Forums » Suggestions

Partial joke at first, but sounds plausible, Cloaking device

May 15, 2009 Gulain link
Before everyone jumps in ... read

Yes, a cloaking device.

What does it do? Well, you do not show on radar, you cannot be targeted.

Restrictions:
MAX SPEED 20 m/s.
Can be seen on sector list but no distance. As if out of range.
Still visible by sight. So you can be seen.
Cannot fire weapons while active / firing drops cloak.
Cannot activate after firing / disabling for 1-2 minutes
Runs off of Bat - and needs a initial charge to work
Probably a large port weapon

Basically an ideal tool for miners in more traveled sectors. Can be used in other applications though is limited.

Let the "constructive critism" flow!
May 15, 2009 Dr. Lecter link
MAX SPEED 20 m/s.

Still visible by sight. So you can be seen.


Um...really pointless. Cloaking is, of course, one of those topics that's been discussed a lot before. But I don't think I've seen any suggestion in that vein that was quite THIS stupid before, so kudos for novelty.
May 15, 2009 bojansplash link
We have discussed this numerous times over and over during last 5 years.
RP background is present in the backstory.
According to backstory, Itani have mind shields, Serco have cloaking device.
Alas... HIVE got shields before any nation and will probably get a cloaking device.
I still remember invisible bots on a rampage thru Odia a few years back.
May 15, 2009 FatStrat85 link
May 15, 2009 zamzx zik link
if you want stealth, follow this formula

1) enter sector
2) do a 180 and turbo to skybox
3)
4) profit
May 18, 2009 Wyrm link
I'd agree; it is probably possible to make a ship radar-invisible, and to make one sight-invisible too but all of this would be energy-dependent and probably dependent on the number of opponents too.

So, a cloaking device would work to let a trade pull a slow sneak-away on a single pirate, but three or more ships in the sector would confuse the device to such an extent that it would fail with a bright flash of light and give the game away. For added giggles, make it a largeport device that is a one-shot deal and expensive to boot; you fire it, and it runs for five minutes before burning its self out (add in some sci-fi garbage about minicomputers burning out from lack of coolant).

Make it available only from Corvus, in small quantities for absurdly large amounts of money (say a couple of million each) and you end up with a useful last-ditch way of sneaking past rats, which flops miserably when even an NPC convoy heaves into view.
May 28, 2009 blackadder link
So radar stealth, one-shot use on a limited timer, large port.

If well balanced, it could make moth runs interesting and fun for those moving cargo.

Jun 01, 2009 jury link
Hello, I have a bit different idea, how cloaking could work.

- not entirely invisible, but almost transparent model
- invisible to radar
- can't be targeted
- no speed penalty

now cons

- requires 5 sec charging to initialize
- requires completely stable energy flow
- you shoot, decloak
- you are hit, decloak
- you engage or disengage turbo, decloak (but you can cloak in turbo if you have enough energy to sustain both for that long)
- it drains energy constantly, but due to some weird unexplained physical laws, it would be dependent on the ship's total mass
- that means for example light fighter could cloak indefinitely, but heavy trading ship would deplete power source in a few seconds -> unusable to hide it from pirates

What do you think?
Jun 04, 2009 Jim Kirk link
me likey u
Jun 19, 2009 TehRunner link
I think jury set up a good set of parameters to follow, here's my suggestion for a few changes/addons to them:
-no cloaking in turbo: radar can pick up exhaust(whatever it's called) signature.
-small power drain (allow for about 20 minutes of cloaking time, say to build up an invasion fleet or a recon flight in enemy space)
-no cloaking through a jump or WH.
Jun 19, 2009 ryan reign link
Jury, I like your idea except...

"that means for example light fighter could cloak indefinitely, but heavy trading ship would deplete power source in a few seconds -> unusable to hide it from pirates"...

What I do not like about that is the whole inability for a large trade ship to hide from pirates, where as a pirate... (or any light fighter really)... could hide indefinitely. The way you describe it would give combat pilots a severely heavy advantage over trade ships, Hive queens and even capitol ships.

I think a better way to determine time would be the same as the infiniboost ships. A ship with a fast charge power cell AND infinboost function could stay cloaked indefinitely, but would require a full charge. There for, if you were cloaked and fired or went to turbo... the battery would no longer be fully charged and thus the "cloaking field" would destabilize and dissipate in a few seconds.

This would also give the ability to cloak to a wider variety of ships making it more desirable... while keeping it away from ships like the SCP and the X-1.
Jun 20, 2009 Pyroman_Ace link
http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/2489#33985

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/3273#77665

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/1912

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/2489#258020

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/18474#230929

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/15951#201387

Please check the "Please Read Prior To Posting A Suggestion" thread at the top of the suggestions forum. It can direct you to original threads where discussions are already on-going and some ideas are already stated.
Jun 24, 2009 David-Lister link
[FAIL]