RE: [FT] Sensor Range Question
From: Nathan Pettigrew <nathanp@M...>
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 09:24:39 -0700
Subject: RE: [FT] Sensor Range Question
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas Anderson
> [mailto:thomas.anderson@university-college.oxford.ac.uk]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 9:35 AM
> To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
> Subject: Re: [FT] Sensor Range Question
>
> FT/MT really has two layers of sensors; it has long-range and
> short-range.
>
> short range sensors are our friends the active and passive
> scanners, which
> can be used on ships on the table to identify them, etc.
>
> long range sensors are the things which tell you there is
> even something
> there to scan.
>
> thus, when you start out and there are only bogey markters on
> the table,
> your long-range sensors have done their job and figured out
> that there are
> enemy ships out there, and got their position and velocity.
> they have also
> probably got some ghosts, drones, etc.
>
> when you get a bit closer and start pinging away with active
> scanners, and
> looking out with passives, then those are your short-range
> high-resolution
> instruments: their job is to gather detailed information on
> the target.
You've summed it up very well, I think. The rub is to abstract this
into an
easy to use, but reasonably realistic sensor rules.
Some aspects to capture:
* long range jump detection (measured in AU?)
"Sir, four ships have jumped in system outside the designated
civilian/merchant jump zone. Should we send a sortie to investigate?"
* long range plot (500MU-1k MU?)
"Sir, the four bogeys have just come into max sensor range. They are on
course 136, speed 40MU/turn and accelerating."
* mid range plot (100MU-500MU?)
"Sir, Bogey Alpha is 160 MASS, Baker is 80 MASS, Charlie and Delta are
40
MASS each. Emissions indicate they are most likely FSE.
* combat range (0-100MU?)
"Sir, Captain Bridgeworth's task force has engaged the enemy. I confirm
that Alpha is a Bonaparte, most likely VFE Ceasar. Baker is a Jerez,
very
likely VFE Cadiz with that quirky ZC-1800 drive. Charlie and Delta
appear
to be 2 Triestes. Their signatures are not in our database at this
time.
Recording.
Throw in some ECM/cloaking and drones/weasels and you're in business.
Or something like that.
<snip>
> that's basically what i am saying too.
>
> Tom
>
Nathan