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Your ship's total signature, or radar-footprint, is expressed in kilometers. This figure is found in the "Equip" page of your controls (default keyboard shortcut is the i-key) under the heading labelled "visibility". This aggregate figure is determined by the combination of a number of factors:
- your ship's hull design
- the engine you are using
- passive buffs or de-buffs from other installed ship equipment
- activatable buffs or de-buffs from other installed ship equipment
The larger your ship's signature, the more likely enemy scanners will detect you from further away (although the range of the enemy's scanner is also a factor).
Miners who wish to avoid alerting random roaming Mobs to their presence in asteroid-fields will try to minimize their signature as much as possible to avoid detection. (Miners will often combine signature minimization with scanner enhancement, so as to detect danger at a greater distance while remaining undetected themselves).
Maximizing signature can also have its uses, such as attracting the attention of a distant mob on the edge of a group without getting too close to the others. Also, a group containing a mixture of higher and lower-level pilots may have its tank, or perhaps more heavily-armored pilots maximise signatures while the lower level ones minimize theirs to keep enemy attention more likely on those pilots who are better shielded and armored.
Hull design
The signatures of Terran and Progen ships are the same for both races.
Jenquai ships are constructed with stealth in mind, and their signatures are significantly lower.
| Race / Profession | |||||||||
| Hull Signature | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 |
Devices
Devices are the type of ship equipment which provides the widest range of signature-reducing options, but this buff is often not the only one they confer. Note also that some devices may inflict a de-buff which you may not wish to be penalized with, depending on circumstances.
For the most straightforward availability of signature reduction across all levels, see the Engines section on this page (below).
NB: Some devices have de-buffs also. |
Bracketed figures are for Devices of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L2 Gloom's Shadow | Gives a ship 22(29)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L3 Focus of the Hunter | Gives a ship 20% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L5 aa Bahtu Sa | Gives a ship 36% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L5 Petit Baka | Gives a ship 34(45)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L5 Pyxis Australis Minor BIS 5 | Gives a ship 40(53)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L5 Sextans Minor ISR 5 | Gives a ship 40(53)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L5 Zenshai Nav Computer | Gives a ship 36% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L6 Grand Baka | Gives a ship 37(49)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L6 Hidden Eye | Gives a ship 37(49)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L6 Pyxis Australis Minor BIS 6 | Gives a ship 40(53)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L6 Sextans Minor ISR 6 | Gives a ship 44(59)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L7 Focused Voltoi Essence Seven | Gives a ship 48% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L7 Invisible Eye | Gives a ship 42(56)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L7 PR2S2NC2R2D5C3NG1W1R2N2SS2XPINDING | Gives a ship 48% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L7 Pyxis Australis Major BIS 7 | Gives a ship 40(53)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L7 Sextans Major ISR 7 | Gives a ship 48(64)% less radar footprint when equipped |
| L8 aa Gahte An Ne | Gives a ship 54% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Baron Kriminel's Baka | Gives a ship 20% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Blackbeard's Soul VIII | Gives a ship 52% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Loony's Special Gizmoblastit | Gives a ship 76% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Pyxis Australis Major BIS 8 | Gives a ship 40(53)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Sextans Major ISR 8 | Gives a ship 52(69)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 aa Gahte Y | Gives a ship 60% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Aquila Prime IBWS 9 | Gives a ship 75(100)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Blackbeard's Soul IX | Gives a ship 58% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Corona Australis Prime PR 9 | Gives a ship 75(100)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Hercules Prime IESS 9 | Gives a ship 56(74)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Pyxis Australis Prime BIS 9 | Gives a ship 40(53)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Pyxis Borealis Prime IS 9 | Gives a ship 56(74)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Sextans Prime ISR 9 | Gives a ship 56(74)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Tactical Computer Nine | Gives a ship 18% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Telescopium Prime BISR 9 | Gives a ship 48(64)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
Engines
Nearly every engine contributes to the visibility of your ship, although there are popular exceptions (see below). While Terran engines are famous for their superior speed, they are horribly detectable from afar. Progen engines have a lower footprint, but somewhat less alacrity. Jenquai engines, typical of this race's designs, are built with an aim to be clandestine: while their speeds compare well with Progen engines, their detectability from a distance is significantly lower. Resulting from the residual animosity caused by the Progen Wars, Jenquai engine technology is typically not sold to, or usable by, Progen pilots.
