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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0009207AI War 1 / ClassicSuggestion - New Unit Ideas - Economic and Utility UnitsAug 13, 2012 7:00 pm
ReporterKahuna Assigned To 
Status consideringResolutionopen 
Summary0009207: Hybrid Signal Tracker
DescriptionI just noticed playing with Advanced Hybrids enabled and Spirecraft disabled finding the signal is half impossible and grindy.
How about a "Hybrid Signal Tracker". It would be a building similar to the Survey Ship (except it's a building) that would track the "strange hybrid-like signal" and tell the player the name of the planet where the signal is coming from. It could be either free or cost 250-1000 Knowledge. Tracking the signal would take 10 minutes.
With the Hybrid Signal Tracker it would be fun to play with advanced hybrids enabled and spirecraft disabled.
TagsNo tags attached.
Internal WeightFeature Suggestion

Activities

Minotaar

Aug 12, 2012 1:38 pm

reporter   ~0027561

Having that a building in the game would be a little weird, since it would only come into play with the Dyson and Hybrids enabled. I would propose that the signal's location is revealed automatically when it's 70-80% done (not sure on the mumber), justified by it becoming stronger over time. That way you still get a time advantage if you scout, but I heartily agree that being forced to scout a couple dozen planets every X hours is very frustrating even with spirecraft enabled.

Kahuna

Aug 12, 2012 1:41 pm

reporter   ~0027562

That would probably be good too^^

doctorfrog

Aug 13, 2012 5:28 pm

reporter   ~0027625

Last edited: Aug 13, 2012 5:31 pm

I'd just have it as an ability of the Scout or Scout Starship.

Now, hear me out.

If you have a scout, or any unit that acts as a scout (incl. a command station), you will essentially get a "direction finder" that leads in the direction of the hybrid signal. You don't get to know how many hops away, but you do get to know the next hop. Put a scout or group of scouts on that next planet, and the next stepping stone will show.

This can be highlighted on the Galaxy Map as a different colored line linking wormholes together. This should also be highlighted on the Planet View in the intel area in the upper left, such that "Planet X nearest possible source of hybrid signal." This is pretty important information and it should be visually present at all times.

The analog to real life is actual direction finding done by radio signal. HAMs do it all the time, someone hides a radio transmitter somewhere in the city or country, and these HAM nerds whip out directional antennas and receivers and start triangulating, driving, and yakking on their handsets.

The benefit here is that if you already have a good scout network, you get a payoff, rather than cursing that you have to go on a whole new scout hunt. If you already have a scout on the affected planet, it's already up anyway, but if not, it's only a little more work to get it. Bottom line there is still a 'chase,' but it's a bit less aggravating.

Mercatio

Aug 13, 2012 7:00 pm

reporter   ~0027628

I particularly like DoctorFrog's suggestion about the "scouts or scout starships act as a divining rod" approach. Agreed that it should only be already explored planets.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Aug 12, 2012 1:31 pm Kahuna New Issue
Aug 12, 2012 1:32 pm Kahuna Description Updated
Aug 12, 2012 1:33 pm Kahuna Description Updated
Aug 12, 2012 1:38 pm Minotaar Note Added: 0027561
Aug 12, 2012 1:41 pm Kahuna Note Added: 0027562
Aug 13, 2012 12:18 pm tigersfan Internal Weight => Feature Suggestion
Aug 13, 2012 12:18 pm tigersfan Status new => considering
Aug 13, 2012 5:28 pm doctorfrog Note Added: 0027625
Aug 13, 2012 5:28 pm doctorfrog Note Edited: 0027625
Aug 13, 2012 5:31 pm doctorfrog Note Edited: 0027625
Aug 13, 2012 7:00 pm Mercatio Note Added: 0027628