Internal Scan Shielding--Optional Internal Module

[TheDragon2001]

As the title suggests, this module would provide protection against being scanned.
Scan shielding would not do anything to the ship's external signature, but it would prevent a ship scan from detecting what you are carrying. This protection would be based on range and time. Better protection would reduce the maximum range from which you could be successfully scanned, and increase the time it takes to complete the scan. Higher class scan shielding would mostly reduce range and higher grade scan shielding would mostly increase time.
The downside to scan shielding would not only be the space it takes, but it would have large mass as well (real scan shielding is usually made of dense and therefore heavy materials anyway).

 

[Maolagin]

I'm curious, what problem are you trying to solve or what gameplay are you trying to change? There's already a fair variety of ways to defeat manifest scanning - anything that breaks target lock or moves you out of the scanning cone will do. Even if we needed another way to defeat scanning, adding yet more niche modules doesn't sound especially welcome right now. I'd probably prefer to attach that function to an existing underutilized module - giving the unloved ECM utility module a scanner jamming function might be interesting, for instance.

 

[TheDragon2001]

The main idea is for a passive anti-scan measure rather then something else I have to worry about, especially while docking. ECM jamming is also a great idea but I felt it might make the ECM a little over powered.

 

[varonica]

The main idea is for a passive anti-scan measure rather then something else I have to worry about, especially while docking. ECM jamming is also a great idea but I felt it might make the ECM a little over powered.

I should imagine a police ship trying to scan you and failing would automatically become suspicious and the authorities would be alerted that you are using illegal equipment to block their scan and you would be arrested and fined.

 

[Kissamies]

I have thought, and think posted, about this before. One way might be a class 1 or 2 optional module that adds a multiplier to the scan time. Other way could be having an engineer mistune your engine so that it just happens to emit some loose radiation on the same wavelenghts that the scanners use. In game terms, an experimental effect to the thrusters. ECM burst should probably stop a scan dead to its tracks, but that would be an overt action that would be likely to make the scanner hostile.

 

[Batterby76]

Or to avoid scans just drop a heat sink and go silent running, stations won't detect you while docking

 

[Winterwalker]

Or to avoid scans just drop a heat sink and go silent running, stations won't detect you while docking

Docking is just one moment and you can get scanned elsewhere. You might be hatchbreaking wanted ships, operating as a legal bounty hunter but picking up illegal goods. You'll have switched off report crimes against me .. but I've had situations when a clean ship jumps in to attack the same pirate and security arrives to help them, also scanning me!

So I like the idea of the OP in principle but I don't think a module is the answer, for the same reason Varonica gives.

I'd prefer some kind of bribery arrangement where I might buy off security which accidentally forgets to scan me three or four times. I wouldn't be against police sting operations (trying to bribe me huh!? 30 days!) or them taking the money but scanning you anyway, so you'd be incentivised to run stealthy but a brown paper bag on the side might help you keep your rep up .. wheel of fortune on scan detected.

 

[Factabulous]

It's a bit of a weird one: the OP is saying you can still be scanned - so you still need to work out how not to be scanned - at which point what is the point of the module?

 

[varonica]

It does just appear to be a way to do smuggling without actually, you know, smuggling, just fly in like a regular ship, block scans, job done.

 

[Kissamies]

Yeah, it is asking for a solution for a problem that doesn't exist really. However, but I wish there was a bit more to smuggling than there currently is and we did have these problems. For example, if the station authorities noticed suspicious behaviour. That would require the station patrols to have more brains, so it's a hopeless pipe dream.