New cloak idea

[Talesin]

[...] weaken heavy ships [...] what point to use it? [...]. what point?

would be a smuggler / trader's dream!

Such device would give ambuscades, smuggling runs, trading, piracy, recon/escort missions, explorations and other stuff a totally new meaning.

That. Not everyone is using cloaks on BSes only.

I think it might be a nice idea, however it also makes small ships undetectable at even low range.
A freighter using it would hardle be able to be seen above 3k, and almost every ship can simply vanish inside of gas clowds due to the limited sight range.

Overall i like the idea though.


Regards,
Talesin

[Narcotic]

This is not great idea, since you weaken heavy ships this way. If ship remain 50% visible, what point to use it? For sudden attacks even current type will work. But for retreating this one will be just a waste, since you are still visible, can't cruise away, can't shoot... what point?

Of course it has disadvantages. Otherwise it wouldn't be balanced. Heavy ships could use it for sneaking into areas where they can do heavy damage. Of course it'd make more sense to use the current cloak, when trying to retreat out of a battle while being in CD range. But it costs fuel, which is limited.

Besides, as the current cloak is supereffective on caps, it rather sucks on snubs/gunboats. This one might be an option for them to have "stealth devices", too. And I'd like to repeat, that it's not about a substitute, but an alternative cloak.

The main advantage is that it wouldn't consume fuel. So yes, regarding caps, it'd probably only make sense on CAU8 Carriers with docking modules and stuff. Or cruisers with a small cargo hold.

---

Lee's Logs | Lee's Diary | Nat's Story | AI Shodan | Rogue Clyde | Braun's Logs | The Narcotic | The Pandora | Biographies | Feedback

[shad0ws]

Good idea especially if you can use it while thrusting, would make the cheetah thruster worth while for the amount it costs.

Although this could also enable pvp abuse as you cannot see the id.

[Knjaz]

Capitals can also use it for raids, when they're trying to push forward into foreign space without being recognized on scanners. (For example Rheinland fleets proceeding to Planet Hudson. Or after a withdrawal into nebulaes/asteroid fields.

There can be found a use for every vessel actually. (However, since it doesn't need fuel, the device should take more cargo to mount.

As one of (now inactive) RNC fleetcoms in raids, I'd never give up proper cloak for that equivalent. Then again, that applies to the RNC raids, where turtles have to get close to dreads to have a chance hitting them. And they also should do so with their energy fully regenerated.

Also, the lack of cruise/thruster + powerdrain makes them barely useful for combat in general, unless in Nebulas. So if you want to make it useful for combat situations - one of these has to go. (EDIT: This is related to caps, mainly)

[Eduard]

This is not great idea, since you weaken heavy ships this way. If ship remain 50% visible, what point to use it? For sudden attacks even current type will work. But for retreating this one will be just a waste, since you are still visible, can't cruise away, can't shoot... what point?

The point is ambushing a group or avoiding encounters instead of running from them. It offers a similar yet at the same time different approach from the normal cloak

As much as I like this idea, I have a fear it will be spammed over and over and everyone will be using it to escape any kind of encounter so they would achieve their interest meaning reduced RP as well as pew pew

---

King Eduard is the greatest

[Othienka]

Also, the lack of cruise/thruster + powerdrain makes them barely useful for combat in general, unless in Nebulas. So if you want to make it useful for combat situations - one of these has to go.

Well, according to the original description, they aren't supposed to be useful in actual combat.

Regarding the idea, I like it, although I would prefer this to be limited to snubs/gunboats and smugglers.

[Omicron]

Just thought of incredibly "fun" idea.

Snubs equipped with this stealth drive in nebulas and 'roid fields.

---

[Landers]

Excellent equipment for intelligence organizations.

[Felix_Wannamaker_III]

Shut up and take my money. Give it cruisedrain-like properties to prevent ID fraud

Also, consider a substitute for Armor as a 'slot" (read stealth armor) Only double hull (so very sub par) costs cargo and lots of cash, and comes in various sizes for various holds.

I love this for pirates. Sit on a lane, and they cant see you to break off early. Surprise!

A smuggler immune to tlagsnet and difficult to intercept. YES!

Intel gathering just off plane, invisible to enemy scanners.

Approach combat with it on, maximize surprise and tactical flexibility.
Also to disengage when a fight is already on

Combat in nebulae becomes a deadly game of hide-and seek.
I can see you Kirk! Can you see me?


Useful, but dangerous to use, everywhere. Trade vulnerability for stealth is a pretty fair exchange.

---

Im penniless, rotten in a fight, and have authority issues, but im back!

[Knjaz]

I love this for pirates. Sit on a lane, and they cant see you to break off early. Surprise!

Won't do, due to powerdrain. You just won't be able to disrupt the TL in time.

Camping JG's or JHs in asteroid fields, with these, is a different question...