Planet Landing Question

Mister Vertigo · Post by **Mister Vertigo** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:02 pm

I know this sounds really dumb, and I'm sure I'm missing something obvious, but I can't figure it out.

I'm having trouble docking on planets.

I can run through the training and land perfectly every time. Sometimes during the regular game I can get it to work, but lately I'm not having any luck.

I jump near the planet and I start flying towards the city. I slow down to around 750. I see the green landing lights and I follow them in all the way to the starport in the city. But, when I get there, the tractor beam doesn't engage and I just kind of bounce off. Sometimes I can come to a complete stop on top of the landing area and save my game a quit. Then when I come back the game will dock me as soon as I load.

Is there something I'm missing? How much does speed matter once you are in the atmosphere? Does the angle make a difference?

I'm just perplexed. If anyone has any tips I'd appreciate it. Thank you in advance!

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:06 pm

Welcome to the game, and the forum. Sorry, that one has me puzzled. I come in a lot faster than 750 and have never had a problem. Perhaps when Vice comes on he'll be able to sort it out.

Post by **Vice** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:40 pm

Perhaps you're approaching too low? Try approaching the docking pad at the city from above, descend onto the docking pad rather than trying to approach level with it or below it.

Mister Vertigo · Post by **Mister Vertigo** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:46 pm

I'm sure I have tried that, but I can again just in case. Is it better to come straight down on the docking pad? It just seems odd because I have the green landing lights the whole time.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:17 pm

Strange... never happened that way to me either. This game is "bug-proofed". One of us is missing something to be sure.
Good luck tho.

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:23 pm

Happens to me all the time. Just push your nose down and add a bit of throttle. If that doesn't work, pull away from the landing pad, climb a bit, crank 'er around, and try again from higher up.

Bossk · Post by **Bossk** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:10 pm

Make sure you have not turned off auto dock (alt F3 I think). Can you dock in a station OK? If not then that may be the cause.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 12:56 am

Yes both scenarios can cause this. 1. To low of an aproach. 2. Auto dock turned off. There is a third scenario but it does not apply to you since you did not mention that as soon as you dock you explode....LOL....

:P:P:P:P This 3rd scenario only happens on high storm planets and you can not land on them or dock without exploding......

Mister Vertigo · Post by **Mister Vertigo** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:22 am

I have tried from a variety of approach angles.

Hmm.. auto-dock... that sounds like it may be it. Is there a way to tell if I have it on or not? Tonight I couldn't land on a planet so I went to the station in orbit, and I could not land there either. So, I saved out, came back in and I was docked on the station. I immediately left the station for the planet and landed with no problems, using the same approach I had earlier.

I was doing a lot of mining so I was in and out of the inventory screen a lot (by pressing F3) so that very well may be it.

I'll give it a try.

Great game so far! I just wish payday was sooner so I could buy it! I'm still playing through the demo!

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:51 am

I do not know if Auto Dock turn off works in the Demo. It was recently added as an option as an update to the newer versions of the game. I never turned it of however and never tried and do not even remember how to turn it off but I know there is a way and you might have done so accidentally and I think the default is Auto Dock on and so that is why when you re-enter the game your docked....

[Edited on 4-14-2010 by Maarschalk]

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 3:14 am

Default key combination to toggle Auto-Dock on-off is ... great, I forgot. Yoda moment (in my case, line bottleneck of the negatronic gateway). Either it's Ctrl+F3 or Alt+F3. Or Shift+F3. Anyway, it's definitely a combo of F3 plus something else. But it should be "on" by default. Unless you have big thumbs (or pinky fingers ... depending on your typing skills) and are prone to pressing down on additional keys while typing.

Mister Vertigo · Post by **Mister Vertigo** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:01 am

Yep, it was the Auto-Dock. I must have accidentally hit Alt-F3 while I was mining, since F3 is tied to the inventory screen. A status message appears when you turn it off and on, and when I made sure it was on I never had any trouble landing. I never would have figured that out!

Thanks for all your help everyone! I've had two problems trying out this game that were both solved very easily and quickly by this awesome community. You guys rock!!

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:46 pm

LOL...that is why I love this forum, and this game....

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:13 am

Yes we rock!

Rock on guys...

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:10 am

Originally posted by Mister Vertigo
Thanks for all your help everyone! I've had two problems trying out this game that were both solved very easily and quickly by this awesome community. You guys rock!!

Imho, this is the best community ( not just gaming community ) on the net.............