Forums » Suggestions
Docking speeds
Ummm..Excuse me Arolte?
Are ye implying that me using Arcade is n00bish?
But anywho, I say the limit should be 40, with a 5m/s leeway, and if you go slower than 30m/s in some places you should get a ticket for going too slow(like you can't go 20 on a highway with the limit posted 80)
Are ye implying that me using Arcade is n00bish?
But anywho, I say the limit should be 40, with a 5m/s leeway, and if you go slower than 30m/s in some places you should get a ticket for going too slow(like you can't go 20 on a highway with the limit posted 80)
A ticket for going too slow? o.0
In the tubes maybe....
But I really wasn't meaning to talk about "speed limits" or human imposed rules, but simple conservation of momentum. These are big ships that are probably massive too, and flying into a dock at Mach 0.6 cannot be a good thing.
In the tubes maybe....
But I really wasn't meaning to talk about "speed limits" or human imposed rules, but simple conservation of momentum. These are big ships that are probably massive too, and flying into a dock at Mach 0.6 cannot be a good thing.
Why not have different docking speeds for different stations types. It makes logical sense, since larger, more sophisticated docking ports are likely to have some form of arresting gear, whereas smaller outposts wouldn't be as well equipped.
whoa lets not get complex yet. It hasen't even been implamented.
A speed ticket for going too slow? NO please. Thats crazy, It better safe then sorry, and safe is going slow enough to do the job right. Do officers give tickets for going slow in parking lots? NO. Would spacers give tickets for going slow into dock? NO.
A speed ticket for going too slow? NO please. Thats crazy, It better safe then sorry, and safe is going slow enough to do the job right. Do officers give tickets for going slow in parking lots? NO. Would spacers give tickets for going slow into dock? NO.
I like the idea. Racing into a dock in a fully loaded centaur at 200m/s is pretty silly from a physics standpoint. I know it's a game but some things need to be at least partially realistic. I think a docking speed limit of 40m/s is a reasonable limit with a fine for speeding. and the dock doors simply don't open if you are exceeding 80m/s. so instead of docking you crash into that back wall. Call it an emergency safety override for the stations protection. (i wouldn't want a prommy bouncing around inside my space station)
Lets go a step further tho. Eventually, tie the lower speed limit to the station defenses. if there is a no-fire zone around a station enforced by turrets, there is no reason to go racing to the dock since anyone who fires on you is gonna get shot up by the station defenses. Impose a fine for speeding in the no-fire area, payable upon docking. (give it a button so that paying it is optional, you just cant buy/sell cargo/equipment/ammo/repairs untill you pay your speeding ticket. If the fine is high enough, (for instance if you have docked and left without paying it several times) the station simply refuses to allow you to undock untill you pay.
The higher speed limit could be modified by the station itself.. a more high tech station with larger traffic capacity could have a higher top speed before the docking bay refuses you. That would make sense since a larger station would have better safety equipment to stop the ship once you are inside the docking area. (with a correspondingly higher fine of course)
Lets go a step further tho. Eventually, tie the lower speed limit to the station defenses. if there is a no-fire zone around a station enforced by turrets, there is no reason to go racing to the dock since anyone who fires on you is gonna get shot up by the station defenses. Impose a fine for speeding in the no-fire area, payable upon docking. (give it a button so that paying it is optional, you just cant buy/sell cargo/equipment/ammo/repairs untill you pay your speeding ticket. If the fine is high enough, (for instance if you have docked and left without paying it several times) the station simply refuses to allow you to undock untill you pay.
The higher speed limit could be modified by the station itself.. a more high tech station with larger traffic capacity could have a higher top speed before the docking bay refuses you. That would make sense since a larger station would have better safety equipment to stop the ship once you are inside the docking area. (with a correspondingly higher fine of course)
Not that it isn't fun to go zooming into a dock at 200 m/s, but how about placing a cap on how fast you can be moving when you dock? Say 15 or 20 m/s.
Here is my reasoning behind this suggestion:
A) It isn't very realistic to go boosting into a station at full throttle. One of the more challenging aspects of piloting a shuttle is docking with the space station. I'm not saying that we have to make docking an actual challenge (although that might be fun), but let's face it, if a spacecraft plows into a space station at 200 m/s that spacecraft oughta be toast.
B) In terms of gameplay, this would add a few more levels of strategy to docking. You would really have to make sure that no one was on your tail before docking, since you would have to slow down and would be vulnerable. This means Valk jocks would no longer be able to make quick escapes by zooming into the docks once their hull is low.
Implimentation should be fairly simple. If the speed indicator is above 20 m/s just don't show the "Press enter to dock" message or echo something like "Reduce speed before docking."
