved, or just practice a bit until you get used to it (it doesn't take long).

3) When you get near the planet the compass should automagically switch lock-on from the planet to the main station (an "o" to a square if I remember correctly). And once you've got some money and a suitable planet station to shop at, buy an advanced space compass which is switchable and lets you lock onto the station (or at least the buoy out in front of it) directly from anywhere in the system.

Also I'd heartily recommend reading the documentation that installs with the game (the reference sheet and the advice for new Commanders), as quite a few things have evolved since Elite

Posted: **Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:06 pm**

Blighted wrote:
2. I am using the keyboard arrows to navigate the Mark III Cobra. The sensitivity of the controls I am finding to be a bit high. I only have to "tap" an arrow key and the ship veers quite a way off its line. Is there any tweak in the configuration files that will reduce this sensitivity?

If you think that's bad, wait 'till you try the deadzone on mouse control. It's my favoured control method, but when the RMB centres the movement... there shouldn't be a deadzone at all

Posted: **Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:36 am**

Thanks very much for the replies

I will stick with what I have. After a few more hours last night, things are starting to come together nicely now and I am getting the hang of it again.

Once again, keep up the good work all.

Blighted

Posted: **Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:30 pm**

Thargoid wrote:

3) When you get near the planet the compass should automagically switch lock-on from the planet to the main station (an "o" to a square if I remember correctly).

I had read that this was the case, but I've never seen my compass do this. What might I be missing?

Ver 1.73 from autopackage on Linux.

Thanks

Posted: **Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:00 pm**

New glasses?

The two symbols do look quite similar (see the reference sheet that comes with the installation for images). Either that or you're not getting close enough - you should be near the planet but not so near you're burning up...

Posted: **Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:28 pm**

Sorry, I am still just learning, but I must agree that the compass does not seem to change to a square, although it does lock on to the space station.

Blighted

Posted: **Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:49 pm**

Having just had my advanced compass damaged in a fight, I can confirm that the compass indicator doesn't change to a square, it only changes position when near the planet. I think it changes to a square when the advanced compass is installed and working.

Posted: **Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:08 am**

JazHaz wrote:
Having just had my advanced compass damaged in a fight, I can confirm that the compass indicator doesn't change to a square, it only changes position when near the planet.

This should be reported as a bug. It should change position and become a square close to the planet.

This part of the code was reworked a couple of times, because there was a bug where it would also become a square if you were close to the sun or another planet. When correcting this the square might accidentally have been removed.

Posted: **Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:25 am**

Commander McLane wrote:
JazHaz wrote:
Having just had my advanced compass damaged in a fight, I can confirm that the compass indicator doesn't change to a square, it only changes position when near the planet.
This should be reported as a bug. It should change position and become a square close to the planet.

I think you are using the advanced compass for to long now. I just double checked: When launching a Jameson with Oolite 1.65, or 1.70 you only get the solid circle, pointing to the station, no square. The square is already the advanced feature.

Posted: **Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:39 am**

Eric Walch wrote:
Commander McLane wrote:
JazHaz wrote:
Having just had my advanced compass damaged in a fight, I can confirm that the compass indicator doesn't change to a square, it only changes position when near the planet.
This should be reported as a bug. It should change position and become a square close to the planet.
I think you are using the advanced compass for to long now.

You're probably right.

I stand corrected.

Oolite Bulletins

A noobie with a few questions

A noobie with a few questions

Re: A noobie with a few questions