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[[file:DetectedSystemEmissions.png|thumb|right|Sign of intelligent life! The yellow glow indicates the presence of emissions.]]
{{HaxusNeeded|Needs clarification since patents were removed}}
[[file:DetectedWarpSignatures.png|thumb|right|The light blue glow indicates detected warp signatures.]]
An empire that has developed [[Warp_Drive|warp drive]] technology will emit a warp signature that can be detected by other nearby empires that have also developed the technology.


[[Solar_System|Solar system]]s with high [[electricity]] consumption will send out emissions that can be detected by [[cities]] in other solar systems. The strength of the emissions is affected by the total amount of electricity used by all cities and [[spacecraft]] in the solar system.
==Warp Signature Strength==
A warp signature is a measure of accumulated [[Warp_Drive|warp drive]] emissions in a [[Solar_System|Solar system]]. The strength of the signature depends on the warp factor engaged plus the number of airports. Warp signature may be capped at 10 (it is not known).


A city's chance of detecting emissions from other solar systems depends on the city's deep space sensor range defined by the [[radar]] and the strength of the emissions.
Colonized solar systems continuously emit an equivalent of engaging warp drives for every [[Airport_Terminal|Airport terminal]] including [[Military_Airport_Terminal|Military]] each at ???.  


==Emissions Output==
This signature updates hourly.
[[Solar_System|Solar system]]s produce emissions when [[cities]] and [[spacecraft]] consume [[electricity]]. The higher the solar system's total power consumption is, the higher the emission strength and thus the further away the solar system can be detected from.


[[Harsh_Environment_City|Underwater cities]] emit 1/10th the city's normal emission output thanks to the insulation caused by the water.
For example, if a ship engages warp at factor 4 and another ship engages warp at factor 2, and the system contains two cities with airports owned by empires with warp 2 technology, the solar system will emit:


==Emissions Detection Range==
  Warp 4 + Warp 2 + ( 2 Airports × ??? ) = 4 + 2 + 4 = A Warp Signature value of 10.
The maximum range of emission detection depends on the furthest deep space sensor range of any [[Airport_Radar|airport radar]] or [[Military_Radar|military radar]].


Any [[Solar_System|solar system]] outside this range cannot be detected, no matter how high the emission output of the solar system is.
Warp Signatures reach approx one [[sector]] in radius per accumulated warp factor. The example signal would reach up to 10 sectors away, but is not necessarily detectable.


===Spacecraft Sensors===
==Warp Signature Detection==
A [[spacecraft]] with [[sensor]] will also detect emissions from nearby solar systems, but the spacecraft will have to remain in the same solar system for about 6 hours for all possible emissions to be detected.
Warp signatures are detected by:
* [[Cities]] with an [[Airport_Radar|airport radar]] while the [[empire]] has ???
* [[Base]]s with a [[Military_Radar|miliary radar]] while the empire has ???
* Any [[Spacecraft]] fitted with [[sensor]]s and [[Warp_Drive|warp drive]]
The ''"Warp Signature Detection Range"'' is reported on [[Building_Blueprint|building blueprint]] and [[Spacecraft_Blueprint|spacecraft blueprint]] specifications.


==Light Lag==
Detection is determined by the ''lesser'' of two values: the range of the signal and the detection range of the radar/sensors. That is to say:
The emissions are affected by light lag, meaning that they travel at [[lightspeed]]. The further away the emission source is, the longer it takes for the emissions to be visible by the detector.
* A strong signal won't be detected by a weak radar.
* A weak signal won't be detected by a strong radar.


The average light lag for emissions is just a few hours.
It's unclear and unconfirmed whether warp signatures can exceed a strength of 10, so a ''warp signature detection range'' of much more than 100[[pc]] may be a waste.
 
==Trivia==
Previous detection mechanics were based on [[electricity]] consumption. An unexplored solar systems would give off an energy emission with strength depending on how much electricity they consumed in it.
 
It proved to be too detrimental to new players that they would be detectable right after inventing electricity. Hench why that mechanic was replaced in favor of making empires known to the galaxy based on their level of [[Warp_Drive|warp drive]] technology.


