Your opinions about shift D

[Rubinstein]

I'd like to hear some opinions about fast docking with shift D. The background: I assume most people (honestly: me too) will use it as long as shift D is available. Since everyone will be able to get a docking computer soon, this always means the end of any manual docking, real docking computer action and the end of any risk from docking. In my opinion it would be more interesting if we would only have 2 options: a tedious but safe* real docking computer or faster manual docking. So it always would be a trade between tedium and (depending on your skills) risk. For me it's also a matter of atmosphere, since the time needed to pass the security area adds something to the illusion of long distances. This also would open a new can of possibilities: nasty pirates who don't respect the security area or docking computer's malfunction due to damage from heavy battles (when shields were too low) for example.

*from the latest post of aegidian I would assume the docking computer is much safer (and slower!) now, which motivated me to come up with this whole thing again. Also, as long as shift D exist, what's the point of all affords to improve the docking computer?

Btw, as the original poster I'm not going to vote here. I think my opinion is quite clear, anyway.

[tupe666]

With the injectors(only just discovered) twinned with the easy anachy worlds it taked v.little time to get stuff. Docking takes the most time

I know how to dock. I would rather use the docking computer, as its rewarding to hear the tune and see the movement but it takes tooooooo long in comparison to this. Although I'm glad its fixed but needs to be fast.

Basicaly I think more balancing needs to be done before shift-d it removed(and IMO it should be)

"nasty pirates who don't respect the security area" I'd love that to happen. It happens now. I just wish some galpol would sort them out.

What I'm trying to say is using the docking computer *should* be a reward(with a fag) for a 15min life/death battle and should not take more than 20sec. Otherwise its just a novelty/nusance.

[SgtSchultz]

While Rubenstein makes some valid points, I am compelled to respectfully disagree with him. [E|Oo]lite is not really meant to be a full-up flight simulator that faithfully reproduces every "real-life" aspect of space travel. The emphasis of the game is on trading and combat. The value, as I see it, in the manual docking sequence is that a newbie, with less familiarity with the flight controls, is compelled in the early stages of the game to master said controls well enough to achieve a manual docking. This is good practice for later on, where mastery of the flight controls is a necessary prerequisite to success in combat. After a few dozen trading runs completed using manual docking, most players I think would have achieved sufficient skill to make docking little more than a tedious, time-consuming exercise - hence the availability of the docking computer: a reward for the player graduating from novice level. The docking computer eliminates one of the more tedious aspects of the game, allowing the player to concentrate on what is really important: Killing pirates and amassing a fortune

Were [E|Oo]lite a full-up flight simulator, I would tend to be more sympathetic to arguments that the shift-D shortcut be modified or removed. One of the features of a good flight sim is reproducing "real life" as closely as possible, including the tedious aspects - obeying ATC instructions, flying "the pattern" before landing, obeying the regs, etc. Since flight sims are often used these days as a training tool for "real" pilots, mastery and practice of these skills, even in a simulation, is important to ensure that the pilot stays sharp. However, I would point out that even in your typical flight sim, one is usually given the option to disable ATC comms (and other realistic but tedious aspects of "real world" flight) in order to provide a more "game-like" experience.

Since Oolite is not really intended to be a full-up simulation, I see little value in forcing the player to constantly go through the time-consuming docking ritual, esp. since doing so adds little the the strategic or tactical aspects of gameplay.

FWIW, I still occasionally perform a manual docking, just to ensure that I have not lost "the touch". I've sworn off using the "C" docking sequence, given that the first time I tried it with my shiny-new DC installed, it rather ineptly crashed me into the station's docking bay walls (and this with what I think is the latest version - 1.51 - installed about a month ago). I will admit that the gentle strains of the Blue Danube waltz were soothing after having just polished off 3 pirates on the way in - 3 kills that I lost, by the way, thanks to the DC's clumsiness.

[EDIT]
After just having read tupe666's just-posted comments, and recalling my own experiences with the "original" Elite ("original" for me being the C-64 version), I do recall two circumstances under which docking affected tactical aspects of gameplay:

1. While not common, it was not unheard-of for combat to take place within the station zone. Pirates would normally shy away from engaging soneone in The Zone, but it did happen sometimes - esp. when a ongoing battle that started just outside station space strayed into the station safe zone. When this happened, sometimes the pirates would run, but sometimes they'd continue to engage. Battles within the so-called safe zone were uncommon, but not unheard of.

2. The ineptitude of some of the (C-64 Elite's) station STC (space traffic control) staff never ceased to amaze me, in that they'd clear vessels for departure just as I was making my final approach to the station. On the flipside, they would also clear vessels for departure mere seconds after my own departure. In either case, some extreme manouvers on my part would be required to avoid collision, not to mention the fact that (if I were on approach) I'd have to re-align and re-start my approach. As I recall, the DC in the C-64 version was smart enough to sometimes perform the necessary evasive manouver when this happened, but not always.

