Does chaff hinder NPC scans (for smuggling runs)

[jacozilla]

Sorry for starting new thread on this, but read bunch of old posts, and googled more on other sites and either posts were fairly old and/or conflicting info.

Old posts / info all were conflicting with either - not sure, think it works ; not sure - think it doesn't work ; yes and no

Maybe because of all the updates since launch, but I just started 4 days ago so given current game state now - does anyone know for sure if chaff helps hinder NPC scans?

I can mostly scoot in using the fast dash technique, or the silent running coast - but would be nice to know if popping chaff liberally is another option since chaff is so cheap.

(I'm popping chaff now while doing speed or creep runs into stations while smuggling, but since I (almost) never get caught, I don't know if that' because the chaff is helping - and scans aren't being targeted - or just a placebo.

Could test this if it was vs player but I don't know how to ask an NPC, hey - is your scan locking on?

 

[Vasious]

No

unless there has been a change in 1.3.0 x

 

[[HJ]-RedRaven]

Not that I'm aware of.

Getting out of range rapidly (i.e. 3km+) stops a scan from completing, but you only have the ten seconds to do it.

Not sure about switching to Silent Running (not tried it as a scan was in progress)...

 

[Whiterose]

No, but its a good question, because theoretically it should do.

 

[jacozilla]

Not that I'm aware of.

Getting out of range rapidly (i.e. 3km+) stops a scan from completing, but you only have the ten seconds to do it.

Not sure about switching to Silent Running (not tried it as a scan was in progress)...

That one I know - once a scan is initiated, you can only out run it by making it into the mail slot before scan complete - you can't avoid it by going into silent running.

Or at least, every time I've been blown and got the scanning message and tried going into silent running, that never worked. Only the aforementioned boost like hell and hope you make it into station mail slot before the scan is complete.

I guess I will give up the placebo chaff launches

Will still keep my chaff launcher for combat use, but guess I'll save a few hundred creds per smuggling run on the saved chaff

 

[Yodafone]

Chaff launched by an npc definitely hinders a scan from us, so if npcs follow the same mechanics and rules I would say technically yes the other way round as well - if the npc scanning you is directly behind you on your current vector, as in the chaff you have launched is directly between you and them, but generally chaff only really works at slower speeds and you positon yourself behind the spread with your target behind that (so you usually have to be looking at your target and travelling backwards to know where to position yourself)

But... at a station the npc security are circling at 90 degrees almost to your vector trajectory through the station entrance, so any chaff you've launched will be left behind you and not hinder their scan.

 

[Shaamaan]

But... at a station the npc security are circling at 90 degrees almost to your vector trajectory through the station entrance, so any chaff you've launched will be left behind you and not hinder their scan.

You know that chaff in this game is being launched continuously for a set amount of time?

If NPCs can evade scans, so should we. Since Frontier wants to equalize NPCs and players oh-so-much, then this should also be fixed.

 

[Katkon]

Are you guys sure chaff doesn't disrupt NPC scans? I've used it with succes, I think, unless I'm completely mistaken. And, as others have said, chaff deployed by NPCs CLEARLY disrupts my/our scans. So I'm curious as to whether your "no" responses are based in opinion or tested/proven fact.

 

[Yodafone]

You know that chaff in this game is being launched continuously for a set amount of time?

If NPCs can evade scans, so should we. Since Frontier wants to equalize NPCs and players oh-so-much, then this should also be fixed.

Like I said earlier in the post, chaff does work if you use it correctly and make sure this cycle of chaff spreads between you and a hostile. Main issue at a station, there are many npc security ships at various angles to your trajectory towards the station entrance, so the chaff launching will always be behind your ship, not inbetween you and these various security vessels doing their patroling cycling route around the outside of the station.

This was the question the OP asked - can it be used to try and negate a scan at a station for smuggling? Not really because of these reasons, however in combat against a particular hostile, chaff can be used to hinder scans and gimbal mounted weapons as long as you use it correctly as I've described and position yourself past or behind the spread of chaff. It is very useful in this regard, I'm not sure if it was tweaked and changed to the point you could use it for smuggling to negate All security vessels trying to scan you is a good thing, it would be far too easy to smuggle surely.

 

[Marra Morgan]

It doesn't.
I tested it myself and it takes around 10 seconds for an NPC to scan you, with or without chaff being launched.

 

[Mohrgan]

Chaff doesn't hinder scanning, PC or NPC. It just interferes with the target lock of non fixed weapons. They are different issues.

 

[Animator-Jonny]

Hey jacozilla, chaffs make it so that gimballed and turreted weapons don't lock onto the ship what fired it for a set duration.

 

[Elan]

OK.

So can you explain why a KW-Scanner is disrupted by an NPC launching chaff? Because it happens.

 

[Bertrand Du Guesclin]

So can you explain why a KW-Scanner is disrupted by an NPC launching chaff?

^
this


In addition to that there is a bug : NPCs sometimes can scan you without triggering the "Scan Detected" alert in your cockpit.

If you get scanned, you can't do anything about it, and sometimes you don't even now it until you see the fine, or the NPC dialog "scan finished, go on cmdr"

 

[VR Morgan Grimes]

Chaff most definitely stops player kill warrant scans, of this I have no doubt.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

OK.

So can you explain why a KW-Scanner is disrupted by an NPC launching chaff? Because it happens.

^
this

Chaff most definitely stops player kill warrant scans, of this I have no doubt.

A fourth nod of agreement. It pauses KWS at least, no idea about cargo scanner.

 

[Jordan Cobalt]

A fourth nod of agreement. It pauses KWS at least, no idea about cargo scanner.

It works the same for my cargo scan against npcs or players. I too would like to know if it can stop an npc cargo scan of a player.

 

[Roycie]

There's a video on youtube somewhere of a KWS and a cargo scan being delayed by a target using chaff.

Not sure on the directional element, would be a difficult test, i guess.

 

[LeetNoob]

It does stop both KWS and cargo scanner against NPC's. I have no definite proof but I am almost certain it does prevent local security from scanning you as this was a tactic I used when smuggling and it seemed to work.

Can someone do a test, I won't be playing until tonight, it should be easy to test with 1 ton of contraband and won't cost too much.

 

[Animator-Jonny]

^
this


In addition to that there is a bug : NPCs sometimes can scan you without triggering the "Scan Detected" alert in your cockpit.

If you get scanned, you can't do anything about it, and sometimes you don't even now it until you see the fine, or the NPC dialog "scan finished, go on cmdr"

Hey Du Guesclin, we are aware of this happening and it is under investigation.