==Quotes from patch notes==
==Quotes from patch notes==
{{Collapsible
{{Collapsible
  | Related patch notes
  | Related patch notes
  | 2 = [http://hazeron.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5269&p=59575 '''Update 2013-03-07: Detect Cities in Unexplored Systems''']
  | 2 = [http://hazeron.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=792 '''2019-07-02 Signal Detection''']
: [[Star_Map|Star map]] now shows a yellow glow around unexplored [[Solar_System|solar system]]s from which city emissions have been detected.
: '''Signal Detection'''
:: Solar systems emit a signal based on the hourly consumption of [[Electricity|power]] by all [[Cities|cities]] in the system. The strength of this signal determines the maximum distance at which the system can be detected.
:: The emission of power consumed in solar systems is too revealing, especially for new players. As soon as they start generating power, they can be detected and stomped.
:: [[Cities]] with sensors detect the signal emitted by solar systems. Detection range of [[Cities|cities]] is 10pc per sensor tech level. City sensor tech level is the highest tech level of the [[Airport Terminal|airport terminal]] and [[Military Weapon System|any]] [[Military Shield Generator|bases]].
::: Instead of emitting total power consumed, solar systems now emit a warp signature. The warp signature is a measure of the accumulated warp factors engaged in the system.
:: Detected solar systems are remembered for up to 48 hours after the last signal is detected from that system.
::: Warp signature signals are emitted hourly by solar systems. This is a bit more responsive than the previous energy emissions, which were emitted every six hours.  
:: This information accumulates as the servers run. It may take an hour or two after the servers start before you start detecting city emissions. This will always be the case as this information is not stored.
::: Airport terminals and base air terminals account for one warp drive engage per hour, at the maximum warp factor available to the empire. Warp technology of an empire is based on the highest patent they know for making a warp drive.
 
::: For example, if a ship engages warp at factor 4 and another ship engages warp at factor 2, and the system contains two cities with spaceports owned by empires with warp 2 technology, the solar system will emit an accumulated warp signature of 10.
[http://hazeron.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5844 '''Update 2013-08-21: Empires Too Vulnerable to Raiders''']
::: Warp signatures reach about one sector per accumulated warp factor. The example signal would reach about 10 sectors. Beyond that it is too weak to be detectable.
: Empires were reported to be too vulnerable to raiders based in the void. There is no way to know where the raiders came from or went.
::: The signal can be detected by radar of an empire with warp technology and spacecraft with sensors and warp drives. Their warp signature detection range is reported on their analysis report, replacing deep space detection range.
:: System emissions are based on [[Electricity|power]] consumed in a system. [[Electricity|Power]] consumed by [[Spacecraft|ships]] is now added to that signal; previously the signal was only based on [[Electricity|power]] consumed by [[Cities|cities]].
::: Actual maximum detection range is the lesser of the two values: the range the signal can reach and the detection range of the radar or sensors.
:: This is a step toward solving the problem, not expected to eliminate the problem. I am still considering other steps.
::: Wording on the star map was updated in appropriate places.
 
::: Color and marking of detected systems was changed.
[http://hazeron.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7259 '''Update 2015-03-03: System Emission/Detection Range''']
::: Star map filter settings now includes a check box to turn on/off the warp signature markers on unexplored systems. Previously, the yellow detected markers could not be turned off.
: System emissions are detectable too far away for the more compact area we are playing in. The number of detected systems can be overwhelming.
:: City signals can no longer be detected as far away.
:: City sensors no longer have as much range for detecting city emissions.
 
[http://hazeron.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=125&t=8986 '''Update 2017-02-12 and 2017-02-13 Qt 5.8: Undersea City Power Emissions''']
: [[Harsh_Environment_City|Undersea cities]] now emit 1/10 of the signal due to their power consumption, for remote detection purposes.
 
[http://hazeron.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=298 '''2018-09-17: Store Emission and Detection Info''']
:The emission and detection information resulting from power usage in solar systems is not saved between server restarts. It takes a long time to accumulate.
::Emission and detection information is now saved and restored between server restarts.
::This also flushed out a minor bug that caused solar systems to be updated to the client at times when no update was needed.
 
