Darvaleth Sigma
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Posted - 2013.04.23 20:13:00 -
[1] - Quote
Wow. I've only read a single on-topic, helpful reply in this thread so far. Does it bring pleasure to the sleazy trolls to spread their grease-ridden triple-chin across what could otherwise be an intelligent discussion? Do you find joy in straddling the GD forum with your verminous slime?
Personally, I think the OP has a point. The rock-paper-scissors paradigm doesn't really fit with cloaking as you have described it. But, to possibly help out:
1) You say there is no counter to the AFK cloaker. However, at the same time, the AFK cloaker is himself not doing anything. It sounds obvious, but let's apply it to the rock-paper-scissors. You say there is no "paper" for the cloaker's "rock", but I contend the cloaker isn't a "rock". They themselves are not countering, or indeed doing anything, by going AFK and cloaking. The only impact is psychological, which is where I *do* agree that the threat of AFK cloakers is very real. Hence:
2) We should be able to create a "paper" to the looming threat of a cloaky fleet, but not a counter to the simple act of cloaking and doing nothing with it. I would suggest some kind of module, or POS attachment, that either shuts off the cloak of every ship in system. This isn't as bad as it sounds; all the player would have to do is turn it back on after the usual module cool-down time. If they're in a safe-spot, then nobody will be able to scan them down in the meantime. What it does is give the "defenders" a "paper" against the possible threat, because they can quickly assert whether it is a present threat or an absent one. If the player is there, they will recloak, confirming that the fleet is either waiting or ready to strike. If not, then the ship can be scanned and destroyed, discouraging players from simply going AFK.
Thoughts? I feel maybe the second point could be balanced by having a timer, whereby all cloakers that were decloaked in system automatically reactivate (if they are indeed AFK) after a certain period of time. Long enough to scan, but not ages, so AFK cloaking is riskier but not broken.
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