So in the real world, sensors (like radar etc) have a nap of the earth range of 200km or more and missiles an even longer range with satellite telemetry.
Why then is the average scanner on Elite Dangerous ships given a 5km range and weapons a 3km range?
Modern combat aircraft can paint another aircraft from hundreds of kilometres away. Why then is a KWS only valid on average to 2.5km.
Modern combat aircraft can target multiple incoming aircraft and fire against all at once. Why then can we not select targets by order of priority and target weapons to take out multiple targets?
Just saying that from a modern combat perspective, weapons in the 34th century seem very under rated.
'Because gameplay' is a 'correct' answer, but it's also a cop-out.
I find myself being a bit of a 'random rationaliser' for Elite in its various forms. Yes I know it's a game, but it's also a universe in which our combined stories unfold, so it ought to make some sort of sense, right? In my view saying "It's just a game" is selling it rather short.
So on this one, how can we resolve this apparent regression in technology? Here's my take.
1. Elite spacecraft are not fighter planes. Yes, they can fight, but they are actually more akin to cars, or perhaps privately owned yachts. They are technologically 'dumbed down' to make them accessible to the common man or woman who wants to travel. We've had this discussion already in relation to the weird way they handle in space... eg. slowing down when you throttle back. They've been designed and built to act intuitively, hiding the tedious realism from the owner/user by layers of automation, simulation and flying 'aids'.
2. Sensors are some kind of passive units, rather than active. Quite why radar isn't allowed isn't clear, perhaps it was too susceptible to being jammed. Ships use passive sensors to locate other ships, based on heat signature. Range appears to be limited, not by technology, but once again by usability, limiting the pilots view to information in the immediate vicinity - the stuff that's important. An analogy might be a modern sat-nav, which shows your route, but only the bit that is relevant for you to see at the moment.
3. AI is very limited in the Elite universe. Something happened way back in history for artificial intelligence to have been severely repressed. Given that, everything is automated to make it as simple as possible for people to use. Most folks don't know how things work, just that they know how to operate it. This is little different from today - most people have no idea how a Sat-Nav/Phone/Toaster works. In the future, space travel between systems is no more daunting than a quick run up the motorway to your local supermarket.
4. Legislation (and to a lesser extent cost and competition) strictly controls what everyday ships are allowed to do, how they perform and what they are capable of. This is strictly enforced on and by the manufacturers. Perhaps the military are immune from this, but civilians have to abide by it.
Cheers,
Drew.
