Warp Signature

The light blue glow indicates detected warp signatures.

When a warp drive is engaged in a solar system, the system will gain a warp signature that can be detected by cities and spacecraft with the correct equipment and technology.

Warp Signature Strength

The warp signature is a measure of the accumulated warp drive engaged in the Solar system. The strength of the signature depends on the warp factor that was engaged.

Airport terminals and military airport 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 FTL drive module.

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 an accumulated warp signature of 10.

Warp signatures reach about one sector in radius per accumulated warp factor. The example signal would reach about 10 sectors. Beyond that it is too weak to be detectable.

Warp Signature Detection

Warp signatures can be detected by cities with a radar of an empire with a patent for any warp FTL drive module and spacecraft with sensors and warp drives. Their warp signature detection range is reported on the building blueprint specifications and spacecraft blueprint specifications as warp signature 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. Since warp signatures can only reach a strength of 10, it means that a warp signature detection range of much more than 100pc is likely a waste.

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.