> >TU 70: Scan System
> Error - You have no sensors, you can not scan the system.
> Total TU cost for this action is 10
>
No problem, quite logical actually.
However, earlier in the same turn the very same ship with zero sensors successfully performed detailed scans of an outpost and a starbase. In the case of the outpost all complexes (I presume) were revealed, in the case of the starbase the scan was jammed as could be expected. Now, if detailed scans are allowed without having sensors then it would also be possible to obtain detailed scans of other ships and their configuration even with zero sensors, unless they have jammers.
This is not logical in my eyes.
The underlying assumption, as far as I got it, is that passive 'sensors' and low-power navigational sensors are built into the hull of all ships to guarantee safe operation (except in asteroid belts ;-). These will locate other starships, starbases, planetary bodies etc. and prevent you from flying blind, but nothing more.
For active scanning you need to install 'sensors' on your ship, although the item would better be named 'scanners' because that is what they really do.
I therefore suggest that every 'scan' order requires at least one sensor to work, just like the system scan order above. Specialized sensors may only be useable for specific types of scans, like geosensors for GPIing.
I must fully agree with 'frabby's ideas. I my opinion, sensors are good for other things, but, it doesn't make any sense to have a ship without sensors really capable of scanning. Do we next have ships without engines moving? No, I don't think so. The number and quality of sensors determine how good and accurate yours scans should be. Setting it up so zero sensors would always result in a "error - You have no sensors, you can not scan the system." message seems right to me.ttfn
larry