Proposal Discussion "Cry Baby" Distress Call decoy canister

[CMDR Texas Stu]

I'd like to see a 'cry baby' that takes up a canister slot and can be activated remotely from a distance that emulates a distress call of a passenger transport or larger trade vessel as a decoy device (as seen on Firefly pilot episode intro).
It would give a pirate with police closing in a possible escape mechanism and I just always thought the idea brilliant. Frontier should create their own spin in it maybe I would expect.

 

[Memnoch]

It would also allow Pirates to lure in potential prey. I like this idea and now plan to ignore all pleas for assistance, just in case.

 

[CMDR Texas Stu]

Excellent counterpoint.

 

[Frobitz]

I will tow one behind my ship, thus ensuring everyone is too paranoid to come near me. Such safety!

 

[Dejay]

I'd like this too, something to distract and lure others into a trap. Or simply a "fake" ship signature.

You get a bit of this by ejecting a heat sink but when you get close enough you'll see it's a heat sink and are warned that someone is lurking.

 

[Slopey]

It's pointless for multi-player - human pirates aren't going to call off an attack to investigate a distress signal.

Would work in an AI setting, but again, why would a pirate who wants to attack other ships suddenly go all humanitarian and go and assist? Better to wait a few hours until they're dead then go salvage it.

The "cry-baby" works in the Firefly narrative as the Feds are duty bound to investigate a distress signal. In an online space game? Not so much.

 

[Lobster]

Would work in an AI setting, but again, why would a pirate who wants to attack other ships suddenly go all humanitarian and go and assist? Better to wait a few hours until they're dead then go salvage it.

Who says the pirate wants to help? Maybe scavengers want to prey on weak stricken vessels, only to discover they are an ambush set by vigilantes!

You are right though, people are only ever going to be tricked once by something like this, and then it's a useless mechanic in multiplayer.

 

[GeordieMarv]

I like this idea and now plan to ignore all pleas for assistance, just in case.

hahaha
It is kind of a cool idea though.
Cue Admiral Ackbar "it's a trap!"

 

[ZeeWolf]

Didn't I read something like this in the Fuel DDF?

Players can utilize a distress beacon to signal for any nearby ships to help with refueling
The beacon isn’t a guarantee and could in theory bring the player more trouble than they’re currently in with their fuel concerns (but could be the only hope left of rescue)
Activating the beacon is a onetime only device that will be renewed upon the next station visit (conveniently prevents misuse and ensures the player is incentivized to dock after such an attempt if the beacon was successful)

Could be used for all kinds of purposes

 

[CMDR Texas Stu]

Yes, so my request/suggestion was a balance. Sure, they could ignore it (but would police?) and ignore every other distress call as well if the cry baby mimicked a real one. Their choice!

 

[rlr149]

doesn't have to be a distress caller,

just an electronics package with a heat generator and single engine, set it going and it's signature makes it look like something BIG(cargo wise)
maybe different types to look like different ships, or multiples to look like a small wave of small fighters(on radar only, visual confirmation will render them useless as they're not 'controllable')