Stealth

[Wild_Card]

Just out of curiosity, what can use stealth and what can't? Can a plane use optical camouflage with heat sinks to make it harder to spot? Or is it only for mechs that get the fancy stealth tools, leaving vehicles with only the equivalent of modern day camo?

[Kellzz]

I think stealth will be in the form of paint schemes, radar avoiding, and active camo.

The way of stealth as you might be thinking of (100% invisible to all other players) wont be in the game.



And i say to the 100% invisibility... If i wanted that, i would play DAOC/WoW.

[Wild_Card]

I wasn't thinking 100% either. I was thinking of optical camouflage, it projects what it is behind you in front of you in real time. It isn't perfect, and it probably would only work in one direction, perfect for a plane or hiding next to a cliff face. Not so good for sneaking past a gate or such.

[Borathian]

I don't really know how well actual stealth devices would work on a mech or other ground vehicle unless they were not moving as a simple way to track them would simply be with seismic censors if they were on the move, especially with the tonnage and locomotion of mechs.

[SS2Maximilian]

I thought the current and standard stealthing ability of each mech is camuflage and passive sensors. Am I right? If so, I believe that cloaking devices or other jamming devices will be available as the game progress on.

[Geo]

I hope cloaking devices are never brought into the game the only way someone should be invisible is if they are out of line of sight  IMO

[Neereus]

I'm fine with cloaking devices personally.  But only if there is a countermeasure for such a device (as with any part of the game).

That said, I don't think it'd be fair for someone with a cloak to demolish someone without a countermeasure, or one of enough power to work.  So maybe a limited cloaking ability, perhaps for more evading combat measures instead.

[Helphyre]

From what I have read so far and what the Dev's have been sayin gthere will be no 100% cloaking in the game. However, I had always thought that a good happy medium would be something similar to the Predator cloaking or something slightly less advanced than that for the highest level of this MMO. It would always distory the back ground, but if you are not moving and someone is not directly looking for you chances are you will go unnoticed. Moving would increase the chancees of been seen (increase the distortion) as far as the other forms of stealth are concerned it is my general feeling that the top level of detection should slightly edge out the top levels of stealth, but just slightly. I am sure that this is something that we can tweak through beta. Good luck and god speed to the Dev's.

[kurtilator]

Setting aside the more theoretical or aesthetic aspects of stealth, it might be useful to look at the effects as they would be implemented and how they affect actual game systems. 

For an example, consider the minimap display.  I see this as a map of the local terrain with dots on it that represent other mechs and subjects of interest.  If this display is radar, then a mech with radar absorbent paint would not appear on it except at a shorter distance.  But radar isn't the only way to detect something, we have heat signature, magnetic, passive radio, visual spectrum, to name a few off the top of my head.

Each player will have various indicators on screen, such as the mini-map, the main display (looking out the front window of the mech), a list of selectable targets for missiles, target lock computers for beam or projectiles, etc. 

Each of these detection methods can have a counter, or stealth.  Each of them can be displayed to the client in different ways on different displays.  Anyway, I guess I am saying that I don't want to see some sort of star trek cloaking device that blankets a mech in a general way, but I would like a series of specific measures and countermeasures across a spectrum of different detection and avoidance technologies.

[Hamilton]

Stealth Systems:

Optical ECM Array:
The Optical ECM Array works only when a unit?s screens are active. The Optical Array system uses the electro-magnetic field of the screen to ?bend and mold?
light to cause the unit to blend in with the surrounding environment (also by the use of several small photoreceptors).  This effect literally makes the unit ?invisible? to optical sensors (such as human eyes) and to a limited extent to other passive sensors (such as infrared).
Note: Having Screens energized means an increased in energy emissions.

Cloaking Array System:
This system also has some limited effect on some passive sensors (such as Radiation), but no effect against optical sensors. The Cloaking Array is very effective; however, the electro-magnetic energy produced by a unit?s active screens limits the system?s effectiveness.  When the array has been deactivated, the array will still provide some use as the materials of the array system built into the frame and armor do not require power; thus the array (when turned off) will function just as the Sensor Absorbing Material below.

Sensor Absorbing Material:
The SAM or also called ?the poor man?s cloak? is basically a non-powered Cloaking Array. The sensor absorbing materials are built into the frame as well as mixed into the armor. It does provide some advantages in combat, but may not be as useful as thought when in combat (Basically, its good when combat is to be avoided).

Stealth Suspension:
Mechs and Tanks (along with ground vehicles) produce great amount of ground vibrations when moving and thus can be detected by ground sensors. Stealth
Suspension will either eliminate or reduce the amount of vibration given off and thus reduce the effectiveness of ground sensors.

Heat Suppression Dampers:
Thrusters and boosters produce great amount of heat when used (especially boosters); and unit?s with such systems provide as tempting targets for heat guided missiles and heat sensors. Heat Suppression Dampers though will suppress the enormous heat given by thrusters or boosters so the heat signature is small.

Engine Masking:
Modern engines produce a great amount of heat and radiation while they power the unit; and because of this, enemy sensors are able to detect friendly units easier.  So to help combat against enemy sensors and missiles, engines can mask their heat and radiation output; however, only up to a certain point. This is done by mixing in special ceramic alloys with the engine shielding to create an absorbing effect on the heat and radiation produced by the engine(s). This bit of technology though is inefficient when used to mask multiple engines.

Loudner Ground System:
This system allows a unit to give off louder vibrations to deceive enemy ground sensors. Another useful item for light units to trick the enemy that heavy units are on the way.

[Soull3ssMerc]

vary nice ^^

[Zinnister]

Sounds good to me 

[XoRys]

I think would be pertinent to suggest to enter into game also possibility of creation the phantom (optical illusion) for derivation of attention on it.