Problem with ship designs & scanners (1.67)

ckotchey · #1 August 5th, 2002, 09:05 PM

In my first game, I've noticed something odd. I know the design of a particular enemy ship. Thus, I can view it in the ship designer windows. However, when I see one of these ships in actual space and click on it, it does not allow me to click on the "Comps" tab to see the components - when I cant remember what sort of weaponry it has. I notice, however, that if I get a long-range scanner within range, I can again see the design from the main screen by clicking "comps". At first, I thought it was because the ship had a Scanner Jammer aboard, but upon looking again, it doesn't have one. Even if that was the case, however, that should not matter since I already know the design - and if I know the design, I should ALWAYS be able to view it from the main screen. Is this a known problem? I have SE4 gold, 1.67 patch.

geoschmo · #2 August 5th, 2002, 09:11 PM

It's not really a problem per se. It's just how the game was written. It's doing what it's supposed to do. Although what you are suggesting has been suggested and I for one would love to see that change implemented.

One difference is when you are close by with scanner, you aren't seeing the design as much as you are seeing exactly what is on that ship at that moment. If components are damaged you will see the damage as well. If it was jsut the ship design you were seeing that would not be the case.

If you think of it in those terms it makes a little more sense the way it is currently. However, I'd still like to see that changed to allow you to see the ship design somehow without havin gto go to the enemy ship design screen.

Geoschmo

ckotchey · #3 August 5th, 2002, 09:17 PM

Yeah, I thought about that too - but I think it'd be fine to see a fully-operational ship in the default (i.e. worst-case scenario) case, only to be "pleasantly surprised" to see that the ships is damaged when (a) a long-range scanner comes into range or (b) I enter a battle with it. This would be much more preferable than to have the frustration of saying "crips! I *know* I've seen this ship before!" and have to blow several mouse clicks & moves to dig around the ship design windows to see the information that should have been on the main screen.

geoschmo · #4 August 5th, 2002, 09:18 PM

I agree totally. Hopefully it will be added in a future patch.

Q · #5 August 6th, 2002, 08:08 AM

At least on my (old and slow) computer it may take quite a time till the enemy ship design window is shown in the later game when a large number of ship designs are present. So I would welcome very much this shortcut (that existed in SE III!) that allows you to see the design (if you know it) if you click on the enemy ship.

Cylapse · #6 August 16th, 2002, 06:41 PM

I definately DO NOT agree. However if implemented it shouldnt merge so slopilly with the LRS... Otherwise you arent sure if youre looking at an old design or a new Long Range scan.

I would prefer instead of that mess, that when viewing the "comps" tab ((assuming they make your request viable)) it should show small lettering within the Components window (similar to the "Obsolete" flag) which indicates whether its a new scan or data extracted from the designs database.

If I can easilly discern between whether its an active scan or an archived image than I support this 110%...