Long Range Scanners

ExSentinel · #1 July 15th, 2005, 06:49 PM

How exactly do these work and what do they scan? Is it worth investing research points into?

Captain Kwok · #2 July 15th, 2005, 06:59 PM

They provide you information regarding other ship designs and their cargo contents up to the distance in sectors specified - provided that the ship does not have scattering armor or scanner jammers.

Fyron · #3 July 15th, 2005, 09:00 PM

At least for PBW, the ubiquity of scattering armor makes long range scanners less than useful. The defense bonus of the armor is crucial, and the scanner blocking is just icing on the cake.

Arkcon · #4 July 15th, 2005, 09:43 PM

Most of the TDM modpack races research scattering armor early as well. In the standard game, AI races may take a while to research it, but once they have, they start using it.

Still, an enemy ship returning from a battle you didn't take part in may have been stripped of its armor, and you can glean a ship design to see what you'll be up against. Its fun to have, but I wouldn't make it a priority research.

Parasite · #5 July 16th, 2005, 01:41 AM

They can also be used to give you looks into fighter and sat stacks. Especially of allies. Many freighters and smaller ships and bases do not have use scattering armor. It can let you see cargo carried as well. It tells if those carriers are full of fighters or just running empty, or maybe troop transports in disguise. Colony ships or a CL colony ship making a suprise colony.

Kamog · #6 July 16th, 2005, 03:33 AM

If they have scattering armor you can send in a cheap sacrificial ship out to attack them to look at their design. Or maybe a cheap drone or something. (I don't use drones much.)

Alneyan · #7 July 16th, 2005, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Kamog said:
If they have scattering armor you can send in a cheap sacrificial ship out to attack them to look at their design. Or maybe a cheap drone or something. (I don't use drones much.)

Yup, any battle is enough to look at those designs, and it will be much cheaper and faster... but less subtle. The only uses I can see for Long Range Scanners are those situations where you must check on the supply level of an enemy fleet that has already been damaged; Long Range Scanners are also good if you are trading ships and have an exhibit somewhere in your Empire.

Randallw · #8 July 16th, 2005, 06:07 AM

While we're on the subject, is there a component that lets you view a planets facilities/cargo. I thought it was long range scanners and built one but it didn't let me see the details of the planet. I had to use intel in the end.

Ed Kolis · #9 July 16th, 2005, 07:53 AM

No, you have to use intel.

Parasite · #10 July 25th, 2005, 12:08 PM

Another use I was just reminded of it the ability of these scanners to see what space based shipyard are building and the time to completion.

Assuming you have some knowlege of ship types and build times, this information can be used to help plan attacks. Capture ships can choose a sector with the turns remaining at two, while saving sectors with turns remaining of 6 till later. You can see if a remote mining base is being built, or warships for the mill.

While not close to the top of the research tree, they can be useful, and I would not put them at the bottom.