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Camoflage Device

Jun 16, 2010 tarenty link
Xang Xi Camoflage Device:
Faction level: +800 standing
Licenses: 8/4/8/5/-
Price: 40,000c
Mass: 2,000kgs
Delay: 15s
Energy: 57/sec
Port: L
Grid: 9
Range: 2,000m
Information: Xang Xi scientists have discovered a technology that, using high amounts of energy, mirrors the appearance of an asteroid. Firing this device with cause your ship to exactly mirror the shape and size of the asteroid nearest your ship, provided there is an asteroid within 2,000m. Mineral scans will return with the composition of the ship (XiRite alloy, Plasteel, etc) and addon scanners will reveal the player using this device, and these aren't the only faults. Moving or firing a weapon deactivates the extremely sensitive device, as does bumping or shooting the asteroid itself. The device cannot be activated when other objects are too near, as the asteroid may come into contact with these items and deactivate the device. Sector scans will reveal the player is in the sector, and is in the ship s/he is flying, but will display the player as out of range. Shields block radar scans, causing artificial occlusion.

Aeolus Camoflage Device:
Faction level: +650 standing
Licenses: 8/5/7/3/-
Price: 45,000c
Mass: 2,500kgs
Delay: 20s
Energy: 60/sec
Port: L
Grid: 9
Range: 3,000m
Information: Aeolus technology specialists have devised a longer-ranged, though less energy efficient and heavier, Camoflage Device. By increasing the energy output of a stolen Xang Xi device, the specialists have increased the maximum mirroring range. Other than the few changes and tweaks Aeolus did to procure these results, the two versions of the device both behave the same.

Note: Camoflage Device is a bit lame for a name. Suggestions?
Jun 16, 2010 Death Fluffy link
Interesting. Would be a multipurpose device. Do you propose this affect npc radar as well?
Jun 16, 2010 tarenty link
Aye.
Jun 16, 2010 ryan reign link
+1
A. Something like this is long overdue.
B. It would make add on scanners stop being a waste.

[EDIT] Question, what would happen if the device was used inside an asteroid?
Jun 16, 2010 tarenty link
I do not believe the device would work that close to an asteroid, as contact with the borders of the artificial asteroid disables the device. I'll make that clearer in the OP.
Jun 17, 2010 Death Fluffy link
I agree, something like this is long overdue. Just don't tell Lecter. He'll want to add it as a standard feature to his Greyhound :p
Jun 17, 2010 Willis link
This is a cool idea. Why not just call it a cloaking device? Or something.

+1
Jun 18, 2010 tarenty link
Well, it isn't exactly what most people call a cloak. It doesn't make you disappear... you just look different.
Jun 18, 2010 Alloh link
I like defensive devices... like use it when someone/bot enter sector, then resume mining...

But remove that it fools mineral scanners. That is a specialized device, so sounds better if it returns: Plasteel/Xirite -> ship's processed alloys.

And what happens in an empty sector? So instead of nearest asteroid, make you look like a regular roid, so XX looks like silicate roid and Aeolus mimics ice.

And soon we'll see some roids making turns, following ships and luring innocent miners into firing range... Sounds good!
Jun 18, 2010 tarenty link
Why remove that it fools mineral scanners? The large energy consumption needs to have results.

In an empty sector, or 2/3km away (depending on version) from any roid, this device does not work. How would a roid look in the middle of an empty sector, or so far away from other asteroids? How would an iceroid look in a regular roid sector? How would a silicate roid look in the middle of an ice field?
Jun 18, 2010 Alloh link
unattractive from far... and demands more planning.

About mineral scanners, it already fools radar, IFF/transponder and visuals. A camouflage can't be that perfect... if so it becomes a cloaking device. And ore scanners are tools specialized in scanning roids, and it makes more sense to fool the addon scanners since it conceals your whole ship.

What is that weird ice among rocks? Its composition says Xirite Alloy... the IFF/Transponder nothing, radar empty, and addon scanners sees no ship to scan.

Or are you trying to create the perfect Miner fishing bait?
Jun 18, 2010 tarenty link
After further consideration, I have to agree with mineral scanners showing the ship composition.

Er, where did that quote come from? Or is it a quote?

I'm trying to make this device actually useful. A roid in the middle of an empty sector or a roid that doesn't blend into the roids around it is going to be easily identified as a player.
Jun 18, 2010 diqrtvpe link
http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/23306

A similar idea, though it didn't directly address spoofing as an asteroid.