So I'm out doing the CG for the galactic initiative and figured I'd pay a visit to a Guardian Beacon because, you know, it's a cool set piece. Toodling around scooping up guardian artifacts, I was thinking on the Xeno Scanner on my trusty DBX and how I hardly ever use it...just feels a bit wasted on the Thargoids. So, below are my suggestions and ideas for a Xeno Scanner 2.0 with new features or purposes.
Xeno Scanner 2.0
Xeno Scanner can now be activated on any alien object.
-This includes all Thargoid NPCs (ships, drones, etc.), structures, and lootable objects (such as samples)
-This includes all Guardian NPCs (currently just sentinels), structures, and lootable objects (such as artifacts)
-This includes all stellar biological entities (such as voidhearts)
Xeno Scanner provides additional details to the codex on alien objects that go beyond what the composition scanner can provide. Xeno Scanner also provides detailed structural information when used on NPCs and structures (as it currently does for Thargoid Interceptors and the like).
Xeno Scanner 2.0 - Interactions
Scanning alien NPCs (ships, automatons, etc.) with the Xeno Scanner enables detailed structural analysis, identifying major organs or subsystems for targeting or additional analysis pre, during, or post-combat. Utilization of the Xeno Scanner on an NPC can increase the chance of discovering additional materials for recovery by identifying harvest points for further extraction. For structures, details below...
Thargoids
-As scouts explode upon mortal wounding, there is no corpse left for a Xeno Scanner to scan. Prior to death, an active Xeno Scan only provides additional codex data.
-Interceptors and larger can be scanned post-mortem, revealing organic deposits that can be harvested for additional materials or for additional information in codex.
-Structures (Ex: Barnacle) will reveal structural data and identify nodes that can be interacted with for various purposes:
a. Harvest Nodes provide meta-alloys or other materials
b. Research Nodes require a research limpet to extract material for analysis, providing additional data for the codex and clues about the Thargoids
c. Data Nodes can be interacted with via the data link scanner (Ship or SRV), revealing data for the codex and potentially revealing Thargoid communication signals - which could in turn provide clues about other Thargoid sites, movements, or even targets within human space. Such intel will be delivered to the mailbox and also create an intel packet that can be sold for a reward.
d. Active Organic Structure - the Xeno Scanner has revealed an unusually active organic structure that warrants investigation!
-Lootable Items, when scanned, provide additional data in the codex or materials description.
Thargoid 'Active Organic Structure'
Occassionally, the Xeno Scanner may reveal an organic structure at a Thargoid site that appears to have heightened levels of activity. These structures need to be further analyzed with the SRV, as they are typically hidden from the surface in alcoves or even within the Thargoid super-structure. Caution is advised: drone activity near these anomalies tends to be much higher as well, suggesting an important function relative to the entire site that may incite aggressive defense.
Guardians
-As sentinels explode upon catastrophic failure, little is left in the debris for analysis. Prior to destruction, an active Xeno Scan only provides additional codex data.
-Structures (Sites & Beacons) will reveal structural data and identify nodes that can be interacted with for various purposes:
a. Harvest Nodes provide guardian materials
b. Research Nodes require a research limpet to extract materials or data for analysis, providing additional data for the codex and clues about the Guardians
c. Data Nodes can be interacted with via the data link scanner (Ship or SRV), revealing data for the codex and potentially revealing Guardian signals flowing through the structure. These signal lines seem to indicate the presence of previously hidden access points...
-Lootable Items, when scanned, provide additional data in the codex or materials description.
Guardian Access Points
When scanned, guardian structures can reveal signal lines - barely detectable with typical starship technology, let alone an SRV - that seem to indicate access-points for additional data analysis. These access points may be utilized with a data-link scanner, but require extremely close proximity to detect and target: less than 2 meters. Usage of the Xeno Scanner provides clues to their location, with a thorough scouring with an SRV yielding the target.
Similar to the pylons for the data-core, when scanned the access-points trigger a countdown that will require other access-points to be scanned before it expires. Because of the secure nature of these access-points, additional guardian sentinels may appear to defend against the intrusion! Successful completion of the access-points will result in the opening of a passage into the passages beneath the surface...and whatever may be waiting therein.
The passage entrance can be located with the Xeno Scanner by tracing all signal lines to a centralized point - likely the door they activate. Alternatively, these large sealed doors aren't easily missed, so the gaping dark maw probably won't be either.
Alien Fauna (Exploration)
When scanned with the Xeno Scanner, the codex is further updated for alien fauna and a larger credit bonus is provided for the additional data upon turning in the data at a station. Some fauna may react to the various frequencies and wavelengths the scanner uses, potentially providing observation of new (and hopefully not dangerous) behaviors.
Why do this? Two answers:
1) The Xeno Scanner is a rather bland utility that could provide additional gameplay benefits to explorers, traders, and mercenaries alike.
2) While the data-link scanner and composition scanner are powerful tools, only the latter was designed with alien analysis in mind...on a superficial level. Alternatively, the Xeno-Scanner was explicitly designed for usage with alien objects for research and combat purposes. Given its current capabilities with Thargoids, it is a prime candidate for an 'upgrade' in functionality as the war with the Thargoids heats up and the search for Guardian technology is further fueled by that war.
Non Lore Reason...
Dude, it's a neat module with a neat name that doesn't do anything neat. It screams 'bring me with you!' to explorers...and yet it's totally worthless to explorers. As I'm not in the camp of 'strip the ship of everything because jump distance is life', I'd very much like to see more tools for explorers - near the bubble and not - that directly handle the two most important players in this game's story: the Thargoids and the Guardians.
