Player Features and Ideas Discussion

This is my fully detailed idea to address the issue of balance in the current cloaking system on Tranquility as of this post. This is not a topic to discuss the level of imbalance as CCP already knows this. I present this idea in good faith in CCP's ability to listen to the community for ideas on how to manage issues instead of extreme nerfs to certain game elements. So devs please feel free to point out any technical issues with my idea and I will be happy to think of ways to improve it to help make it possible to implement in the game. I welcome dev feedback as well so please post your thoughts devs!

Also I would like to note that the images below are mine made from screenshots from singularity and edited with the Gimp. I am not the best but I hope they convey the idea.


For those who are confused at this point. Lets take a random scenario in the game. A player jumps into the system, finds a safespot and cloaks. Under current game mechanics this player is now effectively invincible in place. Example in image below.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9176/afk1g.jpg

The cloak in theory is balanced. However, in practice this allows risk free away from keyboard activity while in a hostile system and this topic aims to make that a risky venture. And do little else.

The goal of this plan is to add risk to such activity through the use of a modified probe system that targets a random point generated every time the cloaked ship travels a certain distance. And to warn said ship in the same way submarines knew they were being hunted by the ping sounds. Of course in this situation it would be a message window or something similar to fit the feel of the game.

The reason a random point is used is three fold.

* It prevents quick uncloaks which can affect normal transport uses of the cloak.
* It allows the current cloaking backend to remain the same as position is not important other than warp reports.
* It prevents defenders from putting up a probe "umbrella" over operations to prevent active players from getting near while cloaked.


Other than the names and icons. The only major change when it comes to these probes is the extreme scan time as compared to combat or scan probes. I recommend 10x but that is something CCP could test on SiSi to find what is fair.

An Example scan image is below. I call it "Unstable Energy" just as a placeholder.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/364/afk2e.jpg

During this time the cloak pilot's client flashes a warning that his cloak is starting to become compromised. This would be the time to plan a quick warp and return to throw off the scan. If he ignores the warning or is AFK the result below is shown to the scanning pilot (Please forgive that I forgot to edit the name, 0.25AU not 4 and scan strength which ought to be 100)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/3995/afk3.jpg

A final warning is flashed to the cloak pilot. He has 30 seconds to warp or his cloak is temporarily disabled or its cycle stopped.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3681/afk4s.jpg

A random point is regenerated if he feels it is safe to recloak in place. However, If he is not paying attention his now uncloaked ship can be found by regular scanner probes and his location will be revealed. Often with the results below. (NOTE this screenshot was taken on Sisi and the attacking pilot is not affiliated with this idea nor was aware of my purpose in SiSi as far as I am aware. Just a random gank moment on Sisi made into screenshot for my idea)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1233/afk5.jpg

As you can see. With this system only someone who is willing to ignore the warnings will be seriously affected by this change. So with this idea I believe this will solve most of the current balance issues with cloaking without having to resort to more direct changes to cloaking itself such as fuel bays or random decloaks. I hope you CCP will consider this idea for EVE.

Edit: If needed perhaps a way to delay the effectiveness of combat probes after a forced decloak from cloak probes.

To add risk to cloaking when away from the client. See the first image.

Yet you've failed to offer anything of balance. The main reason for people going AFK, is not even mentioned.

The fact that you can AFK without a cloak and gain the same psychological warfare effect, should tell you you're way off the mark.
But you're not interested in balance, as you already know this.

cloaking is balanced. While he is cloaked, he cannot target, shoot, or harass you in any way.

...and why is that needed?

You're just arguing in circles here. What is the problem? What are you trying to solve? Why is it unbalanced?

He can't destroy you, you can't destroy him.

Sounds like the very definition of balance.

there is no issue, so no "ideas" required.

nothing wrong of sitting cloaked while
- Sleeping
- Grocery shopping
- out to see a movie
- watching hulu
- *** your gf

or whatever

There is no need for change to cloaks at all. They are probably the most balanced element in the game, and the only thing CCP doesn't need to work on balancing. You take no risk, so you get no reward. They make it possible to spy on an enemy's POS long before attacking it, in order to gather intel. They allow you to stay safe, even in low-sec/null-sec/WH. And they can be broken if anything comes close enough. So they are nowhere near unbalanced. In fact, I have yet to see anyone undock and cloak to go AFK. The only cloaks I've seen are Covert-ops Probers cloaking while probing to avoid being obvious targets as well as cloaked scouts, warping to some location to keep an eye on the enemy.

In short: CCP, ignore this thread. Cloaks work properly and should not be broken as suggested by the OP.

If I come into your system in my bomber and you're docked, or hiding in a pos, why can't I kill you? If you get to kill me while I'm cloaked, I should get to kill you while you're docked. It's only fair.