Now obviously there are a few kinks in this theory which I 'm sure you the intelligent Vendetta community will be quick to point out. But let's discuss...
Here is my reasoning behind this suggestion:
A) It isn't very realistic to go boosting into a station at full throttle. One of the more challenging aspects of piloting a shuttle is docking with the space station. I'm not saying that we have to make docking an actual challenge (although that might be fun), but let's face it, if a spacecraft plows into a space station at 200 m/s that spacecraft oughta be toast.
B) In terms of gameplay, this would add a few more levels of strategy to docking. You would really have to make sure that no one was on your tail before docking, since you would have to slow down and would be vulnerable. This means Valk jocks would no longer be able to make quick escapes by zooming into the docks once their hull is low.
Implimentation should be fairly simple. If the speed indicator is above 20 m/s just don't show the "Press enter to dock" message or echo something like "Reduce speed before docking."
Now obviously there are a few kinks in this theory which I 'm sure you the intelligent Vendetta community will be quick to point out. But let's discuss...
me like
It is a good idea, albeit frustrating. Ever charged into a dock praying for dear life that the docking will catch on before you are killed? And with recent lag spikes its been even worse. Thankfully lag has gone down in the last update...
I think it should be a littler higher like 30m/s.
The only problem I can think of is that it will be extremely hard to get used to at first.
I think it should be a littler higher like 30m/s.
The only problem I can think of is that it will be extremely hard to get used to at first.
I like that idea. Is it possible to arbitrarily affect speed/headings in a certain area? If not, that would be a boon both to game-play and mission building. For example:
Use 1 - Docking
If ship is in the docking area, its speed is a maximum of 20m/s.
Use 2 - Traffic Control
-----
Controller's Office: Welcome to Madrid Nueva VI, a Neutral Territories trading outpost. We have recently put new traffic regulations into effect to reduce the incidence of docking area collisions. To ease compliance with these regulations, a docking AI has been implemented. Press "agree" to slave your computer to our docking control AI for 30c. Otherwise, press "disagree", and be warned that any violation of traffic regulation will result in an immediate fine.
Madrid Nueva VI Control, out.
-----
If you agreed and paid the 30c docking fee, your ship would be taken over, piloted through the girders and alleyways of the station complex at what some would contend is a ludicrously rapid pace, dodging other ships all the way, and deposited facing your assigned entry dock. If you declined, a beacon would be dropped in front of the dock, and it would be up to you to find your way in through the traffic. Any violations (collisions, wall-bumps, wrong turns, weapons discharge or making funny faces through the canopy) would cost you between 5 and 50c, depending on the severity of the violation. In short, it would be really dumb to refuse to pay your fee unless you knew the station intimately. This would provide for the "docking tax" some have argued for, and bring money from trade economies into local systems.
Use 3- Missions
This could provide for everything from black holes to tractor beams to the infamous Star Trek "Screen Shake", enhancing immersion.
Use 1 - Docking
If ship is in the docking area, its speed is a maximum of 20m/s.
Use 2 - Traffic Control
-----
Controller's Office: Welcome to Madrid Nueva VI, a Neutral Territories trading outpost. We have recently put new traffic regulations into effect to reduce the incidence of docking area collisions. To ease compliance with these regulations, a docking AI has been implemented. Press "agree" to slave your computer to our docking control AI for 30c. Otherwise, press "disagree", and be warned that any violation of traffic regulation will result in an immediate fine.
Madrid Nueva VI Control, out.
-----
If you agreed and paid the 30c docking fee, your ship would be taken over, piloted through the girders and alleyways of the station complex at what some would contend is a ludicrously rapid pace, dodging other ships all the way, and deposited facing your assigned entry dock. If you declined, a beacon would be dropped in front of the dock, and it would be up to you to find your way in through the traffic. Any violations (collisions, wall-bumps, wrong turns, weapons discharge or making funny faces through the canopy) would cost you between 5 and 50c, depending on the severity of the violation. In short, it would be really dumb to refuse to pay your fee unless you knew the station intimately. This would provide for the "docking tax" some have argued for, and bring money from trade economies into local systems.
Use 3- Missions
This could provide for everything from black holes to tractor beams to the infamous Star Trek "Screen Shake", enhancing immersion.
I agree that docking speeds should be limited. It would be cooler to have more skill based docking procedures, but that would probably scare newbies and arcade players away. With the option of arcade mode and physics mode, I think Guild is trying to make the game appeal to both experienced and unexperienced audiences at once. But I think docking speed limits would definitely work great.
I say atleast 60m/s or less. If you do 60 people can still have their engines running at top speed without turboing and be able to dock.