Xeno Scanner Change

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

This is mainly a change which aims to improve the combat ability of AX Defense Forces in AX Conflict Zones, but can be applied to players as well.

Essentially, integrate the Xeno Scanner's functions into the ship's computer, as part of the initial scan. This is so that the NPC AX Defense Forces can target the interceptor's hearts and actually stand a chance against them. Currently, you can hear radio messages in the background, along the lines of

"Target the hearts, that's the only way to destroy them!"

But they don't target the hearts. They fire at the center of the Thargoid and by pure chance sometimes destroy a heart. If they could select and target Thargoid hearts, they'd be a much more useful ally. They're a bit of a joke right now, little more than cannon fodder.

On a side note, while they do tend to crush scouts whenever an interceptor isn't present, they all eventually get hit with caustic damage, either by missiles or by flying through the wrecks of destroyed Thargoid ships, and don't take any measures to fix it. They don't carry any decontamination limpets, they don't overheat, and I don't think they even try to escape. They need a way to get the caustic off, too.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

+1

Also spawn reinforcements occasionally, so we've got fresh NPC's to fly along side.

And increase the Xeno Scanners range. 500m is nearly impossible to scan an angry Thargoid with. Lol

 

[Sylow]

+1

Also spawn reinforcements occasionally, so we've got fresh NPC's to fly along side.

And increase the Xeno Scanners range. 500m is nearly impossible to scan an angry Thargoid with. Lol

That. I am fine having to use an utility slot to bring the scanner. But having to basically open my canopy, walk over and manually probe the target, hoping that it doesn't move away, kind of defeats the purpose. The scanner did the job when Thargoids still were more lethargic. But in the current CZs they are in combat right from the start, which means that you need to have a fast ship to have a chance to scan at all.

Not all ships are built fast. You need to put more of a focus on sustainability if you want to actually win a CZ. The ships with highest sustain are generally those without high speed. And yes, you can work around the lack of scanner if you know where you have to shoot at. But the tool still feels very lacking, while a simply change of one parameter (range) could easily fix it. (It's so simply, it might even be a server side fix, no patch required. )

This change would really go a long way.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Yup.
Even just 1km would make it doable in most ships, and maintain the skill requirement.
Either that, or shorten the scan time to 2-3s.

But at 500m or less, aggressive Thargoids back off, often faster than you can close in.

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

Also spawn reinforcements occasionally, so we've got fresh NPC's to fly along side.

This happens already, but it I think it's on a timed interval - just because there are no more AX ships doesn't mean you'll get immediate reinforcement.