Engineers of the Bogeril faction have designed highly sought-after engines (of various levels) known as Solar Sails, which have a signature contribution of zero. Use of a solar sail will ensure the signature of your ship is likely to be no greater than that generated by your ship's hull.
While Jenquai engines have the lowest non-zero signatures of any race's propulsion systems, certain models have the most useful added advantage of possessing a passive signature-reduction buff. This type of buff typically not only cancels out the very low signature of the engine, but eliminates much of your ship's hull's radar-footprint as well.
All are Progen restricted. |
Bracketed figures are for Engines of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L2 Mercurius IC20 | Gives a ship 26(35)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L3 Mercurius IC30 | Gives a ship 30(40)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L4 Mercurius IC40 | Gives a ship 33(44)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L4 Halley DDO 40 | Gives a ship 33(44)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L5 Halley DDO 50 | Gives a ship 36(48)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L6 Halley DDO 60 | Gives a ship 39(52)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L7 Trifid LGS 7 | Gives a ship 42(56)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Black Speed VIII | Gives a ship 52% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Trifid LGS 8 | Gives a ship 45(60)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Black Speed IX | Gives a ship 59% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Trifid LGS 9 | Gives a ship 49(65)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
Reactors
Unlike Engines, the Reactors which possess a signature-reduction buff are somewhat rare, and not available at every level. However, there are several isolated options.
All but 1 are Non-manufacturable. |
Bracketed figures are for Reactors of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L3 The Firedancer's Silent Grace | Gives a ship 37% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L4 Source of Inspiration | Gives a ship 33% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Pulsing Spore Nucleus | Gives a ship 52% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 SC1V2NG2RSW3NGS | Gives a ship 58(77)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Aspiration of the Faithful | Gives a ship 74(98)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
Shields
To date, only one shield has been found to have a capacity for signature-reduction.
All are Non-manufacturable. |
Bracketed figures are for Shields of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L8 Vindis Protection Focus | Gives a ship 55% less radar footprint when equipped. |
Weapons
Beams
Note: these weapons may possess additional buffs. |
Bracketed figures are for items of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L6 Baron Samedi's Iku | Gives a ship 49% less radar footprint when equipped. Allows ship scanners to see 2610 units farther when equipped. |
| L6 Wrath of the Kokura | Gives a ship 49(65)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Black Razor | Gives a ship 42(56)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Chang Lung's Breath | Gives a ship 36% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Devastating Gaze | Gives a ship 57(76)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L9 Glare of Devastation | Gives a ship 77% less radar footprint when equipped. |
Missile Launchers
Note: these weapons may possess additional buffs. |
Bracketed figures are for items of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L1 Zieg's Apprentice | Gives a ship 25% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L6 Baron Samedi's Ara | Gives a ship 49% less radar footprint when equipped. Allows ship scanners to see 2640 units farther when equipped. |
| L8 Scouts Revenge | Gives a ship 45(60)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
Projectile Launchers
Note: these weapons may possess additional buffs. |
Bracketed figures are for items of 200% (player-made) quality. |
| L6 Baron Samedis Arun | Gives a ship 48% less radar footprint when equipped. Allows ship scanners to see 2520 units farther when equipped. |
| L7 Flechette Alpha | Gives a ship 10(13)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
| L8 Flechette Beta | Gives a ship 25(33)% less radar footprint when equipped |
| L9 Flechette Omega | Gives a ship 50(66)% less radar footprint when equipped. |
A tip for pilots from a class with a low number of device-slots (e.g. PWs) is to gain a signature reduction buff from your engine, shield, reactor, or weaponry, so that you don't waste a device slot just for this buff.