Reactive Docking
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 1 step
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
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🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.4% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #23 of 596 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Description
In vanilla X4: Foundations subordinates assigned to a carrier with the 'Launched' option will remain docked until something relevant to their standing order happens.
For example if the leader is attacked then groups with 'defend' will launch to defend.
Most other subordinate groups just have the options to always be launched, always docked, or no dockiong options at all. The overall intend with this mod is to expand this carrier 'reactive' docking behaviour to more ship types.
READ: You may need to disable UI Protection mode ("Settings" -> "Extensions" -> "Protected UI Mode") before you can see the extension settings.
3. 0 Update Info!
In prior version of Reactive Docking, the "Reactive" option selection was tied to the commander pilot. This lead to problems where taking over manual control of a ship, or changing pilot, would reset or otherwise change the docking behaviour.
For 3. 0 I wanted to fix this by switching where I store the selected docking behaviour to a place such that it could now be tied to the ship, rather than the pilot. 3. 0 includes some migration code which will migrate the selected docking options to the new storage and delete the old.
This means that loading a save that has used 3. 0 of Reactive Docking with an earlier version, will result in a full or partial reset of reactive docking options.
Docking behaviour options
You can change the default option for any of these cases in the Extension Options (requires SirNuke's Mod Support API). It is recommended this is only done once at the start of the game, as changing the default options will flip all reactive/launched docking options.
Non-carrier escort wing
Example: Fighter assigned to intercepting for Colossus XL carrier.
1. Docked: Same behaviour as vanilla. Subordinates will remain docked.
2. Launched (default): Same as vanilla. Subordinates will remain launched, and only dock if leader wants to travel far distances.
3. Reactive (added): Subordinates will dock, but launch if something happens that is relevant to their standing order.
Carrier escort wing
Example: Fighter assigned to attacking with Behemoth L destroyer.
1. Docked: Same behaviour as vanilla. Subordinates will remain docked.
2. Launched (added): Subordinates will remain launched, and only dock if leader wants to travel far distances.
3. Reactive (default): Same as vanilla launched. Subordinates will dock, but launch if something happens that is relevant to their standing order.
Station defence wing
Example: Fighter assigned to defence of player HQ station.
1. Docked (added): Subordinates will remain docked.
2. Launched (default): Same as vanilla. Subordinates will patrol around the station in a ran
Reactive Docking expands X4: Foundations' carrier docking behavior, letting more ship types use reactive docking instead of only always-launched or always-docked. Version 3.0 ties docking options to the ship rather than the pilot, with migration code for saves. Requires SirNuke's Mod Support API for extension options.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-trusted with 319 endorsements and over 22k downloads.
- Fixes a real annoyance: docking behavior no longer resets when you swap pilots or take manual control.
- Gives you more tactical control over carrier wings without forcing everything to be launched or docked.
⚠️ Cons
- Requires SirNuke's Mod Support API for extension options, so you need an extra dependency.
- Changing default options flips all reactive/launched settings, so you must set them carefully at game start.
- Save compatibility is one-way: loading a 3.0 save with an older version resets docking options, so you can't downgrade safely.
For X4: Foundations players who command carriers and want finer control over subordinate docking behavior. If you're tired of fighters sitting idle or always launching, this mod gives you a middle ground. Skip if you rarely use carriers or prefer vanilla simplicity.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Disable Protected UI Mode in Settings > Extensions before trying to access the mod's settings, or you won't see them.
- Set your default docking options once at the start of a playthrough—changing them later will flip all existing reactive/launched choices.
- If you're using an older save, be aware that loading it with version 3.0 will migrate your settings, but you can't go back to an earlier mod version without losing those settings.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- X4foundations Mods
- Author
- Runekn
- Version
- 3.0.5
- Downloads
- 22,675
- Endorsements
- 319
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 4/14/2021
- Updated
- 6/7/2026
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install X4: Foundations Mods
Download from Nexus Mods.
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