Thoughts on expanding the Xeno Scanner to do more?
Xeno Scanner 2.0
Xeno Scanner can now be activated on any alien object.
-This includes all Thargoid NPCs (ships, drones, etc.), structures, and lootable objects (such as samples)
-This includes all Guardian NPCs (currently just sentinels), structures, and lootable objects (such as artifacts)
-This includes all stellar biological entities (such as voidhearts)
Xeno Scanner provides additional details to the codex on alien objects that go beyond what the composition scanner can provide. Xeno Scanner also provides detailed structural information when used on NPCs and structures (as it currently does for Thargoid Interceptors and the like).
Xeno Scanner 2.0 - Interactions
Scanning alien NPCs (ships, automatons, etc.) with the Xeno Scanner enables detailed structural analysis, identifying major organs or subsystems for targeting or additional analysis pre, during, or post-combat. Utilization of the Xeno Scanner on an NPC can increase the chance of discovering additional materials for recovery by identifying harvest points for further extraction. For structures, details below...
Thargoids
-As scouts explode upon mortal wounding, there is no corpse left for a Xeno Scanner to scan. Prior to death, an active Xeno Scan only provides additional codex data.
-Interceptors and larger can be scanned post-mortem, revealing organic deposits that can be harvested for additional materials or for additional information in codex.
-Structures (Ex: Barnacle) will reveal structural data and identify nodes that can be interacted with for various purposes:
a. Harvest Nodes provide meta-alloys or other materials
b. Research Nodes require a research limpet to extract material for analysis, providing additional data for the codex and clues about the Thargoids
c. Data Nodes can be interacted with via the data link scanner (Ship or SRV), revealing data for the codex and potentially revealing Thargoid communication signals - which could in turn provide clues about other Thargoid sites, movements, or even targets within human space. Such intel will be delivered to the mailbox and also create an intel packet that can be sold for a reward.
d. Active Organic Structure - the Xeno Scanner has revealed an unusually active organic structure that warrants investigation!
-Lootable Items, when scanned, provide additional data in the codex or materials description.
Thargoid 'Active Organic Structure'
Occassionally, the Xeno Scanner may reveal an organic structure at a Thargoid site that appears to have heightened levels of activity. These structures need to be further analyzed with the SRV, as they are typically hidden from the surface in alcoves or even within the Thargoid super-structure. Caution is advised: drone activity near these anomalies tends to be much higher as well, suggesting an important function relative to the entire site that may incite aggressive defense.
Guardians
-As sentinels explode upon catastrophic failure, little is left in the debris for analysis. Prior to destruction, an active Xeno Scan only provides additional codex data.
-Structures (Sites & Beacons) will reveal structural data and identify nodes that can be interacted with for various purposes:
a. Harvest Nodes provide guardian materials
b. Research Nodes require a research limpet to extract materials or data for analysis, providing additional data for the codex and clues about the Guardians
c. Data Nodes can be interacted with via the data link scanner (Ship or SRV), revealing data for the codex and potentially revealing Guardian signals flowing through the structure. These signal lines seem to indicate the presence of previously hidden access points...
-Lootable Items, when scanned, provide additional data in the codex or materials description.
Guardian Access Points
When scanned, guardian structures can reveal signal lines - barely detectable with typical starship technology, let alone an SRV - that seem to indicate access-points for additional data analysis. These access points may be utilized with a data-link scanner, but require extremely close proximity to detect and target: less than 2 meters. Usage of the Xeno Scanner provides clues to their location, with a thorough scouring with an SRV yielding the target.
Similar to the pylons for the data-core, when scanned the access-points trigger a countdown that will require other access-points to be scanned before it expires. Because of the secure nature of these access-points, additional guardian sentinels may appear to defend against the intrusion! Successful completion of the access-points will result in the opening of a passage into the passages beneath the surface...and whatever may be waiting therein.
The passage entrance can be located with the Xeno Scanner by tracing all signal lines to a centralized point - likely the door they activate. Alternatively, these large sealed doors aren't easily missed, so the gaping dark maw probably won't be either.
Alien Fauna (Exploration)
When scanned with the Xeno Scanner, the codex is further updated for alien fauna and a larger credit bonus is provided for the additional data upon turning in the data at a station. Some fauna may react to the various frequencies and wavelengths the scanner uses, potentially providing observation of new (and hopefully not dangerous) behaviors.
Why do this? Two answers:
1) The Xeno Scanner is a rather bland utility that could provide additional gameplay benefits to explorers, traders, and mercenaries alike.
2) While the data-link scanner and composition scanner are powerful tools, only the latter was designed with alien analysis in mind...on a superficial level. Alternatively, the Xeno-Scanner was explicitly designed for usage with alien objects for research and combat purposes. Given its current capabilities with Thargoids, it is a prime candidate for an 'upgrade' in functionality as the war with the Thargoids heats up and the search for Guardian technology is further fueled by that war.
Non Lore Reason...
Dude, it's a neat module with a neat name that doesn't do anything neat. It screams 'bring me with you!' to explorers...and yet it's totally worthless to explorers. As I'm not in the camp of 'strip the ship of everything because jump distance is life', I'd very much like to see more tools for explorers - near the bubble and not - that directly handle the two most important players in this game's story: the Thargoids and the Guardians.
Thoughts on expanding the Xeno Scanner to do more?