I suggest that illegal (in some/most systems) ship components be introduced, the first among them being the Advanced Comms Receiver. What does it do? When someone is attacked, often they have it set to notify the local security forces. The receiver taps into this and allows for you to get up to date information on where and when someone is being attacked. You'll learn when stolen/illegal goods are found, when someone is attacked/murdered, etc. This could potentially also allow you to catch unidentified signal sources easier/from further away, perhaps with some information on what's in there.
Why would it be illegal? Well, because it'd be such a great tool for piracy, not just bounty hunting. Though if you have rank/high standing with the faction of the system you're in perhaps a permit should be possible.
Also had another idea: Comms Jammer
This prevents not only radio transmissions from reaching local security forces, which delays any bounty updates, but also (possibly) all in-game communication, making it ideal for quietly taking someone down before making your escape. However, its drawback is that you must keep them in your sights at all times, as it only affects a ship in front of you. Ideally this will be a valuable tool that requires a great deal of skill to use effectively. It cannot prevent a bounty from being placed, only delay the information until the target is either dead or escapes the jamming, as either their escape pod or ship will eventually send out the call for help.
This could potentially encourage co-operative piracy, with one ship operating a jammer while the others disable it and break open the cargo hatch.
Smuggler's Coating:
Significantly increases the length of time required for a scan to complete, as well as possibly reducing heat signature, but it is considered illegal almost everywhere. It replaces your bulkheads and is only as good as the lightweight bulkheads as far as protection goes. Useful to traders traveling through unlawful systems with valuable cargo and smugglers in general who would rather not be caught.
Anti-matter Cannons:
Volatile, experimental weapons that are as apt to blow up in your face as they are to kill the enemy, still being tested by military R&D yet a few of the designs leaked out on the black market. While technically they do require ammunition, only a very small quantity of anti-matter is necessary to achieve an incredible explosive effect. As such, it can be made by converting your hydrogen fuel (it's taken out of your fuel tank). After every burst of energy, which deals significant damage to whatever is unfortunate enough to be hit by it, the weapons themselves take damage, and require constant repair. Minor hull damage is also taken regardless of shield status. Additionally, any security forces in the area will come running, regardless of the wanted status of your target. High thermal damage makes them ideal to the few pirate lords who can afford them, given their ability to quickly wipe out shields.
Astrometrics Scrambling Drone:
Inspired in part by the limpets already in-game, I suggest a small drone that can be fired from your ship toward any unshielded craft which will temporarily (for 5 seconds or so? it's only meant to be short term) disrupt their navigation computer by bombarding it with false information. The amount of information required to trigger the fail-safes in an FSD and make it shut down requires a lot of power, as such they only last a short time. However, it will cause an FSD charge-up to cancel and be put on cool-down for as long as the drone remains active.
What are your thoughts?
Why would it be illegal? Well, because it'd be such a great tool for piracy, not just bounty hunting. Though if you have rank/high standing with the faction of the system you're in perhaps a permit should be possible.
Also had another idea: Comms Jammer
This prevents not only radio transmissions from reaching local security forces, which delays any bounty updates, but also (possibly) all in-game communication, making it ideal for quietly taking someone down before making your escape. However, its drawback is that you must keep them in your sights at all times, as it only affects a ship in front of you. Ideally this will be a valuable tool that requires a great deal of skill to use effectively. It cannot prevent a bounty from being placed, only delay the information until the target is either dead or escapes the jamming, as either their escape pod or ship will eventually send out the call for help.
This could potentially encourage co-operative piracy, with one ship operating a jammer while the others disable it and break open the cargo hatch.
Smuggler's Coating:
Significantly increases the length of time required for a scan to complete, as well as possibly reducing heat signature, but it is considered illegal almost everywhere. It replaces your bulkheads and is only as good as the lightweight bulkheads as far as protection goes. Useful to traders traveling through unlawful systems with valuable cargo and smugglers in general who would rather not be caught.
Anti-matter Cannons:
Volatile, experimental weapons that are as apt to blow up in your face as they are to kill the enemy, still being tested by military R&D yet a few of the designs leaked out on the black market. While technically they do require ammunition, only a very small quantity of anti-matter is necessary to achieve an incredible explosive effect. As such, it can be made by converting your hydrogen fuel (it's taken out of your fuel tank). After every burst of energy, which deals significant damage to whatever is unfortunate enough to be hit by it, the weapons themselves take damage, and require constant repair. Minor hull damage is also taken regardless of shield status. Additionally, any security forces in the area will come running, regardless of the wanted status of your target. High thermal damage makes them ideal to the few pirate lords who can afford them, given their ability to quickly wipe out shields.
Astrometrics Scrambling Drone:
Inspired in part by the limpets already in-game, I suggest a small drone that can be fired from your ship toward any unshielded craft which will temporarily (for 5 seconds or so? it's only meant to be short term) disrupt their navigation computer by bombarding it with false information. The amount of information required to trigger the fail-safes in an FSD and make it shut down requires a lot of power, as such they only last a short time. However, it will cause an FSD charge-up to cancel and be put on cool-down for as long as the drone remains active.
What are your thoughts?
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