Docking Error? / Just how playable is the alpha?

[iamjon]

Been following this project for a while and played around with a few of the alphas. But decided I'd try a play properly this time. Unfortunatly I hit a problem docking at my first space station.Started at Lave loaded up the ship and then went to MJBN 386-2-3 and attempted a manual docking at Sung Orbiter. Requested docking clearance (proceed to bay 2) and got in on my second attempt (manual without docking computer). However now i'm sat inside the station with a few other ships and everything spinning around me but can't see how to dock.Should this be working?Is there an overview of whats done and what isn't somewhere?

[NeuralKernel]

I've noticed that docking is tricky at certain kinds of stations, but it should work fine. Keep your speed set to below about 15 meters per second and try to hit the green square exactly. Just keep practicing and keep your velocity low... it'll work.The Alpha is actually very playable, IMO... starting at Lave is the "Hard Difficulty" in many ways, though.

[Loki999]

In answer to the title, very playable. Just be prepared for issues from time to time, it is after all an alpha.

[Luomu]

I would appreciate hearing more experiences about station docking because I might take a stab at improving it.

[Brianetta]

Just remember that you can't dock with your wheels up.

[iamjon]

Still not working for me. I get in the station fine landing gear is down. Just get stuck in the middle of the room, shouldn't a docking sequence take over?[attachment=1486:Capture2.jpg][attachment=1484:Capture.jpg]

[robn]

Docking is triggered when you fly through the station's docking surface (for the station you have there, its an invisible surface across the tunnel mouth) at under 30m/s with the landing gear down. When you get it, the flight status display in the bottom right corner will change to "Docking" and you'll have no control of the ship.If you find yourself down in the green room and still in control, then you missed it or came in too fast or something. Try again. It might help to let the autopilot do it and watch your position and speed closely went it switches to "Docking".And yes, this is all extremely sucky. It won't be like this forever.

[iamjon]

Got it <img src="'[url]http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_smile.gif[/url] class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />I was going in too fast, if over 30m/s you still get in but docking sequence doesn't fire. Seems a bit odd that I can safely enter the station multiple times without firing the docking sequence.May should allow faster dock speeds say <100m/s, anything faster and it counts as hitting the station?Problem with the Lave start is can't afford a docking computer at the start. But I wanted a Cobra MkIII. Don't normaly find docking too hard anyhow, getting to the station in the first place is the tricky bit.This may be a dumb question but how do I refuel? - Worked it out, just needed to buy some water as fuel.....-- Finally made a tidy profit taking hand guns back to Lave. Can afford that autopilot now.

[Bugbear]

'iamjon' wrote:
Got it <img src="'[url]http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_smile.gif[/url] class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />I was going in too fast, if over 30m/s you still get in but docking sequence doesn't fire. Seems a bit odd that I can safely enter the station multiple times without firing the docking sequence.May should allow faster dock speeds say <100m/s, anything faster and it counts as hitting the station?
Just bear in mind that the current docking max speed of 30m/s is a bit over 100km/h. 100m/s would be over 300km/h. You really want to be docking at speeds like that? <img src="'[url]http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_smile.gif[/url] class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-)' />

[Marcel]

I'm planning to put airlock doors in that thing if it can be converted to the new modeling system. I've never liked those 'force fields'. Hopefully, if you try to dock at 100m/s you're going to go 'SPLAT!'.