Constantly Losing Target lock in RES Bounty Hunting

Quantis Trap

Quantis Trap
During the last few times I've gone bounty hunting in RES sites, I've noticed that I loose my target quite often. Sometimes it can be right after I select the target and sometimes the target can hold for quite a while. This probably happens in more than RES sites but I don't know that for sure yet.

I've been trying to comprehend why this is happening and would like some thoughts from others whove experienced the same general thing.

If you've experienced something similar, please briefly explain your experience.

If you think this behavior is not a bug please explain why you think it isn't.

If you know it's already a recorded bug or solved in another thread please reference it in this thread so it can read it.

Thanks
 
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Lightspeed

Lightspeed
This has been commented on by other commanders and I have experienced it.

If you watch NPC pirates in RES sites, as other NPC police are hunting them, they sometimes disappear from the screen and then reappear after a minute or so behind the police ship and continue on their way. It's a very clever tactic ! I believe the ship switches into silent running and drops a heat sink to make itself invisible.

It is likely this is what the NPC ships are doing when they disappear off the screen. Sometimes they drop off if they are at the limits of your scanner, of course.
 

KillaALF

K
Target dropping a heat sink will in most cases lead to your sensors losing the lock on it. That is expected behaviour. Ejected heat sinks will be shown in the contacts tab, so there is an easy way to check.
 

YinYin

YinYin
CMDR QUANTIS TRAP said:
If you think this behavior is not a bug please explain why you think it isn't.
Click to expand...

Your targets signatures are likely too weak for your sensors to keep track.

Diamondbacks in particular are very cold and tend to shake the lock naturally with distance.
But NPCs also use heat sinks regularly now.

Better sensors, emissive weapons or sticking closer to the target will help.
 

Quantis Trap

Quantis Trap
Winter Jasra said:
Have you engineered your sensors lately? Maybe the sensors lost some range without you noticing?
Click to expand...

Nope, this can't be it. I've lost a lock a half second after locking on the ship when right up on them.

KillaALF said:
Target dropping a heat sink will in most cases lead to your sensors losing the lock on it. That is expected behaviour. Ejected heat sinks will be shown in the contacts tab, so there is an easy way to check.
Click to expand...

Good thought! I'll have to watch this closely next time.

+rep to you guys.
 
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V'larr

V'larr
It's to do with the range of your sensors, the arc of your sensors (both of which can be modded), the heat signature of the ship you've targeted, and the potential use of heat sinks which temporarily remove your heat (and thus signature) for a few moments.

Look here for more info: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/286628-Research-Detailed-Heat-Mechanics

TL/DR version is that ship signatures are not equal - for instance, you can expect Diamondbacks to be tough to keep on sensors.
 
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Quantis Trap

Quantis Trap
V'larr said:
It's to do with the range of your sensors, the arc of your sensors (both of which can be modded), the heat signature of the ship you've targeted, and the potential use of heat sinks which temporarily remove your heat (and thus signature) for a few moments.

Look here for more info: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/286628-Research-Detailed-Heat-Mechanics

TL/DR version is that you can expect Diamondbacks to be tough to keep on sensors.
Click to expand...

Very nice! Thanks for the thread reference! I bet it's just what I was looking for. I'll read it more throughly later. +rep, not that you need it.
 
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V'larr

V'larr
CMDR QUANTIS TRAP said:
Very nice! Thanks for the thread reference! I bet it's just what I was looking for. I'll read it more throughly later. +rep, not that you need it.
Click to expand...

I suppose I ought to mention, too, that Emissive weapon mod special effects can raise target radar signatures, and there's also ones that increase target heat and would thereby raise radar signature, but to a lesser extent in comparison.
 
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HBK

HBK
This is usually because the ship uses an SCB and pops a Heat Sink to avoid frying. It causes the ship to run über cool for a few seconds, and that's when your sensors lose the ship signature.
 

aRJay

aRJay
CMDR QUANTIS TRAP said:
Can you please explain in more detail what you mean if this wasn't a joke?
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I have very recently noticed this behaviour become more common, Diamondbacks at range have always been able to do it, with even ships I am fighting throwing off the lock, which is a real pain in the middle of a multi ship furball.

I have just just gained a combat rank so I suspect that ties in with what the other poster was saying, the capabilities of the NPCs you encounter that aren't mission generated are based around your combat rank, with a tweak if your combat rank isn't your highest rank, and because I have ranked up the NPCs have learned a new trick.
 

Sarah Jane Avory

Retro Queen
Sarah Jane Avory
Hi! Sounds to me like NPC ships are dropping heat sinks. They usually do this when firing an SCB (or hot weapons) pushes their temperature to a critical level. Once a heat sink is deployed, their core temperature will drop to near zero and (like player ships) they'll drop off sensors for a bit. :)
Be assured, they don't use Silent Running. I've tested that here and it's just a bit too mean... ;)
Should also add their heat sink ability (like a lot of things) rises with their rank, so the higher the rank, the more you'll see this.
 
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Lightspeed

Lightspeed
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Hi! Sounds to me like NPC ships are dropping heat sinks. They usually do this when firing an SCB (or hot weapons) pushes their temperature to a critical level. Once a heat sink is deployed, their core temperature will drop to near zero and (like player ships) they'll drop off sensors for a bit. :)
Be assured, they don't use Silent Running. I've tested that here and it's just a bit too mean... ;)
Should also add their heat sink ability (like a lot of things) rises with their rank, so the higher the rank, the more you'll see this.
Click to expand...

Thankyou for that information :)
 

Genar-Hofoen

Genar-Hofoen
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Hi! Sounds to me like NPC ships are dropping heat sinks. They usually do this when firing an SCB (or hot weapons) pushes their temperature to a critical level. Once a heat sink is deployed, their core temperature will drop to near zero and (like player ships) they'll drop off sensors for a bit. :)
Be assured, they don't use Silent Running. I've tested that here and it's just a bit too mean... ;)
Should also add their heat sink ability (like a lot of things) rises with their rank, so the higher the rank, the more you'll see this.
Click to expand...

I noticed that behaviour, and I think NPC's dropping heat sinks is fantastic. It's an added challenge when fighting against them, and this is a good thing.
 

Jon flint

Jon flint
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Hi! Sounds to me like NPC ships are dropping heat sinks. They usually do this when firing an SCB (or hot weapons) pushes their temperature to a critical level. Once a heat sink is deployed, their core temperature will drop to near zero and (like player ships) they'll drop off sensors for a bit. :)
Be assured, they don't use Silent Running. I've tested that here and it's just a bit too mean... ;)
Should also add their heat sink ability (like a lot of things) rises with their rank, so the higher the rank, the more you'll see this.
Click to expand...

Seeing as you're here.. hows the Thargoid AI coming along?... I hope they're going to be mean as hell!

[/End of shameless attempt to get a Dev to admit Thargoids exist]
 
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MDHansen

M
Sarah Jane Avory said:
Hi! Sounds to me like NPC ships are dropping heat sinks. They usually do this when firing an SCB (or hot weapons) pushes their temperature to a critical level. Once a heat sink is deployed, their core temperature will drop to near zero and (like player ships) they'll drop off sensors for a bit. :)
Be assured, they don't use Silent Running. I've tested that here and it's just a bit too mean... ;)
Should also add their heat sink ability (like a lot of things) rises with their rank, so the higher the rank, the more you'll see this.
Click to expand...

That just gave me wet dreams about assasination missions. mmmmm mmm mmmmmm That together with superengineered ship and some leet skilled elite pilot. hooooeeee:x
 
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