1
Suggestions / Domain-era Sensor Arrays preventing completion of missions
« on: April 01, 2021, 12:33:28 PM »
The domain-era sensor arrays (+700) are so powerful that they make many of the underworld-type contracts virtually impossible to fulfill. Deploying spy sats, delivering illegal goods that require transponder to be off, etc. Even with a fleet of a few frigates using insulated engines and the sensor profile perk, the base 300 profile combined with opposing patrols getting the +700 range means that their sensor range will always cover the planet they are circling, making approach without a transponder impossible.
Furthermore, leading patrols away and sneaking back to the planet is also impossible as patrols no longer search for you, but immediately bee-line back to the planet the moment they lose sight of you. It seems the only method of completing this mission is to lure patrols so far away that you can engage in combat, destroy them, and return to the now-defenseless planet, which seems contrary to the point of stealth missions in the first place.
There is no method for the player to temporarily disable sensor arrays. Your only option is to destroy it, which is instant hostility with the owning faction, even if done out of sight with transponders off (I understand the penalty, as domain arrays can't be replaced), but the lack of an alternative method of disabling the AI receiving that bonus, even temporarily, is crippling, and locking the player out of an entire segment of gameplay for any systems in which the owner controls an array. There needs to be some form of activity that will nullify or limit its effects, such as temporarily disabling arrays or a way to lure patrol fleets away from their planet for a set amount of time.
Furthermore, leading patrols away and sneaking back to the planet is also impossible as patrols no longer search for you, but immediately bee-line back to the planet the moment they lose sight of you. It seems the only method of completing this mission is to lure patrols so far away that you can engage in combat, destroy them, and return to the now-defenseless planet, which seems contrary to the point of stealth missions in the first place.
There is no method for the player to temporarily disable sensor arrays. Your only option is to destroy it, which is instant hostility with the owning faction, even if done out of sight with transponders off (I understand the penalty, as domain arrays can't be replaced), but the lack of an alternative method of disabling the AI receiving that bonus, even temporarily, is crippling, and locking the player out of an entire segment of gameplay for any systems in which the owner controls an array. There needs to be some form of activity that will nullify or limit its effects, such as temporarily disabling arrays or a way to lure patrol fleets away from their planet for a set amount of time.