Change to Sensors?

[Paul M (OP)]

But what is the game assuming for "thermal sensitivity?"  If your TS is 7 you will detect the ships further away then if your TS is 5.

It definitely seems to be related to thermal signature at least in general since my ships circles decreased significantly when I adopted the "Shroud" model of Rolls Royce engines, and even more so when the ships are lying doggo at a way point (1 km/s).  The civies have huge circles in comparison to my freighter which mount fewer engines.

But the Wolfer battle had huge circles that looked to be more about active sensor intercepts (as in my passives were picking them up).  Unfortunately I think the tech difference/system size was such that their actives outranged my passives.

[sloanjh]

I forget - it will either be 10, or there will be a spot that you can type in the bad guys' (presumed) thermal sensitivity (I think it's the latter).

John

[Paul M (OP)]

There is a box for input but it seems to be freely selectable up to rather large values.  Not just 5-10 or so.  It could be that the box is for the antenna size * thermal sensitivity value.   I have to say that this particular tool is far from "intuitive" when it is all said and done.

[Conscript Gary]

Sensor strength * antenna size = Total Sensor Strength is indeed what that slider represents.
Just whipped up a test game with a ship that had a thermal signature of 100, and the ranges match up perfectly. At six the ring has a radius of 6 * 100 * 1000 = 600k, 16 gives 1600k, and so on.
Now that I know how the hell that thing works it'll be very useful for skulking around with shrouded engines.

[Paul M (OP)]

Thanks for the confirmation test!  The fog has lifted!