Kill warrant scanners power draw

[newman1702]

As it is, this quite simple piece of hardware that we could almost build today (and I bet you it would have the weight of an average smartphone and operate on 12V) weighs over a ton in it's simplest form, and demands crazy amounts of power. What this does is forces us to simply use the shortest range variant as the power draw for increased range is hard to justify; better to invest that power in shield boosters, cell banks or something more critical. My point is it's a simple scanner, it shouldn't be like this. I don't mind paying a premium for increased range, but the power draw pretty much puts me over the top on most ships that I'm configuring for combat, when I put everything I want on them, pretty much forcing me to always use the 2km range E variant at all times.

Also, a way of making the better versions viable, apart from increased range - my suggestion would be to shorten their scanning times.

 

[zombieapocalypse]

It's about balance. Better versions are intended for larger ships. Also, you can turn the module off to save power when not needed.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

As it is, this quite simple piece of hardware that we could almost build today (and I bet you it would have the weight of an average smartphone and operate on 12V) weighs over a ton in it's simplest form, and demands crazy amounts of power. What this does is forces us to simply use the shortest range variant as the power draw for increased range is hard to justify; better to invest that power in shield boosters, cell banks or something more critical. My point is it's a simple scanner, it shouldn't be like this.

Also, a way of making the better versions viable, apart from increased range - my suggestion would be to shorten their scanning times.

I agree that 500m of range is pretty easy to give up in exchange for more power. The same can be said of our sensors internal. I also agree that scan time would be an excellent parameter to have on all scanner and sensors grades/classes. That being said, my courier has tons of spare power for both a big KWS and two simultaneous shield cell banks, so it's not... awful. It's just kinda sucky.

 

[newman1702]

It's about balance. Better versions are intended for larger ships. Also, you can turn the module off to save power when not needed.

I understand that this could have been the intention, but like I said - it is (or should be) a simple scanner, I don't see why it needs to weigh tons and require so much power. Balance wise I understand why you can't put a 7A shield generator on a viper, or mount 64t cargo racks on a Sidewinder. But a simple scanner that's supposed to read the ship's registry and then run it against law enforcement agencie's databases? Should be mountable on any ship. Power draw and weight shouldn't be an issue, the only limiting factor here should be price (most players would probably opt against putting a several million's worth scanner on an otherwise 20k rebuy cost Eagle, for example - this is enough balance if you ask me).

This item doesn't make you more powerful, doesn't make you survive longer, doesn't give you additional firepower or maneuverability. It's a simple quality of life upgrade that doesn't affect your effectiveness in combat, only boosts your bounty hunting income at the price of having to wait for the scan to complete before engaging, and as such isn't the best item to accentuate balance on small vs. big ships. Just my 5 cents.

 

[Guidebot]

I agree that the power consumption of this option increases at a rate that far exceeds the benefit. Unless I'm rolling in power to ludicrous extent (e.g. I'm in my Python) then I'd never look at anything other than the E rated scanner.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

I understand that this could have been the intention, but like I said - it is (or should be) a simple scanner, I don't see why it needs to weigh tons and require so much power. Balance wise I understand why you can't put a 7A shield generator on a viper, or mount 64t cargo racks on a Sidewinder. But a simple scanner that's supposed to read the ship's registry and than run it against law enforcement agencie's databases? Should be mountable on any ship. Power draw and weight shouldn't be an issue, the only limiting factor here should be price. Just my 5 cents.

Those databases could be dozens of lightyears away, and that thing they're supposed to scan may not be so easy to see by an auxiliary scanner. A 0E KWS has the same weight and 25% more power draw as a class 1 sensor, with half the range. I think that's pretty appropriate for something mounted to a utility slot.

 

[newman1702]

I agree that the power consumption of this option increases at a rate that far exceeds the benefit. Unless I'm rolling in power to ludicrous extent (e.g. I'm in my Python) then I'd never look at anything other than the E rated scanner.

My point exactly. Unless you're running one of the few ships capable of having abundant extra power on a full combat load, you'll be using the 0E. Which means almost every ship in the game will. Doesn't seem very balanced to me..

While I do think it's silly this simple scanner weighs over a ton, truth be told I'm not that terribly wound up about the weight. 1.3T is not that high in game balance terms, and if you really want to max out your jump range for an exploration trip, leave the KWS off the ship for the trip, problem solved. It's the power draw that's the real issue here. Fine, it needs to communicate with databases lightyears away, and let's assume that it's not using the ship's built in comm system to do so but sports it's own long range unit instead. Fine. Why does 500m extra range cost so much extra power, then? In the scanning phase it just really needs to ID the ship. You need all that extra power to read a registry number from 500m further away (or whatever it does?) Hmm.

