Player Features and Ideas Discussion

When you undock from a Station everyone undocks from the same port. This makes it quite easy to:

• Increase the amount of time a ship takes to clear the way for others especially in highly populated areas
• Create a single "choke point" for those wanting to suicide gank by giving them one point of egress to drop cans or by creating a blockade with ships etc
• Involves some bumping of ships of each other until the tussle is won and the ships involved can get underway

My idea is to enable multiple points of egress from a station to give greater flexibility to pilots when undocking. This would effectively:

• Reduce the time to undock
• Give a challenge to "Station Campers"
• Provide a more immerse environment whereby not all ships leave via the same docking port.

The undocking bay could also be selected by the next System in the Autopilot if you have one set whereby Docking Control will release you on the side facing the stargate you require. If no System is set in Autopilot then you are cleared to undock via the default (current undocking port) undocking port.

The new in-station graphics show ships flying past your hanger going somewhere...by where are they going? I'm sure that the stations don't all have just one hanger for incoming ships. Ships dock from all 360º so why not have ships undocking from more locations?

Thoughts? Flames, Likes and comments all welcomed.

And no, I don't need a doll to show the court where the suicide ganker blew up my ship after leaving Jita 4-4 as this is an idea based of another thread I saw regarding docking and parts used and NOT a knee-jerk reaction to losing a ship.

EDIT: TL;DR Version

When undocking from station ships exit from multiple ports of the station adding to immersion, reducing ship bumping and adding more logical undocking.

EDIT: To get this Idea back on track I've scored out the parts of this being an exploit as it seems to have distracted from my main idea of this thread that this was based on immersion and reducing the "bumpty-bump" of undocking. To all those who were angered or offended I apologise, it was not my intent to imply that you were exploiting mechanics\things in the game and was poorly worded but that you have been using a tactical advantage to engage in what are affectionately know as "Station Games" I believe.

This Idea is NOT designed to remove that tactical advantage but addresses both undocking immersion and how it could affect the above mentioned "Station Games".

A little note to "Like but No Comment" Forum Goers:

Please, if you like this idea add a little +1 in a reply as well and keep it alive. Hell, even if you don't like it let me know why and I'll reply\refine my idea.

Thanks for reading and for all your comments, + or -, they all help to add to an amazing universe.

Some Minmatar Stations have two undocking tunnels but only the top one is ever used so this could also be used. I agree that ships will still undock with you just depending on where you are set to go next or if no waypoints are set you're scheduled to depart from Hanger 1 using Docking Port 1.

It's not PVP, well not in the consensual sense, but this wasn't aimed at that it was just a by product. If you sat right on top or underneath a station you could still "PVP". It deals with more than that.

EDIT: Your "PVP" or "Station Camping" could be regarded as an exploit of the undocking mechanic which is merely one of the things this idea addresses but more importantly was the "ship bumping" when undocking and that you have to travel away from the station to turn and warp to a stargate that might be "through" the other side of the station.

LOL! I'm not trying to nerf station games and I don't think this would TBH but would like to make undocking more realistic and it might ease the server load you never know with all that lack of bumping.

I agree but then you adapt to what is happening, not enough people to cover a Gallente Station...shift to a Minmatar perhaps. The real point behind it was simply improve undock with less bumping, perhaps on the same side that the stargate you require is and build in more immersion. Blends with the new hanger graphics and doesn't break the lore.

EDIT: Also, as PVP seems to be the focal point for this thread unfortunately, should it really be that easy for PVP to hit a "choke point" when it's a mechanic to undock everyone from the same point? Shouldn't they work a little harder for that kill? Don't we have gates for that kind of action? just my thoughts on the PVP aspect thinking about it but this isn't the main aim of this idea.

What are peoples thoughts on the undocking in general? The new "ships flying past your docking bay in station" graphic. Think this idea blends in or other ideas based on this?

Oh you're obviously angry at my idea...I'm sorry I put this out there for people to comment on. /sarcasm

EDIT: See updated EDIT in OP

Actually, I think you will find, that I said could be regarded I never said was and wouldn't. It's part of the game play mechanics but is only accomplished because everyone undocks from the same point.

But just for clarity:

ex·ploit n.
An act or deed, especially a brilliant or heroic one. See Synonyms at feat.
tr.v. (k-sploit, ksploit) ex·ploit·ed, ex·ploit·ing, ex·ploits
1. To employ to the greatest possible advantage: exploit one's talents.
2. To make use of selfishly or unethically: a country that exploited peasant labor. See Synonyms at manipulate.
3. To advertise; promote.

EDIT: See updated EDIT in OP

Station camping.. can't be regarded as an exploit. No way, no how.

I actually quite prefer the undock being in the same place all the time. Much easier to avoid unexpected PvP that way. If I undock and there's a bubble, I dock up again. If there isn't, I warp to my instant undock. From docking invulnerability to warp invulnerability.

If there were multiple different undock channels, I'd be more upset by it. I'd need multiple undocks for each pipe out of each station. I'm quite fond of keeping an undock for the next few grids out of station, so as not to be too predictable.

+1 would like.

Don't think it would change station camping massively, just make it more of a challenge. But I would restrict it to just a couple of exit points, 3 tops.

In fact, it wouldn't be too absurd to think that a station could provide a service where you get the current status of the undocks, and possibly camera feeds.

This could be something you pay for, i.e. VIP undock, and could also be related to your standings.