sensor idea

this was discussed in tangent to another thread about long range radars
I think it should work for anything beyond close orbit, but closer than that you should be garunteed sensor accuracy.

of course, I dont think thats how this game is going to work

You can never be sure right there should always be a margin of error to add a bit more fun and surprise.

I would personally find that really frustrating. If devs added this, I'd hope it would be an option. I can see where someone might want to have to peg through a spectrum analysis to try to match the signature to one in the data base (you sub sim zealots!) but I think that could be pretty mind-numbing after a while.

Is there a sensory tech research in the game? I guess an older sensor could have a margin of error, but the better they get...

I think it should work like this

there are three types of sensors, one which updates fast, but has a huge margin of error, one that updates with moderate speed, and has moderate errors, and one that is very, very slow at updating, but is incredibally precise.

I don't know how accurate a radar should be to distinguish between two squadrons flying in perfect sync just meters apart... Imagine tactis you could do with it. It would add a lot of realism to the game

but of course there should be a counter, ex; flack weaponry will take them both out

Imagine this scenario.

"Sir, we have spotted an enemy task force closing in on Proxima III. Emmision pattern indicate 2 capitals, 3 cruisers and 6 escorts."

"Ok, notify admiral Nimitz to move his fleet to intercept."

- 24 hours later -

"Sir, admiral Nimitz is about to intercept the enemy task force"

"Put me through to him"

"Admiral, this is Emperor Hull, can you confirm the composition of the enemy forces?"

"Just a moment please, our recon drones are closing in on the enemy - first readings are coming in - What? Are you sure? Ok. Sir, it seems we have been tricked, the enemy task force consists only of 2 cruisers and 3 frigates, all the other vessels are now identified as Wild Weasel drones, emitting the signatures of larger warships."

"Emperror, we have a reading on another enemy fleet, it is closing in on Denebola II, where admiral Nimitz´ fleet was stationed. Reading 3 capitals, 5 cruisers and 9 escorts. We have only the regualar insystem defense group there"

"Oh hell, we are screwed"



Higher Tech sensors could probably look through the deception.
You could try some realy sneaky stunts with something like this

yeah, thats the idea xD

of course, there should be the "highly accurate" sensor I mentioned before that could do a direct visual scan, but it would have to update really slowly.

more like a telescope than a sensor.

sorry about the double post...
damn errors

You mean something like this:

Alter Phase Signature: Sends false phase jump signatures to a target planet to mislead hostile players into believing that your capital ships are en route. Can alternatively be used on friendly capital ships to mask their phase jump signature, preventing them from being detected in transit by sensors at the destination planet.

You can find that on the Vasari JiTirska Scout page


I would have to imagine that you can research better sensors or upgrade your sensors so that you are less likely to be fooled by such a trick. Conversely, the Vasari can probably boost the effectiveness of that technique through research or upgrades.

in cases like these the question has to be asked: which one wins out? (they can't BOTH win when at max research)

Who says that there has to be a max? It can go up and up and up until you can no longer afford the next increment up.

no, thats pretty stupid. that could easily sidetrack the game into a pissing contest

and besides, it would become cost/effectively useless after a certain level.

They CAN both win its called splitting up your fleet just to be sure, i would never just trust my sensors no matter how good they are. And imagine a game which has been in standstill for a while, both players are getting bored of battles where neither one loses or wins, or they win and then their weekended fleet gets destroyed shortly after. So, both the players start thinking of how to trick the other into moving his fleets away and into worse positions, and in the end one of them gets a good anti-sensor tech which lets his fleets pass undetected or something like that. And BOOM the balance shifts and the game becomes a survival/tech fest which i would find very fun.

And BOOM the balance shifts and the game becomes a survival/tech fest which i would find very fun.

fine, but still, sidetrack your enemy into that and then build a massive fleet with the money it would cost to get to the next level!

Exactly! It opens up a huge amount of strategies involving speculation and trickery.