| QUOTE |
| Range of Sensors The first principle, Range of sensors is a fairly simple concept. Space is large, so it is the case that the ship actively scanning may not even come within range of an object in the first place. The larger the volume of space, the lower the chances of happening upon an object. When moving around a system from one quadrant to another, the chance of coming within sensor range of all objects in the orbital quadrant is roughly proportional to the orbital ring. Further, only the location moved into is checked, i.e. moving from Alpha 10 to Beta 10 will give a 10% chance of happening to get within sensor range of each object present within orbital quadrant Beta 10. When moving across a system, from one orbital to the next (inwards or outwards) as a much smaller area is crossed, so the chance of happening to get within range of an object is roughly equal to the square of the orbital being scanned. Again it is the orbital being moved into which is scanned, i.e. moving from Alpha 9 to Alpha 10 gives a 1% chance of happening to get within sensor range of every object present within Alpha 10. Thus, it is much more effective when patrolling a system, if ships follow circular paths around the system. |
But that doesn't make any sense does it?
Moving around a ring gives roughly the ring% of trying to scan something, e.g. ring 10 gives 10% (it says). Doesn't that mean that ring 1 gives 1% and ring 15 gives 15%? Isn't that back to front?
And then moving across rings gives roughly the square of the ring, e.g. ring 9 to ring 10 gives 1%? Huh? How is 1% roughly the square of 10?
Going around, alpha-beta it's the inverse of the ring number moved into. Going in-out, 9-10 it's the inverse of the square of the ring nimber moved into.
Thus moving alpha 9 to alpha 10 - encounter chance is one over ten squared = 0.01 = 1%.
Moving Beta 14 to Beta 15 is one over 15 squared = 0.00444 = 0.4%
Wheras moving Alpha 15 to Beta 15 is just one over 15 = 0.066667 = 6.7%
These are just the chance of getting into scan range. Some of the hidden objects out there seem to have horrendous scan penalties, so a ship with a base 120% scanning chance might be taking a -90% penalty on the 'roll', and only have a 30% chance of spotting something even if they're lucky enough to be in range.
TonyH
Which then gives you a chance to spot it based on your sensor rating.
So, in order to have a reasonable chance of spotting something in OQ 15, you need to sweep through it a dozen or so times? Or, work out how much of an advantage spending TUs on a scan location order gives you.
Just, sorry if I'm sounding dim, just want to be sure I understand how it works.
moving around ring = 100/ring%
moving aross ring = 100/(ring*ring)%
But that makes more sense. Another part of the rules needs re-writing.
Yes btw, sensor power makes no difference to getting into sensor range, that's the same odds for any ship. Once you move into range though that's when the sensor power and target profile look at each other.
Scan location may well work better yes, but as you say if you can figure out that advantage it gives you you then need to compare it to the cost of just moving around the ring x number of times.
Of course, working with randoms you *could* move through a quad a million times and still not spot anything, but the law of averages does tend to balance out usually
| QUOTE |
| Scan location may well work better yes, but as you say if you can figure out that advantage it gives you you then need to compare it to the cost of just moving around the ring x number of times. |
It should work just the same as passing the ring, orbit etc. as if you moved. Its assumed you are moving about to scan ppl.
So if it costs you 10TUS to move through an OQ, and you spend 60TUS on a scan location, that would be the equivalent of moving back and forth through the OQ 6 times? Giving you 6 times the chance of moving within sensor range of something.
Thanks David. I appreciate the clarifications.
| QUOTE |
| Giving you 6 times the chance of moving within sensor range of something. |
Yup.