 

[LeetNoob]

Those databases could be dozens of lightyears away, and that thing they're supposed to scan may not be so easy to see by an auxiliary scanner. A 0E KWS has the same weight and 25% more power draw as a class 1 sensor, with half the range. I think that's pretty appropriate for something mounted to a utility slot.

It doesn't matter how far away the 'databases' are (handwavium FTL communication). The point is the only difference between a A rated and B rated scanner is 500 metres, yet the A rated scanner takes double the power draw.

Basically, like A rated sensors, the larger power draw does not justify the benefit of performance. There is really no need to go past C rated or even D rated of either. Why have an 'upgrade' for a component if the upgrade is no good.

KWS should scan quicker at better ratings and sensors should improve gimballed weapons tracking. As they are they're almost pointless.

 

[Evil]

Me personally, I think all the equipment that allows provides more game play possibilities shouldn't be limited to module slots, the KWS is one of these, all of them should be within a sensor array and come just with a cost for having one. Additionally having to assign a fire group and hold a button for a set period of time for scanning just annoys me, IMO should automatically scan a target in view, but yeah, just an opinion.

 

[Roguey]

and for all the power it uses, it cant auto-scan I hate putting it into my weapon group, or using my secondary.

 

[LeetNoob]

Me personally, I think all the equipment that allows provides more game play possibilities shouldn't be limited to module slots, the KWS is one of these, all of them should be within a sensor array and come just with a cost for having one. Additionally having to assign a fire group and hold a button for a set period of time for scanning just annoys me, IMO should automatically scan a target in view, but yeah, just an opinion.

completely agree, it should come part of the upgraded sensors, solve both issues,

 

[Psycho Romeo]

It doesn't matter how far away the 'databases' are (handwavium FTL communication). The point is the only difference between a A rated and B rated scanner is 500 metres, yet the A rated scanner takes double the power draw.

Basically, like A rated sensors, the larger power draw does not justify the benefit of performance. There is really no need to go past C rated or even D rated of either. Why have an 'upgrade' for a component if the upgrade is no good.

KWS should scan quicker at better ratings and sensors should improve gimballed weapons tracking. As they are they're almost pointless.

Like I said in an earlier post, I completely agree.

 

[newman1702]

Me personally, I think all the equipment that allows provides more game play possibilities shouldn't be limited to module slots, the KWS is one of these, all of them should be within a sensor array and come just with a cost for having one. Additionally having to assign a fire group and hold a button for a set period of time for scanning just annoys me, IMO should automatically scan a target in view, but yeah, just an opinion.

Agreed, scanning every single target for 10 seconds before engaging gets a bit old after a while. Especially since there's a basic scan cycle already present (the one that tells you if the target is wanted in the current system, don't need a KWS for that). A KWS present should just provide additional info for THAT scan. Alternatively make better KWS require the same amount of power as the E variant, except it's a lot more expensive and scan times are shorter. I'd gladly pay millions for an A rated one if it'd drop my scan time from 10 to, say, 2 seconds (with the other variants scanning times falling in between)

 

[Evil]

Agreed, scanning every single target for 10 seconds before engaging gets a bit old after a while. Especially since there's a basic scan cycle already present (the one that tells you if the target is wanted in the current system, don't need a KWS for that). A KWS present should just provide additional info for THAT scan. Alternatively make better KWS require the same amount of power as the E variant, except it's a lot more expensive and scan times are shorter. I'd gladly pay millions for an A rated one if it'd drop my scan time from 10 to, say, 2 seconds (with the other variants scanning times falling in between)

Yeah totally agree, the distance is mostly irrelevant atm, (power consumption trumps it on most ships), but the time would make a difference.

 

[LeetNoob]

Yeah totally agree, the distance is mostly irrelevant atm, (power consumption trumps it on most ships), but the time would make a difference.

In fact, some ships can drop out of sensor lock before that. With me class A sensors and Class A KWS, a Cobra and smaller can quite often drop out of my sensor lock after about 3.5 KM, making the 4KM range on my KWS useless. Doesn't happen with larger ships, but still annoying.

- - - Updated - - -

Like I said in an earlier post, I completely agree.

I know, just pointing out the pointlessness of any 'lore' for the increased power draw, before that starts. Although I'm finding less and less 'white knights' around here these days. Maybe it's just holiday season.

 

[Shaamaan]

The weight, while a bit high for a scanner once you think about it, isn't a problem.

The power-draw definitely is. For what it's worth, it's a scanning module. You won't kill anyone with it (at best annoy someone with "scan detected" messages). I'd rather see the power usage drop to match the E rated version (with only minor increases in power needs for better grades) BUT increase the prices considerably for better grades to compensate.