' Wrote:As Tenacity said, it would be well within roleplay to be able to track ships within your ZoI. Weapons Platforms would alert local stations of intrusions so that fighters could be sent out. Stations would alert proper ships outside the station to the presence of a ship that shouldn't be on their scanners. Etc.
Kusari is out from this Bretonian ZOI because they havent any platforms here = no sensors = any persecution of anyone based on "long range scaner in kusari" is OORP and imo should be reported and sanctioned. If BAF want do something like that, they can send someone and do monitoring of Kyushu/Tau 29 jumgate, provide screenshots and than hunt traders going there aka smuglers in their space... of course this person cant have any kusarian (except dragon/GC) ID/IFF because it can cause conflict with server rules.
Ok, so. We've established and agreed, that in each faction's zoi, they know what's going on. Base cameras, lane cameras, weapons platforms and listening posts.
Then, the argument is made that outside of these zones, there is complete absence of information. Now, if I am an organization keeping track of all this information, I can increase my effectiveness by increasing my coverage, yes? Or I can profit by selling my coverage to someone else. So, from here, I will argue that the Bretonians, and the Libertonians, are probably trading their coverage.
I'll also argue that the BAF aren't the only group keeping tabs on things. Within Bretonia, and probably exchanging information at near real time, there are many groups, such as the BPA, the BMM, the BAF, and Bowex, who are all capable of fielding rather extensive intelligence gathering programs. With the IMG as a whole, or the independent bases, at least some of these groups are likely to be able to enter in to arrangements for sharing at least low security information, like dockyard logs and space traffic logs. The IMG is likely to have similar deals with other organizations, such as the local freeports. The primary function of these networks would be to track the flow of goods, which is information that can be sold back to manufacturers and shippers for a profit, because those companies can then use that information to jump on emerging markets.
In the specific, this means we know where you've gone. We have systems and deals in place, with freeports, the IMG, and other groups (such as the BMM in 23), which can effectively track traffic through the taus. Perhaps not into Kusari proper (unless a privateer spots you) but we can find out, or predict, to reasonable certainty, where you are going.
In General, I suspect information of this sort passes throughout all of Sirius with reasonable quickness. A few hours, or a few days, and any group recognized as an IFF (these are the really big groups, people) could have access to information from nearly anywhere in Sirius. Sure, there are holes. The dragons probably aren't selling their info, and the Corsairs aren't selling to many people, maybe only the zoners...but corsair space is saturated with BHG, and you can be sure that they are selling every scrap of information they can get their hands on for a profit.
Knowledge gets around. With electronics, it gets around really quickly.
And, of course, the only electronic system that's impenetrable is one that's sealed behind 3 meters of lead, locked in a safe, chained up, disconnected from the internet, protected by complete firewalls, and powered down.
IMG, Zoners are in this war neutral, providing any info from Kusari is war act and will cause Kusarian reaction... I want see topic where zoners and IMG in RP agreed with doing that. There isnt any? hmmm. If should have someone info from Taus it is KNF with =CR= as alies (we love you guys:)).
At the other side... everybody in sirius have acces to that kind of informations... Xenos, bundshuch.. everyone, thats sick.
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I think using list of online players outside systems where you havent any facilities is OORP powergaming. (lets go call it how it was named, "long range scaner" isnt anywhere in game).
Traffic routes are war information? Really?
If information is demanded, it will be sold. Calling lists of ships which land on a base, and their declared destinations along with their observed flightpaths war information is ridiculous, especially when we're talking about tradeships, who are by their nature noncombatants.
Anyway, the IMG are probably selling to the Kusari as well.
And my point is that in most cases, most players -do- have access to reasonable RP facilities.
Let's say you're a BAF pilot and you meet a suspicious trader. You don't know where he's heading or anything, but you're within a few metres, he's powered down engines and you have no proof. Chances are in RP your military would be able to secretly attach something to the ship to tell you where it was, hence "Long range scan", so if you see him in Kusari, you should, in RP, be able to blacklist him.
Us Lane Hackers explain our use of the Player List in roleplay as hacking into the USI and lane network. Not an excuse too many people can use, but we can.