Ships Heat / Stealth

[CMDR Jackbear]

Hello,

I recently returned to ED and have taken a lot of interest in the heat / stealth mechanics of the game.

Does a low heat emission make you stealthy in super cruise like it can when not in super cruise? For example, let's say I have a DBX with a 9% heat emission in super cruise, will this make me "invisible" to other ship sensors in super cruise or very difficult to lock from further distances?

Thanks for any feedback

 

[metatheurgist]

Nope. All ships are equal in SC (except for turning speed).

 

[Northpin]

I recently returned to ED and have taken a lot of interest in the heat / stealth mechanics of the game.

Stealth is a bit of a misnomer in Elite since there isn't any (you cant really get invisible)
You can reduce your heat emissions and make yourself less noticeable on the sensors, but nightvision will make your ship visible beyond the sensor range.
And if you're spotted you can be hit with fixed hitscans (lasers and rails) with no need to have a target lock.

However, in PVE reducing heat will help reducing the distance NPC will be able to take an interest in you and will also reduce their ability to hit you with their weapons assuming you're not a sitting duck and you move fast enough. But even this has a minimum range, and NPC getting inside that minimum range will make heat levels irrelevant.
Not to mention that if you shoot someone, no matter the heat levels, you become visible on their sensors.

Not at last, there are experimental effects for weapons (like Emissive) so when you're hit with a such weapon your heat signature will increase no matter how cold you run.

 

[CMDR Jackbear]

Stealth is a bit of a misnomer in Elite since there isn't any (you cant really get invisible)
You can reduce your heat emissions and make yourself less noticeable on the sensors, but nightvision will make your ship visible beyond the sensor range.
And if you're spotted you can be hit with fixed hitscans (lasers and rails) with no need to have a target lock.

However, in PVE reducing heat will help reducing the distance NPC will be able to take an interest in you and will also reduce their ability to hit you with their weapons assuming you're not a sitting duck and you move fast enough. But even this has a minimum range, and NPC getting inside that minimum range will make heat levels irrelevant.
Not to mention that if you shoot someone, no matter the heat levels, you become visible on their sensors.

Not at last, there are experimental effects for weapons (like Emissive) so when you're hit with a such weapon your heat signature will increase no matter how cold you run.

Was more wondering for sneaky purposes or data courier type stuff.

 

[Northpin]

Was more wondering for sneaky purposes or data courier type stuff.

It's sort of useful, but not really needed, when you carry contraband or illegal passengers or if you are wanted and just want to dock at the station and hand yourself in, saving a rebuy
But as i said, it's not really needed - it's enough to come to the station in supercruise so you drop off exactly in front of the mailslot, then head straight it, popping a heatsink if you get the getting scanned message (and/or flashing hardpoints which iirc it was known to temporarily break the scan)