Warp Signature
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 the highest warp factor patent available to their empire.
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 × Warp 2 Patent ) = 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:
- Cities with an airport radar while the empire has any warp patent
- Bases with a miliary radar while the empire has any warp patent
- Any Spacecraft fitted with sensors and warp drive
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 |
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2019-07-02 Signal Detection
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