Cloaking and Detection

posted on September 11th, 2009, 2:24 am

Looks fantastic. Awesome.

I don't mean to detract from the above, but did you (the dev. team, I couldn't think of a better way to refer to you in my present state of alertness) consider implementing the TDG as it was in the first place?
It would make lines of sensor platforms, as seen in various representations of the neutral zone borders, a real practicality. Obviously it could be more difficult to actually do (I can't think of anything even remotely similar that could be re-purposed...  ), but the rewards would be bountiful

posted on September 11th, 2009, 8:33 am

we thought about net-like detection, but that has some problems both technological and gameplay wise. Therefore we thought that by the time Fleet Operation takes place, a "ping-like" technology sounds more logical.
But we want to get different ways of detection per race, like the Klingons for example will now get small sattelites that orbit buildings to get their detection.. i think we could make up a unit or two that can deploy a detection grid for the Federation in the future just not right at the moment. I definitely like the idea

posted on September 11th, 2009, 5:11 pm

Sounds very cool Optec

posted on September 11th, 2009, 5:36 pm

I was thinking of this.

The Everyone has those detection grids (which to me it sounds more logical to be on BATTLESHIPS and FLAGSHIPS), but also everyone has their own way of countering cloaked fleets for when they don't have their detectors.

The Federation would use a Tachyon Scan. But forcing ships to decloak seems Illogical. Rather it would leave a Tachyon signature on the hull of the cloaked ship allowing you ships to 'see' it and fire their weapons on it and so on.

The Klingons would go for a more Offensive approach, they would send out a Metreon Wave causing all cloaked ships to recieve heavy damage on their hull as well as the loss of their weapons and one other random system. The disable of weapons would force them to decloak and basically be open targets until they can fix themselves... if they can before blowing up.

The Romulans on the other hand would probably rather enhance their cloak. So maybe some ships can emmit energy waves allowing their cloaked ships to repair and damaged systems they may have when cloaked.

The Dominion, Phhh, the Jem'Hadar can see a cloaked ship! They don't need any specialized weapon they can just target and fire!

The Borg can Easily adapt against cloaking (in fact, shouldn't that be build into the features of the Data Mining research?) so they cna just shoot at cloaked ships.

posted on September 11th, 2009, 6:16 pm

If nothing else, the Borg are a true uni-mind.  When multiple ships, each with thousands of drones, all are processing a slightly different angle on visual and data sensors, and combining them into one picture the discrepancies should be obvious to the collective.  Combine that with technology leaps and bounds beyond nearly everyone else and it seems that the Collective should be the masters of pimp-handing stealth attempts.

posted on September 11th, 2009, 6:19 pm

The Dominion, Phhh, the Jem'Hadar can see a cloaked ship! They don't need any specialized weapon they can just target and fire!

The Borg can Easily adapt against cloaking (in fact, shouldn't that be build into the features of the Data Mining research?) so they cna just shoot at cloaked ships.

The targets still need to be detected before they can be attacked. Specialized Sensors would still be needed.

posted on September 11th, 2009, 7:51 pm

all races will utilize pings to detect cloaked vessels, but they will get them via different ways and in different modes

posted on September 12th, 2009, 9:38 pm

I have one question, if you schip cloaked is possible to have your shields up?
Or will you lose the cloaking?

posted on September 12th, 2009, 9:43 pm

Cloaking with Shields up works, the Romulan Stationary Cloak allows both Shields and Weapons online while cloaked.

posted on September 12th, 2009, 9:44 pm

As does the ability for Spectre Refits (for Romulan Generix)

posted on September 13th, 2009, 8:59 am

awsome sh. guys

i like the idea cloaking det. gets some tons of way tactical playgrounds

posted on September 17th, 2009, 9:42 am

should be fun trying to sneak by

posted on September 22nd, 2009, 12:49 pm

Just to be absolutely clear, is this sonar-graphic showing us the actual ping moving out in a wave every 10 seconds, or does it just show us the area it covers?

posted on September 22nd, 2009, 12:57 pm

the animation is displayed every 10 second, so its the actual ping, yep

posted on September 22nd, 2009, 12:59 pm

And if you successfully dodge this ping with a cloaked ship you will be undectected? Or is it too fast for that?