Docking Mode: Do you use it?

[stringyquark]

A lesser known feature of docking controls is the space bar double tap. Changes from switch from translation/rotation to hold for rotation release for translation.

[TYRT]

Yes I'm. I think this is more easy than HNJIKL.

[Aragosnat]

Sadly. I'm used to the docking mode as it shows which way my propelent is being pused as sometimes I change my views a lot. That and I'm so used to the WASD keys that any other keys is a pain to remember.

[Pecan]

Pull up a sandbag and sit down, swing the lantern and list' to a tale of old computy ... In days of yore we did learn to type and find all keys without lookin'. Typos there were a'pleny but we sorted 'em as we wan'ed. Then Apple hove inna view and said we had on'y one hand; t'other were fer the mouse. Well tha' was fine wi' cap'n hook and the lubbers but fer the rest is slowed us up rotten. Us 'as two 'ands - WASD is one (wi' QE I don't 'azard a doubt). Fer me t'other IJKL and HN betoo is narry a bother. Be it IJKL or 8426 'tis nothing but keys to who can. Who can will, however they will, and god bless the buggers behind.

[Hope this makes some sort of sense - I'm in an odd frame of mind, lol]

[SnappingTurtle]

Only for rovers. They should call it driving mode.

[Tank Buddy]

I changed my translation controls to the arrow keys and Rshift and Rctrl, and it works just as fine. I was too lazy to memorize the keys. Docking mode isn't that helpful since it just moves the translation controls and removes the rotation controls so...

[6.forty]

I use it all the time for docking. If I need to rotate, I just press space to switch to rotation mode. One hand on the mouse for camera handlage, and the other on WASD for my translatizing and rotamation all in one place.

[Anton P. Nym]

Flight mode only, mainly because I've set the translation controls on my 360 gamepad so that I don't have to switch at all. (Joysticks for rotation, D-pad and shoulder triggers for translation.)

-- Steve

[GusTurbo]

I use flight mode to dock. To me, there's something cool about using both hands on the keyboard without touching the mouse.

[bobcook]

I just stay in flight mode and use the translation keys.

Yep, me too. So much easier for me than docking mode. No idea why, but it is.

[TMS]

Never used it. Not even sure how to engage it.

The whole concept of having to switch between translation and rotation seems like a PITA, and having to press the same button as the one that stages your craft just seems like it's tempting disaster.

I always used chase mode and the IJKLHN keys, but the addition of the docking port alignment indicator mod seems to make the need chase mode irrelevant.

[Madrias]

Docking mode for rovers, but otherwise, it's a "three hands on keyboard" scenario. Right hand balances between camera and the Translation keys, the left stays managing RCS, SAS, throttle, and pitch/yaw/roll. It's just smoother. I can quickly move in any direction I need to go, line up on my docking ports, grab my shiny orange tank of LV-N fuel, and skip off without much hassle.

[Seshins]

I use docking mode and flight mode to rendevous

[Lambert2191]

flight mode with the docking UI mod

[SpaceSphereOfDeath]

Flight mode for docking, I find it much easer because if I want to rotate, I have to move my hand further, thus less chance of accidentally switching modes and rotating away from the docking port, it might also have somthing to do with how long you've been playing KSP, people before (IIRC) 0.18 learned to translate via HNJKIL and thus it has become muscle memory, if you started after 0.18, since you were still learning you would naturally be drawn towards the most logical and normal way to translate (WSAD), since it seems more natural.

QED

[palioxis1248]

Flight mode. It's hard to have used HNIKJL translation for most of your flight then switch over to a completely foreign set of controls for the last critical 30 seconds.

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

I only use docking mode for driving rovers

[katateochi]

What is this docking mode you speak of? oh, driving mode, yes I use that, for rovers. Flight mode for everything else.

[The Destroyer]

It's useful, but I just use the chase cam.

[Rango]

I have my keys rebound all different from stock, and for some reason I can't seem to use the docking controls while in staging mode so I'm forced to use docking mode. I don't like it, since I use separate keys for translation anyway, but either way its a case of been there done that so nowadays I just pack plenty of RCS fuel and let MJ deal with the tedium.

[Vanamonde]

I can't seem to use the docking controls while in staging mode

That's how it's supposed to work. The one is meant to be an alternative to the other, and both can't be active at the same time.

[SDIR]

Usually, I find it easier to tap delete, switch to docking mode and keep my hands where they were before on the keyboard. Also, really helps when your laptop doesn't have a numberpad.

[Sticklyman]

I also had no idea what docking mode did until I already had enough successful rendezvous...s under my belt that it seemed pointless to switch. Though I do like the sound of using it for rover control. Maybe that's why my rovers are always such unmitigated disasters.

[AmpsterMan]

I'm one of the few people that uses docking mode. I like having the controls segregated as such. Though for landing I tend to use staging control with my right hand on the other side to help stabalize my landing. (I like to do precision landings.)

[Wallace]

I always use d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ docking mode, it's great. Tho, if rover wheels responded to IJKL then I'd never need it.