Forums » Suggestions
"Seeing through" cargo scanner spoofers via teamwork
Lecter mentioned here about possibly being able to "spot" spoofed cargo signatures... I like the concept, but think it can be improved.
Instead of allowing a vet pirate to spot a fake cargo signature after practice, let's make it a numbers game. If a pirate force has more scanners than the trading convoy has spoofers, then the pirate force would be able to see that the convoy is spoofing its signature, and act accordingly. If the pirate force has fewer scanners, then the cargo signature appears real.
This numbers game encourages traders who wish to transport valuable cargo to work together, and similarly encourages pirates who wish to base their fee on cargo being carried to work together to exact the most fair price.
Some details:
Number of spoofers or scanners is determined by the number of people within a group with a scanner or spoofer (possibly only within a 1000m radius).
I'm not sure if a player should be allowed to add more than one scanner/spoofer to the count by dual or triple-wielding. I am ambivalent on this subject.
Spoofers would most likely have to fit into L-ports for this to be a reasonable suggestion.
This suggestion would be a lot more powerful if cargo spoofers spoofed the cargo signature for all grouped vessels within 500m (as that way escorting ships can help spoof the cargo signature). Either way, though, it would work.
When I say "would be able to see that the convoy is spoofing its signature", I mean the words "Cargo signature spoofed" would be displayed, with the real cargo displayed alongside. It may be better to display the fake cargo alongside instead... but I'm not sure on this one.
For the record, this suggestion is meant as more of a long-term idea, vs a "right now" idea, as some of the things I'm referring to aren't in-game yet.
[slightly modified to reflect Lecter's intentions on the linked post]
Instead of allowing a vet pirate to spot a fake cargo signature after practice, let's make it a numbers game. If a pirate force has more scanners than the trading convoy has spoofers, then the pirate force would be able to see that the convoy is spoofing its signature, and act accordingly. If the pirate force has fewer scanners, then the cargo signature appears real.
This numbers game encourages traders who wish to transport valuable cargo to work together, and similarly encourages pirates who wish to base their fee on cargo being carried to work together to exact the most fair price.
Some details:
Number of spoofers or scanners is determined by the number of people within a group with a scanner or spoofer (possibly only within a 1000m radius).
I'm not sure if a player should be allowed to add more than one scanner/spoofer to the count by dual or triple-wielding. I am ambivalent on this subject.
Spoofers would most likely have to fit into L-ports for this to be a reasonable suggestion.
This suggestion would be a lot more powerful if cargo spoofers spoofed the cargo signature for all grouped vessels within 500m (as that way escorting ships can help spoof the cargo signature). Either way, though, it would work.
When I say "would be able to see that the convoy is spoofing its signature", I mean the words "Cargo signature spoofed" would be displayed, with the real cargo displayed alongside. It may be better to display the fake cargo alongside instead... but I'm not sure on this one.
For the record, this suggestion is meant as more of a long-term idea, vs a "right now" idea, as some of the things I'm referring to aren't in-game yet.
[slightly modified to reflect Lecter's intentions on the linked post]
Atice, I just meant that there should be a finite set of spoof displays, and that they should probably be somewhere between "never give it a second look" (plasteel) and "I know that's a spoof" (free batts). After a while, you learn what's in the finite set.
Honestly, I don't really like this idea. It seems like a huge pile of complication and special cases to me. I'd rather keep it simple and allow each trader to either spoof or not, and leave it to the pirate to recognize what looks like a spoof.
Ermmm...
Spoof me once, shame on you.
Spoof me twice, shame on me.
/me is helpful
Spoof me once, shame on you.
Spoof me twice, shame on me.
/me is helpful
Yeah, the dev-time to awesomeness ratio on this is pretty bad. I don't think we'll be doing this. For now you can probably expect a few fixed spoofing items, that display fixed "cargos" (and maybe some special ones hidden in special places).
I've gotta say, the inclusion of scanners/blockers is a nice aspect. However, using a blocker immediately signals that you've got something to hide, and you get boomed. I think a blocker should either make you show up as empty, or lie about what you're carrying. When someone sees blocked, it's a red flag immediately.
skelbley, it will 'spoof' soon enough. check the other recent threads.