[http://hazeron.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=302 '''Update 2018-09-19: Spacecraft Detect Emissions''']
:Someone suggested that spacecraft participate in the detection of system emissions.
::Spacecraft with sensors will now detect emissions from solar systems.
::* Deep space detection range is reported on the design analysis.
::* As with cities and buildings, emissions from the solar system containing the ship are not detected.
::* Systems only emit their signal once per six hours. A spacecraft would have to loiter that long in a system, to detect every possible signal.
::* The ship itself does not indicate when it detects a signal. It just responds appropriately so the star map gets updated.
}}
}}


[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Science]]

Latest revision as of 17:25, 28 February 2024

This section has details missing or obscure mechanics that need clarification by Haxus.
Description: Needs clarification since patents were removed
If you know the answer, please edit this page or state it on the talk page!
The light blue glow indicates detected warp signatures.

An empire that has developed warp drive technology will emit a warp signature that can be detected by other nearby empires that have also developed the technology.

Warp Signature Strength

A warp signature is a measure of accumulated warp drive emissions in a Solar system. The strength of the signature depends on the warp factor engaged plus the number of airports. Warp signature may be capped at 10 (it is not known).

Colonized solar systems continuously emit an equivalent of engaging warp drives for every Airport terminal including Military each at ???.

This signature updates hourly.

For example, if a ship engages warp at factor 4 and another ship engages warp at factor 2, and the system contains two cities with airports owned by empires with warp 2 technology, the solar system will emit:

  Warp 4 + Warp 2 + ( 2 Airports × ??? ) = 4 + 2 + 4 = A Warp Signature value of 10.

Warp Signatures reach approx one sector in radius per accumulated warp factor. The example signal would reach up to 10 sectors away, but is not necessarily detectable.

Warp Signature Detection

Warp signatures are detected by:

The "Warp Signature Detection Range" is reported on building blueprint and spacecraft blueprint specifications.

Detection is determined by the lesser of two values: the range of the signal and the detection range of the radar/sensors. That is to say:

  • A strong signal won't be detected by a weak radar.
  • A weak signal won't be detected by a strong radar.

It's unclear and unconfirmed whether warp signatures can exceed a strength of 10, so a warp signature detection range of much more than 100pc may be a waste.

Trivia

Previous detection mechanics were based on electricity consumption. An unexplored solar systems would give off an energy emission with strength depending on how much electricity they consumed in it.

It proved to be too detrimental to new players that they would be detectable right after inventing electricity. Hench why that mechanic was replaced in favor of making empires known to the galaxy based on their level of warp drive technology.

Quotes from patch notes

Related patch notes
2019-07-02 Signal Detection
Signal Detection
The emission of power consumed in solar systems is too revealing, especially for new players. As soon as they start generating power, they can be detected and stomped.
Instead of emitting total power consumed, solar systems now emit a warp signature. The warp signature is a measure of the accumulated warp factors engaged in the system.
Warp signature signals are emitted hourly by solar systems. This is a bit more responsive than the previous energy emissions, which were emitted every six hours.
Airport terminals and base air terminals account for one warp drive engage per hour, at the maximum warp factor available to the empire. Warp technology of an empire is based on the highest patent they know for making a warp drive.
For example, if a ship engages warp at factor 4 and another ship engages warp at factor 2, and the system contains two cities with spaceports owned by empires with warp 2 technology, the solar system will emit an accumulated warp signature of 10.
Warp signatures reach about one sector per accumulated warp factor. The example signal would reach about 10 sectors. Beyond that it is too weak to be detectable.
The signal can be detected by radar of an empire with warp technology and spacecraft with sensors and warp drives. Their warp signature detection range is reported on their analysis report, replacing deep space detection range.
Actual maximum detection range is the lesser of the two values: the range the signal can reach and the detection range of the radar or sensors.
Wording on the star map was updated in appropriate places.
Color and marking of detected systems was changed.
Star map filter settings now includes a check box to turn on/off the warp signature markers on unexplored systems. Previously, the yellow detected markers could not be turned off.