So, while the performance tweaks are being worked out after the last update, it seems to me that there might be more possibilities for this ship (and others) besides trying to make it fit in the hierarchy of fighter ships already out there.

one word: AWACS

Ok, it's actually 5 words in an acronym

But, it occurred to me that having NW in the fogged sector *really* changed the dynamic because information became really limited. I couldn't keep track of my wingmate and it was just crazy.

Crazy Awesome, in other words.

I know it's already been suggested to make shared radar, yes, but helping carve out the Wraith as an AWACS bird with, maybe a tagging system or beacon drop as a light addon in addition to the storm extender would really make sense, IMO. Especially if "The Fog" is really coming to more places.

Plus, we all know that skill is a big determinant in how you do in this game. If support roles, like EMS or an AWACS bird could be expanded, more people would have fun things to do in a combat environment without, necessarily getting pwned by really skilled players.

Discuss.

Bringing an EW-craft into VO actually sounds like a good idea. Currently, we've got fighters, cruisers, and freighters, but no real EA/EW ships.

I think that the AWACS bird you describe could be used to "broadcast" information to all pilots in the group (a sort of secondary radar input) and be armed with new equipment that could be put in weapons ports that would help cut through the fog.

Granted, this would take some development of new material, that may be time consuming and be low priority, but:

Fog Extender (S-Port): Radar extender to 1,500m
Radar Array (S-Port): Allows ships to transmit radar contacts to other ships in group.
IR Extender (L-port): Radar extender to 3,000m
Radar Flare (S-Port): Sends out a Radar Ping that allows allied group pilots to converge on same target/form up.
HARM Flare (L-port): Attaches Radar Flare to target ship, allowing it to be tracked for a period of time up to 10,000m

The Fog/IR extenders are basically upgraded/modified Storm Radar, the Radar Array would increase communication coordination in the AWACS style. Radar Flare's would be bouys that would remain stationary and broadcast for a set period of time, while the HARM (High-speed, Anti-Radiation Missile) Flare would track and attach to a target vessel to allow for easy tracking and group attacks.

Sounds very cool indeed. Anything that fosters group activity would be good. Maybe one day have a NW in a foggy sector.... With the aid of ships like these!

This would be AWESOME.

AWACS on a wraith-sized ship would be awesome.
Dev input, please?

Sounds like a excellent idea!

Aye, good idea.

I can't say that we'd use the wraith per-se (it would probably be an addon thing, but with a lot of mass and other tradeoffs), but the general AWACS concept is well known to me and something I've looked forward to for a long time. We are also looking at waypoint/beacon concepts, and the like. There are a lot of interesting needs and use-cases that crop up once you introduce fog and other sensor limitations, and I've been waiting to expand in some of those directions for quite awhile.

AWACS could across several adjoining sectors. This would give strategic significance to sector geography.

Well if we are going there dont forget the all important Jamming add-on that blanks all radar in a 5k radius or blanks a target players radar...

Fair point PaKettle, we would also need the all important Counter-Countermeasure's of Anti-Electronic Warfare/Attack (AEW/AEA)

I know a former instructor of mine was a US Navy EA-6B Bombardier/Navigator, and said that it could either make the entire radar look like enemies to the target, or shut their radar down and make it look like nothing.

And of course, it would be good for AEW/AEA to have some sort of expanded role other than just counter-jamming. Perhaps a series of missiles/rockets/torpedoes designed to hone specifically in on EW/EA craft that are using certain radars.

one thing i never reallly liked in vo was the detection system, electronic warfare would likly play a massive role in a vo-like scenerio.

You should be able to turn active radar on and off, with obvious results, and heat should make a difference too. If you've just been sitting at minimal power for a while, especially nestled up near an asteroid, you should be damn near un detectable via passive means. Different grades of sensors would be cool, with the ultra-premium active systems drawing battery power. maneuvering around would make you much easier to spot than just sitting still. missiles should occasionally lose lock, and maybe even accidentally lock onto friendly's. jammers for most homing missiles would be cool, but then you also need anti radiation missiles (wich would also home in on active radar). chaff and distraction flares would be cool. hell, cold gas thruster addons would be awesome (very limited fuel supply with them), you could sneak up on anybody not using active radar. even occulsion monitering systems would be cool. There's a nearly limitless number of ways you can go with this, but the current system of simply being able to detect everything inside of 5km is kinda hokey and limits the amount of strategy that can be used.

Poor wraith indeed.
Geeee... how about a completely new ship model for this role?
Oh wait, we still haven't got a real faction system, nation specific stations, ships, weapons, cells...
Belay that, yet another new fog is a No. 1 priority.

This thread brings up a pet peeve of mine:

You can't really hide behind asteroids as it is, because radar can see through them!

And I would love to be able to hide behind asteroids, just like I love my rogue in (dare I mention it?) WoW.

Sadly, I suspect implementing this is not as simple as it sounds and has server load implications.

Radar occulsion is a long standing want that will, like so many others, never be implemented.

Umm, Ray and I were recently talking about how to implement this. It'll be a lot more useful with the new denser asteroid fields, so, yes, it is planned.. and probably this year. Also, Lecter can kiss my ass.

Also, Lecter can kiss my ass.

Heh. Awesome.

I love it.
Radar Occlusion occulted by Lecter's Ass. Talk about a full moon.

It must be a full moon, because you're all mixed up, Leber.

It's actually Inc's ass - with Lecter's lips attached to it. This may well be an cult hit, but I aim to keep it off my radar as much as possible.

(Actually it WAS a full moon last night & tonight Sept 4-5 2009)

I too wish to keep it off my radar, because soon we will have RADAR OCCULTING which is absolutely super kickass, and I can't wait to sneak up on people.