It seems archaic that docking is manual until the last few meters. Wouldn't station owners prefer to be in control of the docking process from several klicks out? It also has to be the most tedious and boring part of VO.

I actually like the fact you have to dock. If it was automated you would have a cut scene, a simple jump to the station interior or a tedious wait while your ship docks. The first two would be too immersion breaking and not what MMO's are about and the last would really be boring IMHO.

What's wrong with archaic?

Automatic docking may work in games like Wing Commander.

Not so in VO. If you're running from a pirate, you'll want to perhaps make your own approach to minimize the chance of being hit, and if you're a pirate on the run from overly zealous players, you might have the same problem.

I pride myself on my ability to hit the dock on full military afterburner at max cruise speed and evaporating into the hangar before I slam into the rear wall. When you're under pressure of a timed mission, or if some scruffy pirate is hounding you for some scratch, it's a good thing.

Anyway "The Blue Danube " gets annoying after a while....

Auto-docking would suck ass. Let's not make the game any easier for folks who cannot fly their ships properly. This isn't some point-and-click game, you have to demonstrate at least a BASIC amount of twitch skill to be successful.

Actually, I think docking should be harder. It might be nice to require an approach vector, staying on the ball, and landing in a controlled fashion.

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/7692

See: "autopilot"

Here is one more NO vote for auto-docking. It isn't that hard to dock, even in a moth. As Sledge points out, it is actually quite entertaining to see how fast you can come into a station and still dock successfully without hitting the station or another vessel. I agree with some of the others, in that, part of what sets Vendetta apart from other space mmo's is learning to pilot your ship successfully.

I barely even think about docking anymore. I just set up the trajectory as soon as I have a clear view of a port and then boost in like a madman.

I second Leber's suggestion. Reaching the absolute safety of a station should be harder.

It would give the station's guards and strike force more of a chance to earn their keep, too :)

I had to laugh a bit at Sledge's comment and go ahead and add in that I like to shoot stuff at the wall while I'm flying into the dock at 200 m/s.

Auto docking would just be too tedious in my opinion. I always hated that part of Freelancer.