Question about nebula systems

justjake73 · #1 July 14th, 2001, 06:32 PM

How are sensors affected in a nebula system?

Can I clear a space in the storm, hide a satellite in the nebula, and still see any ship that enters the cleared space?

If so, will this satellite remain hidden to that ship?

Phoenix-D · #2 July 14th, 2001, 08:46 PM

I don't think you can clear a space in a nebula.

Phoenix-D

capnq · #3 July 14th, 2001, 09:02 PM

The nebula in a nebula system is a background image; you can't clear individual sectors in it.

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Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

Magnum357 · #4 July 15th, 2001, 07:30 AM

Ya, Capnq is right, you can't clear a square of space like you can with a storm. Makes sense too because nebulas are HUGE! Usually light years across in diamater. Besides, what would be the point, you could see only in the section you cleared (which would probably be a significant small fraction) and the enemy would be able to know your their.

justjake73 · #5 July 16th, 2001, 10:35 PM

So sectors cannot be cleared like a storm? Why do they have Beta Pulsers then? I was thinking of clearing a few sectors, placing some satellites to act as an "early warning system." But you can't clear squares in a nebula?

geoschmo · #6 July 16th, 2001, 11:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by justjake73:
So sectors cannot be cleared like a storm? Why do they have Beta Pulsers then? I was thinking of clearing a few sectors, placing some satellites to act as an "early warning system." But you can't clear squares in a nebula?

The Beta Displacement Pulser works fine on a storm, but a storm in one sector is not the same as a system sized nebulae. To remove that you need a Nebulae Graviton Emitter.

If you don't have the time or resources for that, a minefield works fine as early warning in a nebulae system. They blow up whether the ships are cloaked, in a nebulae, or whatever. The only thing is IIRC you don't get a message if the enemy sweeps your mines, only if they take damage from them. So you will have to keep one eye on the field to see if it is still there.

Geo

[This message has been edited by geoschmo (edited 16 July 2001).]

#7 July 17th, 2001, 02:35 AM

Mines on the nebulae side of the warp point work fine. But if you lack sensors, put ships on the other side of the warp point, otherwise on the nebulae side ships can slip past you. I found that out the hard way in one of my early games....

capnq · #8 July 17th, 2001, 08:25 PM

quote:
IIRC you don't get a message if the enemy sweeps your mines, only if they take damage from them. So you will have to keep one eye on the field to see if it is still there.

Yep, I just had two minefields completely swept by an incoming invasion fleet with no notice at all.

------------------
Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

Suicide Junkie · #9 July 17th, 2001, 09:15 PM

Should mines take up movement points to sweep? Ie, the sweepers spend a whole MP flying (slowly) around the sector before declaring it save.

Then, you could use them to slow down an invasion force, or make the enemy break up into smaller Groups of sweepers.
Either way would give you an early warning, and you might have a chance to counter-attack the smaller sweeper fleets.

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Puke · #10 July 17th, 2001, 09:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by LCC:
Mines on the nebulae side of the warp point work fine. But if you lack sensors, put ships on the other side of the warp point, otherwise on the nebulae side ships can slip past you. I found that out the hard way in one of my early games....

yeah, and if its one of those nasty red nebulae, then your sensor ship will just sit there thinking that its doning something when the enemy fleet is slipping right by it because of the higher cloaking level there. I found that out the hard way in one of my late games....

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