Since I have yet to experience combat inside a station zone (I do not make it a habit of taking pot-shots at the station or the Vipers on CAP/CSP in the zone), and given that Oolite's AI STC seems to be fairly competent (never saw a vessel on egress when making a manual run-up to a station), I believe that my original argument(s) still have merit.

FWIW, I have noted that a station will deny automated docking if it has cause to do so; e.g. if I've acheived hard "Offender" or "Fugitive" status. This is one reason why I still occasionally practice a manual docking, just to make sure I stay sharp.

[Murgh]

I always thought the quickdock key was a representation of successful autodocking, and that the process subtracted the appropriate time skipped from the clock..
as a gamer I'm indifferent to having it, and pretty often dock manually (mostly a matter of having enough injectorfuel) but while doing modding stuff with frequent tedious tests, I really appreciate having the timesave option..
I do think it's good as it is, and that it's down to the gamer's own self-discipline to use it or not in line with the experience they want.

Also, as long as shift D exist, what's the point of all affords to improve the docking computer?

unless I'm wrong I think some NPCs will be thrilled to have them

it'll be nice the next time, to listen to Danube without knowing it's the song of death.

[tupe666]

it'll be nice the next time, to listen to Danube without knowing it's the song of death.

I like that

[Ensa]

One of my favourite things about discovering oolite was that I had to be careful docking again - for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Ok so it got easy quick. But I remember from Elite that the choice to manually dock always made it enjoyable whereas if it had been forced then it would have just become an irritation.
Also, some of us play this game A LOT which means a lot of real time can be taken up docking.
Lets face it. Docking is robots' work and we don't want to HAVE to watch it anymore than we would want to watch cargo being loaded, although the choice would be nice.
If the long docking were enforced I think it would become irritating. Freedom types love this game. Not robots. I say keep quick docking and I will still manually dock about 5% of the time. Blindfolded.
E.
Thanks for a great game.

[Smedley]

I like to use the 'shift' D option when you approach the station if it looks like it is going to be boring - no rogue pirates or debris to pick up.

Mind you it took a while after getting a docking computer to realise 'shift D' was available. until then the docking computer would occasionally crash my ship, or - more frustrating, were ships circling just outside the station entrance - docking computers would either sit waiting forever or crash your ship trying to dock, - blasting the circling ship to pieces tended to upset the locals and your status as clean, manual docking was the only option.

I think get rid of the (shift D) option and make space station areas (especially anarchy systems) more 'interesting'

Smedley.

It most have been at least ten years without this game - how did I survive?!

[jonnycuba]

It most have been at least ten years without this game - how did I survive?!

In suspended animation traveling to Lave on a generation ship...

[AndyC_772]

I am a pirate, so space stations refuse to let me use the docking computer at all - I have to do it manually every time. It's a waste of money for me, in fact. Next time I change ships, I probably won't even bother with one.

I've never had a problem with docking, so it just takes up time - though I do occasionally make a few credits blasting traders as they emerge from the station. Nevertheless, sometimes I can just do without the hassle, so having shift-D work would be welcome. After all, Oolite is a game, and there's no bonus points just for frustrating the player.

Just my €0.02...

[parazaine]

Having played the original game in many incarnations (elite!) Im glad to report that my favourite docking procedure still works in Oolite i.e. line up with station and accelerate at it, timing your entry to coincide with the entrance being horizontal (if such a reference point exists in space) - this works 99% of the time if you are careful and adds a little excitement to the experience - in the original game the DC tended to be a bit twitchy and could frequently fly you into the station but as others have observed, flicking the DC button and relaxing with a cigarette after a hard fought battle while listening to 'The Blue Danube' (or whatever tune you may have replaced it with) still remains one of the games most atmospheric components - should fast docking be possible? I tend to think it shouldnt be (I answered the question eventually lol)

[Rustybolts]

I've customised the controls and removed shift d completely, that and moved cargo eject key damm i hated that key. My A +D key control my yaw.

[Nemoricus]

You might want to check the date of the previous posts before you reply to a topic.

This one was current almost four years ago.

I personally like fast docking, though you shouldn't be allowed to do when hostiles are around.

If you've earned enough money to buy a docking computer, odds are you are already good enough to dock without. It just removes some idle time from the game. It means that you have more real life time to do the things that actually interest you.

You still don't have the option to fast dock with anything but the main station, so that can be fun.

[Rustybolts]

Four years ago or not its still relevant. Besides newer members (myself ) may not of originally read it

[DaddyHoggy]

It was funny reading this thread and seeing some of the old names - then I realised that it had been seriously bumped!!!

Now the heck did you find this dusty old thread?

[Rustybolts]

Parazaine must of used the search button and stumbled across it