Hyper optics/Tachyon sensors

JurijD · #1 March 28th, 2004, 03:07 PM

Hey, what is the differece (if any) between active and passive EM scanning?

Hyper enables passive and tachion active EM scanning. But in the description they are both supposed to reveal hidden ships in a SYSTEM.

I always thought that for a passive-scanning type of scanner to work you have to have a cloaked ship pass over it...

Was I wrong? If I was,what is the point of having 2 tech types that you can access even withouth recial traits do the same thing?

Arkcon · #2 March 28th, 2004, 04:20 PM

Nah JuriD, all the cloak detectors are the same in the standard game. You even forgot the third tech available to non-racial players -- gravitic sensors. All the same.

One sensor per system of level 1 penetrates the cloak provided by stealth armor. Higher levels are needed to beat the level 2 and 3 cloaking device.

I was playing P&N recently, and I forgot that second part -- ships were attacking from out of nowhere. Had to get those sats with gravitic sensors up quickly. Even then, if I was up against a human, it might not have worked.

Iansidious · #3 March 28th, 2004, 05:49 PM

I don't know why but tachyon senors cost more than the other senors. Might as well save a little if you can.

Ragnarok-X · #4 March 28th, 2004, 06:11 PM

until now i was thinking each scan/cloaking method is unique.
Do you say that EACH sensor tech can detect EACH cloaking tech ?!?

I was thinking only gravitiv scanning can detect gravitic cloaking, only EM can find EM, only temporal can find temporal and stuff. thats wrong ?!

Iansidious · #5 March 28th, 2004, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ragnarok-X:
until now i was thinking each scan/cloaking method is unique.
Do you say that EACH sensor tech can detect EACH cloaking tech ?!?

I was thinking only gravitiv scanning can detect gravitic cloaking, only EM can find EM, only temporal can find temporal and stuff. thats wrong ?!

Each sensor can detect all types of cloak. I like I said a post ago, might as well use the cheaper sensors.

Fyron · #6 March 28th, 2004, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ragnarok-X:
until now i was thinking each scan/cloaking method is unique.
Do you say that EACH sensor tech can detect EACH cloaking tech ?!?

I was thinking only gravitiv scanning can detect gravitic cloaking, only EM can find EM, only temporal can find temporal and stuff. thats wrong ?!

As for the abilities themselves, this is exactly correct. But in stock SE4, Cloaking Devices have the same level of each ability, and Stealth Armor has just level 1 (2 ability) cloaking for EM Passive (and maybe EM Active). So, any scanner can detect any cloaked ship, provided it is of appropriate level, in stock SE4. But, they can be modded to be far more complex.

Baron Munchausen · #7 March 28th, 2004, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JurijD:
Hey, what is the differece (if any) between active and passive EM scanning?

Hyper enables passive and tachion active EM scanning. But in the description they are both supposed to reveal hidden ships in a SYSTEM.

I always thought that for a passive-scanning type of scanner to work you have to have a cloaked ship pass over it...

Was I wrong? If I was, what is the point of having 2 tech types that you can access even without the racial traits do the same thing?

In the default game all sensors are identical. May as well go for the cheaper ones. This is just one of those 'unfinished' parts of the game. MM plainly intended to do more but didn't have time to get to it. In many mods, there are different types of cloaks and different effectiveness for different types of sensors.

Fire · #8 March 30th, 2004, 09:33 PM

I have a question on the difference between sensors & scanners. What does the long range scanners do that say Hyper Optic or Tachyon sensors cant.

Ragnarok · #9 March 30th, 2004, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fire:
I have a question on the difference between sensors & scanners. What does the long range scanners do that say Hyper Optic or Tachyon sensors cant.

Long range scanners are for scanning the components on a ship in the system. The highest level of long range scanners can scan a ship (that does not have a scanner jammer) 5 squares away.

Hyper Optic and Tachyon sensors are for detecting cloaked ships.

rdouglass · #10 March 30th, 2004, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fire:
I have a question on the difference between sensors & scanners. What does the long range scanners do that say Hyper Optic or Tachyon sensors cant.

Scanners can scan ships in adjacent sectors out to the ability limit of the component / level. Sensors only work in the immediate sector as the ship containing the sensor.