new component idea: holo-projectors
 

Here's my idea:

A component that makes the ship look like a different type of ship (or even a planet). I would put it in the cloaking tree.

I don't think it would work too well in tactical combat, as you could simply click on the ship to see what components it had. But on the main scrren it could really fool your enemies. You could make a fleet of escorts look like some really scary dreadnaughts. Or maybe hide your dreadnaughts as a couple of destroyers... or as some asteroids.

Hehe... "Sire! planet Cleveland-Beta has been destroyed by... a warp point!"

So what do you think?

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Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

One could simply stipulate that it had no effect whatsoever in tactical combat, rather than force more clicking. On the other hand, if one added an improved Scanner Jammer, that blocked all view of the status and components *even in tactical combat* (although perhaps you should be able to identify in-use weaponry/shields that your empire understands), then the holographic cloaking device could come *after* that, and include its properties.

I doubt a ship should be able to look like a planet; the size difference is just too drastic. If one accepts the idea of cloaking that can even fool gravitic methods (as is currently done), 'tho, it's not too implausible to allow mimicking other ship classes [including known enemy designs] of the same hull size, or maybe +/- 25% or so.

And I'd prefer a counter be available -- perhaps as a special property of Tachyon sensors (since that tree is rather expensive, IIRC, compared to Hyper-Optics), or maybe an advanced form (requiring both sensors + cloaking tech).


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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

Something I'd like to see was a high level (and very expensive -- to preserve game balance) inteligence project that allowed you to assign one of your ships with the "signature" of another race -- allowing the ship to just waltz past minefields, defended warp points, etc and just suddenly attack.

It would be wierd, an ally just suddenly attacking. A human player would see it for what it was, maybe even notice the sudden appearance of a destroyer they didn't send. But the affect on the AI would be real funny

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

I was thinking of trying something with the asteriod pics but then realized they'd have a flag. Duh.

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

Personally I prefer the idea of flying space-monkeys with limpet mines, or even satchel charges, like the NVA sappers...

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

Space monkeys, eh? Hmm...

------------------
Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

This is a lot like an idea I sent to Malfador back when every one was still playing SEIII.

My idea is now a sort of electronic warfare component.

Lower levels of the component would change the "engine signature" & "Singal Beacon" of a ship so that it appeared to be a different model. Later editions of this component would be able to make a single ship look like it was a whole fleet.

It could probably be countered by various types of sensors. For instance, if you have some low-grade scanners then perhaps they would tell you that there is something suspicious about the fleet of enormous ships bearing down on you, but higher sensor levels would tell you that there is only one ship.

Of course then there would have to be some kind of component that would trick scanners into thinking that there was one of these ship hologram gizmos in operation when actually it is a real fleet cruising along...

Ok, so that's mostly what Spoo said, but dang it, I thought of that too. I even sent in the suggestion! Obviously it was not implemented.

Oh well, I guess we just have to settle for cloaking devices. Say, does anyone ever send in some cloaked war-ships along with one or two wimpy ships as lures?

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

Do ships decloak for combat if not ordered too???

If thought that you had to order them to de-cloak and cloak...

That would stop your lure and kill tactic with a cargo ship fleeted with several cloaked ships...

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Possum:
Personally I prefer the idea of flying space-monkeys with limpet mines, or even satchel charges, like the NVA sappers...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If a 1 kg squrrel has the energy to the equivilent of a 50 megaton bomb imagine the possabilities for a space monkey http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: new component idea: holo-projectors
 

I'd say roughly equal to that produced by a neutral empire...

------------------
Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.