Some answers/comments on specific points:
Autopilot turns around and heads directly into planets
Only when the destination nav point is set to the planet or a planet is in between you and the nav point.
The key bindings are... difficult. Pressing F2 by accident inside atmosphere leads to a nice boom. Wouldn't be hard to check before warp?
I've added double checking in the past for various things, usually to the dislike of quite a number of players (selling item double check being the latest example). It's easier and more effective if you simply remap the key to something else you'd prefer, if the F2 proximity proves too much of a boom risk for you.
In multiplayer, we often get disconnected. Friend on local machine=disconnect, both on dedicated machine, BOTH disconnect every now-and-then. Could be better!?
Disconnects can happen if you aren't using legit copies, one or both of you is using an unreliable wireless connection, or if one or the other connection can't handle the bandwidth required. I'll go over some more ideas and troubleshooting options below.
Pressing J while fiddling with keybindings ejects without notice! Of course, two seconds later, the connection is lost. Very annoying.
Not a normal problem, see potential causes above. And if you accidently jettison cargo, you can generally just turn around and tractor it back aboard.
The star map is seriously hard to use. A simple click-and-pan would be awesome.
Years of debate and discussion behind this. Virtually every time a subjective 'simpler' approach has been tried, it turns out to be more difficult for the average user to navigate. Everything from various 2D approaches to 3D maps have been attempted and the current system, once explained and learned, has proven to be the most efficient and effective for the largest group of players. And you can slide the map around if you want to view it that way with the 'Slide Mode' button option at the lower right of the nav console. Still
much easier and faster to just zoom out and right click on a sector to select a new point though.
The dedicated server crashes via remote desktop, due to some 3d calls. The FAQ states something about 3d graphics being needed. After some fiddling around on another machine, I find a bit about a 2D version (which lacks stuff I don't need, anyway). Would be nice to catch that error and tell the user what's what.
Instructions are included with the server program and they includes details about the 2D program. You literally have to uncheck the option to open the instructions after installation to bypass them.
Planets. Generation=AWESOME. They look nice. But: trees and bushes of 5km high?
If the measurements were in meters
Also, who's to say any plant life elsewhere in the universe would be limited to the sizes we have here?
Pressing jettison in the inventory screen says something about "Press again to confirm", but at that time everything is already outside...
You don't press jettison to see a confirmation option. That will only happen if you click on a specific cargo slot in your cargo bay to discard it. And if you do, it won't be outside, it will be scuttled.
Jettison one bit of inventory is not possible?
No, the jettison option opens the cargo bay doors, removing everything in your cargo bay. It's not the option you want to use unless you want to clear your entire cargo bay.
Some planets give missions about mining Oxygen, need to launch & redock to hand in the quest.
If you already have oxygen onboard, yes, you will need to depart and redock.
How come a 50% damaged spaceship costs 800 "credits?" to repair, but fuel costs 8000?
Mostly because you're probably flying a cheap spacecraft to repair. Fuel is fuel, whether you drive a Ferrari or a Toyota, fuel price is the same. But the repair bills for each of them vary greatly.
Jump gates seem hard to hit...
Line up properly before you approach.
The game still responds to mouse movement even when I'm alt-tabbing away.
Don't alt-tab unless absolutely necessary. This game has task focus for some important reasons I won't go into here.
Saving in multiplayer? When and how?
When you're not on contracts. Alt-F9 is the easiest way.
My mining beam seems to "cut" through asteroids quite often...
Yes, the beam passes through and recovers particles anywhere along the way on a molecular level.
Wirping to a planet... Rocket science seems easy, all of the sudden!
Yes, more 'game' that strict 'simulation' with that element. I still hear from a few players on occasion that they feel like they are being required to land the space shuttle and that it's too complicated. But it's simple enough for most and is how I wanted to put it all together.
Clan stuff could be easier, more obvious and with more impact and options
Too subjective to be of much use. You'll need to provide details and qualifications for generic subjective terms like 'easier', 'obvious', 'impact', and 'options'. Otherwise, nobody would have any idea what you are referring to or even if what you might want is already available.
Regarding disconnects:
I'm not aware of any current problems with disconnects, but if you'll e-mail me with this information I can check into it again and maybe offer some advice:
- You say 'we still get disconnect'. Are you using the server program and if so, is it running on a separate system dedicated to it? Or are you using the client to host? If the latter, try using the server program (on a spearate machine) and see if the connection behavior changes. If you're using the client to host, only one client should ever disconnect with the host never disconnecting.
- When you disconnect, do you see an error message in red lettering at the top left of the screen or a pop up box in the middle? And/or does the game just indicate a disconnect due to lost signal.
- Are you using any wireless connections? If so, connect the systems via ethernet instead and test for changes.
- E-mail me the reference ID's you both are using for your licenses to the game (starwraith.com > contact). Also include a msinfo report on at least one of the machines, preferably the one you are hosting with (
http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmercenary/faq.htm#8 ).
- Are you using a shared network connection with other people on the network doing other things?
- Are you using the default update rate in the server settings or a custom one? If custom, what value?
TS3 with the overlay installed.
