Change the KWS to passive.

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

Alright, so, in PvP most people don't bother to KWS scan me, as fights take very short amounts of time, it takes up a hardpoint and takes ten seconds to complete.

What if the KWS worked the same way as a Detailed Surface Scanner does, so after ten seconds of being locked onto a target (unbroken target lock not required) the bounty hunter would have the target's full criminal record. It would surely aid PvP, no?

 

[CMDR iLikeCookiesQ]

the point of the way KWS works now is i think to alarm the target that someone is intent on killing them. You also need hardpoints deployed to scan.

A utility mount is nowhere near the same as a hardpoint though.

 

[DocLooshkin]

I don't play PvP at the moment, but I can see how the KWS is effectively little more than a suicide button, in most interactions away from the no-fire zones. A completely automated mechanic seems too easy, though. Perhaps a two- to three-second lock-on time, followed by the machine doing it's thing automatically for another ten seconds (so long as the target's in view and hasn't broken the target lock)? Would that be more helpful?

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

I don't play PvP at the moment, but I can see how the KWS is effectively little more than a suicide button, in most interactions away from the no-fire zones. A completely automated mechanic seems too easy, though. Perhaps a two- to three-second lock-on time, followed by the machine doing it's thing automatically for another ten seconds (so long as the target's in view and hasn't broken the target lock)? Would that be more helpful?

Yeah. The fact that it takes up a spot in the firegroup is the main problem.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

My issue isn't necessarily with the passive/active component, it's the fact that we have to hold the button down. WHYYYYY!?!?! I wouldn't mind throwing it on its own firegroup if I could punch it and have it do its best to complete the scan as I start fighting.

 

[Arubeto]

I disagree. The KWS is one of the few optional actions a commander can take at the moment when meeting other ships. It's a tradeoff between potentially more income (i.e. bounties from other minor factions) and more safety (i.e. attacking sooner = dealing more damage). Taking this away would reduce the number of options how a player can engage interaction/combat with other ships.

I generally don't like these ideas to make individual game play mechanics automatic, like the one of a super-advanced-discovery-scanner that automatically performs a surface scan, too.

They make a game where decisions still at least play a little role into a totally linear, predetermined path of actions a commander has to take in each given situation, taking away any sense of freedom or decision that's still there, actually not much more than a set of glorified QTEs.

So, a clear "no" to automatic KWS from me.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

I wouldn't make it automatic, but I'd like it to work while hardpoints are retracted, just like the advanced discovery scanner. There are quite a few benefits with that: You can put it on the same firegroup as some of your weapons without firing those weapons when using it. And you can set it to power off when the hardpoints come up, giving those energy starved combat ships a bit more breathing room. Target would still be alerted of the scan. Same would be nice for the cargo scanner.

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

I disagree. The KWS is one of the few optional actions a commander can take at the moment when meeting other ships. It's a tradeoff between potentially more income (i.e. bounties from other minor factions) and more safety (i.e. attacking sooner = dealing more damage). Taking this away would reduce the number of options how a player can engage interaction/combat with other ships.

I generally don't like these ideas to make individual game play mechanics automatic, like the one of a super-advanced-discovery-scanner that automatically performs a surface scan, too.

They make a game where decisions still at least play a little role into a totally linear, predetermined path of actions a commander has to take in each given situation, taking away any sense of freedom or decision that's still there, actually not much more than a set of glorified QTEs.

So, a clear "no" to automatic KWS from me.

I absolutely see where you're coming from, but I think Cmdr. Numa has the best solution.