Does chaff hinder NPC scans (for smuggling runs)

rootsrat · Jul 3, 2015

QA-Jonny said:
This is under investigation as well.

Can you confirm if chaff should or shouldn't affect scanners please? (and if it does - which ones exactly?)

Just so we know what's the right behaviour.

Thanks

Iskariot · Jul 3, 2015

Jordan Cobalt said:
Smuggler cargo bays, they hold half as much cargo but scans take 3x as long.

That is such a cool idea.
I want this in the game: Shielded Cargo Bays.
Make it so

.

+rep

Lowe1978 · Jul 3, 2015

I've always used chaff to disrupt NPC scans, since the public betas anyway. I'm sure I read a Dev saying it's intended behaviour - any change is news to me.

Ben Ryder · Jul 3, 2015

I vaguely recall a dev saying it was unintended but my memory is rubbish at times.

edd · Jul 3, 2015

Ben Ryder said:
I vaguely recall a dev saying it was unintended but my memory is rubbish at times.

Try this: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=93628&p=1467530&viewfull=1#post1467530 ?

NeilF · Jul 3, 2015

Isn't it a little odd, that even after half a year, we still don't understand such simple questions/mechanics within ED? And we're having to go around the houses trying to come up with hopefully the right answer...

Iskariot · Jul 3, 2015

TartanDragon said:
I've stopped taking smuggling mission from the BB in stations.

Getting cargo in is not a problem, usually, but taking stuff out of a station is not good. Even boosting, drop heat sinks and chaff, when scan starts, I get fined. It still turns a profit but I am sure my rep must take a hit. Which of course increases the chance of being scanned next time. Outposts are easy, military ones a little more tricky but still doable.

That is weird. I never have problems, not even when I am in a hostile system and wanted. I never get scanned if I do not want to.

NeilF · Jul 3, 2015

Iskariot said:
That is weird. I never have problems, not even when I am in a hostile system and wanted. I never get scanned if I do not want to.

With V1.3 actively wanting you to become Wanted in systems now, I've flown into numerous stations "Wanted", and never once had a problem. Just flew in... Done.

I suspect this is a issue (bug?), and in some upcoming patch, lots of CMDRs (like myself) will start having rude awakenings!

jacozilla · Jul 5, 2015

Still can't say definitively but some more info for the fire - we all know you can outrun scan if you boost into station fast enough after you get scanning message.

But either you can also outrun scans the other way - when exiting station and get scanned - or chaff maybe does block or slow down scanning from npcs.

Couple times now I've exited station and forgot I was carrying contraband and got the scanning message, and I instantly popped chaff and boosted - and haven't been caught by that scan despite the message.

So either you can outrun the scan when exiting station if you boost fast enough (and I'm only in as asp - it's I believe not anywhere near as fast as a cobra so not sure what boost speed you need if this is the reason) - OR

The chaff somehow helped. Or I guess it was just total luck and had nothing to do with chaff or boost.

Wish a dev would comment on this definitively. I had thought the QA guy that chimed who deliberately did not say chaff helped, just reiterated it's use against gimnle/turrett was a nudge nudge wink wink that chaff didn't help against scans, or he would have said so - but now I'm not so sure....again. bah.

Vingtetun · Jul 5, 2015

QA-Jonny said:
This is under investigation as well.

I always thought it was intentional and it works a treat. So, if anything, please don't remove this if discovered to be a bug.

Chaff for smugglers is excellent.

Battleship Kickass · Jul 5, 2015

OP your research brought up differing results because chaff at one point DID stop NPC scanners. We would all simply pop a chaff when a scan started on us while being wanted because the station would pop you if scanned and wanted then, or carrying illegal goods heading into station. It was before shield boosters were in so EVERY ship still carried chaff, it was pretty lame and made their scans pointless.

It was silently changed many months ago, I made a post about it being changed after the patch, but that may have been as far back as January or February. It was never put in the patch notes and caused a lot of us pirates at the time to lose our bounties from the station blowing us up expecting the chaff to stop the scan as usual.

They stated that was never intended to be a use of chaff way back when as well I believe.

Vingtetun · Jul 5, 2015

Battleship Kickass said:
OP your research brought up differing results because chaff at one point DID stop NPC scanners. We would all simply pop a chaff when a scan started on us while being wanted because the station would pop you if scanned and wanted then, or carrying illegal goods heading into station. It was before shield boosters were in so EVERY ship still carried chaff, it was pretty lame and made their scans pointless.

It was silently changed many months ago, I made a post about it being changed after the patch, but that may have been as far back as January or February. It was never put in the patch notes and caused a lot of us pirates at the time to lose our bounties from the station blowing us up expecting the chaff to stop the scan as usual.

They stated that was never intended to be a use of chaff way back when as well I believe.

Well.... it ought to be.....