Why does a KW scanner eat more power than a weapon or even a shield generator? electronics?

n13L5 · Feb 17, 2018

I find this an annoyance beyond compare.

I have to calculate more power draw for a stupid KW scanner than for a Class 2 weapon (unless its a beam laser, maybe).
And if I engineer it for range, it starts to weigh more than some major components on my ship.

The better part of a MEGA WATT!!

You think you'd get your own miniature version of the U.S. Military's H.A.A.R.P. system for that much power...

You tell me a high powered laser eats more than a mega watt, no problem - its believable.
Today's antiquated war ships can detect stuff a lot farther than a few lousy Kilometers and don't eat anywhere near that much power, in spite of the fact that they still have to slice through atmosphere or water... A vacuum is far easier to penetrate!

#illogical game design

Hessfire · Feb 17, 2018

Its not just the detection/identification of the ship in question - it is also the tachyon-enhanced datalink to run the ident through the PF databank.

Just my 2 cents

metatheurgist · Feb 17, 2018

And it's not even that useful a module, soon to be even less useful.

Ananym · Feb 17, 2018

Hessfire said:
Its not just the detection/identification of the ship in question - it is also the tachyon-enhanced datalink to run the ident through the PF databank.

Just my 2 cents

As opposed to just picking up a copy of active bounties in the area every time you docked?
The future has some strange engineers.

Mostly Hamless · Feb 17, 2018

It's the way it is due to reasons.

YinYin · Feb 17, 2018

Is what it does really that much easier in space? You've got a lot more background noise to compete with.

Ca$hback · Feb 17, 2018

I recently engineered a wake scanner (same problem) and it uses more power than my thrusters! It's quick though and I made it work. It's just spending logic points to attempt to balance it and failing with comical results.

Jaggedmallard · Feb 17, 2018

Ananym said:
As opposed to just picking up a copy of active bounties in the area every time you docked?
The future has some strange engineers.

The point of the KWS is that its active bounties from across the galaxy, a database of every active bounty across the galaxy would be absolutely massive and likely take a while to update every time you dock. Its far more sensible to send a query to a centralised pilots federation hub that can then run queries just for the criminal you are scanning

Eidolon · Feb 17, 2018

Just take the KWS off your ship when 3.0 drops.
Fit another type of scanner, shield booster or point defence.

Beware, cargo scanners are even more power thirsty!