Electronic warfare: Difference between revisions

Remote sensor dampening (or "damps") is used to reduce the targeting range and scan resolution (which is related to the locking time) of an opponent's ship. Range damps can be concentrated onto one target, to reduce its targeting range to nearly zero; or it can be spread across multiple attackers, to strategically create a mismatch between opponents' weapons range and targeting range. Scan resolution damps are less common, but can make it such that a battleship requires minutes to lock smaller ships. Unscripted, remote sensor dampeners apply both range damps and scan resolution damps. But sensor dampeners can be fitted with scripts (the '''Targeting Range Dampening Script''' and the '''Scan Resolution Dampening Script''') that double their effectiveness in one area at the expense of the other. Damps pilots usually carry both.

Damps and ECM are used in comparable situations—interfering with enemy logistics, sidelining an enemy fleet's most powerful ships, and countering opponents' own EWAR. But the mechanics of damps and ECM are very different. Unlike ECM, the effects of damps are felt immediately by the target, at the beginning of module activation. Damps are '''guaranteed''' to affect the target; there is no chance-to-hit, like there is with ECM. (Prior to December 2015, damps had a chance to fail in the falloff region. This was changed in the Frostline update, so that now, damps just become less effective in falloff.) This has led remote sensor dampening to be more popular than ECM in solo and small-gang combat, where a 20-second module cycle can seem like an eternity, and has made the [[Maulus]] and [[Keres]] very popular small-gang support ships. However, a damped ship can still lock at short ranges, and so damps are less effective than ECM against close-range brawlers.

There is just one Electronics Superiority rig set that specifically enhances remote sensor dampening: '''Inverted Signal Field Projector''', which increases the effectiveness of damps modules. (Tech I: +5%; Tech II: +7.5%)

The '''Zainou 'Gypsy' Sensor Linking SL-901/906''' implant series reduces the activation cost of remote sensor dampeners by 1-6%.

Like ECM, remote sensor dampening is countered by '''Sensor Boosters''', '''Remote Sensor Boosters''', and '''Signal Amplifiers'''. All of these modules provide a bonus to targeting range and scan resolution, along with the bonuses described above to sensor strength. Sensor boosters and remote sensor boosters—active, mid-slot modules—can be fitted with either a '''Targeting Range Script''' or a '''Scan Resolution Script''' that doubles either of those stats at the expense of the other (and also at the expense of the sensor strength effect). Signal amplifiers are passive, low-slot modules that cannot be scripted.