Docking beams on Cockpits, increase max dock size, modular ships, cryopods and weapon cockpits

[seablaster]

So. First things first. I have a huge ship. I play on a faction server which has several megaships devoted to docking and transporting other megaships. The problem is, we keep being limited by the max docker size, only about 1/5 the size of even our smaller ships. We need the ships to be big for defense against a rather massive pirate fleet and some rouge players who thought it would be a good idea to cheat themselves into the pirate faction. We need to be mobile for the same reason. Another problem is docking beams. Most of us armor our cores heavily, and, as a result, are unable to dock from the core. We have cockpits at numerous locales on the hull, but are unable to use them because the sheer scale of the ship prevents docking attempts as the cockpit is so far from the core that the tiniest change causes a ten-meter shift. Therefore, I propose that the docking beam should come out of the camera the player is observing from, be it the core or cockpit. A final point is a personal idea I had not long ago- modular ships. Being able to put camoflauged dividers in a ship, with a special block (Secondary Core?) in the corner/center/whatever would allow you to break a ship apart into piesces which could each be piloted or AI'ed individually while still being subject to the orders of the central core, or float free. They could still use computers in a brokenoff section of the ship, and upon destruction of the main core, the designated Secondary Core could assume control of the remaining fragments. They may also be individually detatched or grouped into categories which could all pop off at once (Yes, like escape pods) to be controlled by AI or player, perhaps to a specific planet/station/mothership/shop/sector/star. Ideally any change of this nature would include a cryopod or similar player transportation measure that didnt include control of anything except when to get out, and maybe not even that- of course it would have to be an option or something, and maybe a thing that would link it to the ships cameras. Speaking of cameras, maybe certain weapons could be linked to cockpits, for the benifit of the gunner?

 

[UpperFlagAstro]

I do agree that you should be able to dock larger ships as well as have chain docking (thats in another forum). Now about your docking beam from the cockpit idea, I think that you can just as easily line up a cockpit with your core, that is what I do, have a dedicated docking cockpit.

 

[Nootau]

I like the ideas in general but for your second point, why not use docking enhancers?

 

[seablaster]

That kind of IS my point. Docking enhancers only go so far. Eventually they will hit a size cap and bug, causing it to ony evaluate the enhancers on the most recently updated axis.

 

[Nootau]

What size of a docking array are you trying to make? I want to see this myself.

 

[seablaster]

Look at this. This is what happens on a 1-degree change.

 

[seablaster]

There is a supercarrier the size of a planet. Look up the Harbinger in the catalouge.

 

[Nootau]

I am not searching through that. It will take me a good while to find anything on that thing. It needs a search function. Link it

 

[seablaster]

Sure. You know, this was in the active topics list?

http://star-made.org/node/1409

 

[seablaster]

A heh. oops, wrong one. But we need to dock that one too!

On the dark side, it was never uploaded to the main catalog, just the local one. I\'ll get that out there soon.

Luckily, i know how big it was- about the diameter of a planet with the length of 4 planets stacked on top of each other.

 

[Nootau]

I see the real problem. It is possible to make a docking area of proper size, it is the beam that is the issue. While it is saying it is not compatible(rogue error that happens even when it is large enough of a docking point) it is not saying the area is not large enough nor is the box of the docking area appearing in red which would show the area needs to be larger. My issue with trying to dock is that the beam\'s angle makes no sence. I am placed cockpits at multiple new locations yet either the view doesn\'t show a beam at all or the beam is using odd angles making it difficult to target the docking point. Going to keep at it for a bit but I am simply holding down dock and spinning my mouse in circles trying to hit the sweet spot.

Note: It seems the docking beam animation stops at 100m, which might be part of the difficulty with aiming it.

 

[seablaster]

My diagram above demonstrates the same. The Docking Field animation is also limited in a similar fashion.

 

[Nootau]

Even after ripping a hole through the ship from the core to the docking platform.. i couldn\'t get an accurate beam onto the docking point. Even though I was aiming at it from the core, its accuracy was wildly off.

 

[seablaster]

I hope schema reads this and fixes it.

 

[seablaster]

What if i were to PM Schema? tell him about the bugs.

 

[Nootau]

Poking him personally about bugs of which he most likely knows about, will not help things.

 

[seablaster]

Youre probably right.

 

[seablaster]

I am almost entirely sure that most of my content has never been seen before here, that might be worth sending. Or do I just have an overinflated head?

 

[Nootau]

If you want quicker attention, put it into bug forums. You will just be one of thousands of e-mails about random things. Though a post on the front of the bugs page is something much easier to see.

 

[seablaster]

Yeah. I think I\'ll do that