[Suggestion] Stealth Based Missions.

[Marc_Hicks]

Sadly, I think stealth remains a hugely under-utilized aspect of the game. I don't even see any "Don't get scanned" mission types, anymore, which at least made rudimentary use of stealth game-play.

So, aside from bringing back this mission type (maybe sometimes combined with the "In Safe Hands" mission type-just to make it really difficult ), what other mission types could use the mechanic?

Well, there could be a mission requiring the player to shadow a target-perhaps even over multiple systems-without being detected by your quarry. This would involve you following at a discreet distance-in Super Cruise and/or N-space-then scanning them as they reach their destination (settlement, outpost, station or another ship). Successful scanning would generate a Mission Critical Update telling you where you need to go next-& generate an "Encrypted Data" cargo item in your hold, which you must get to your contacts without being killed.

Some assassination missions might have an initial stealth aspect, where you need to ensure that your quarry reaches a certain destination before you can kill them.

Then there could be stealth missions that require you to scan facilities, or even deploy high explosives on them, without being detected by security forces.

Those are just a few I can think of. Of course having stealth missions would likewise require more modules that make stealth more viable-like hulls that sacrifice armour for being undetectable from shorter distances, or modules that are better at dissipating heat whilst in silent running.

Anyway, feel free to post your thoughts, or any other stealth based missions you can think of.

 

[gcase]

Then there could be stealth missions that require you to scan facilities

In the novel that Michael Brookes wrote, a pilot has to use silent running do a stealthy fly-by of a shipyard facility to collect reconnaissance. Hopefully he still has this in mind as future gameplay for ED...

Of course having stealth missions would likewise require more modules that make stealth more viable-like hulls that sacrifice armour for being undetectable from shorter distances, or modules that are better at dissipating heat whilst in silent running.

We already have a lot of options for reducing our thermal footprints, in particular the low-emissions Engineer mod for power plants. I think what we really need for stealth gameplay to be compelling is better UI feedback when you're detected, or at risk of being detected. In a typical smuggling scenario right now, you have no way of knowing whether you show up on other ships' scopes until they decide to hit you with a cargo scan, at which point it's often too late. Stealth-heavy games like Thief/Deus Ex/Metal Gear Solid on the other hand give you lots of feedback about whether enemies can see you: "Someone taffing about over there? Hello? Show yourself! Oh well, must be rats or something." These games would be incredibly frustrating and no fun if they didn't give you those cues and a chance to duck back into the shadows.

I think ED needs similar feedback mechanisms in order for stealth gameplay to be fun. So far all we have is the heat signature meter, analogous to the light gem in Thief but not of much use by itself. Possible feedback would include:
- A warning when another ship picks you up on their scanner as an unresolved contact
- A warning when another ship picks you up as a resolved contact
- A warning when another ship does a scan on you (the automatic kind, not a cargo or kill warrant scan)
- An indication of other ships' scanner ranges and whether you fall inside them
These features probably shouldn't be there by default; even disregarding balance and progression concerns, they'd just be an annoyance except for the specific times you're trying to fly under the radar. They could be added by additional special-purpose modules, or by future Engineer modifications to something like the sensor module.