Disinformation has long been a part of combat engagements. The claoking and radar jamming devices are a reflection of this. I was thinking of other items that could be useful in this regard. Some would be applied to the ship they are mounted on, some would be another form of ECM.
An on ship decoy would be a block that looks like another block but is actually just effectively a painted hull block:
A fake core to distract an opponent. They see a core exposed after a hit, but it's not the real core, it is a strategically placed fake. Blowing it to kingdom come won't kill the ship, but makes that spot look vulnerable, distracting the attacker from where the actual core is.
Similar functions for a fake engine, fake power, fake cockpit, fake computer, fake weapon etc. If someoen wants to cripple a ship they will target specfic systems if they can, the decoy blocks have them attacking hull instead.
Off ship decoy examples:
Radar ghost projector: a modification of a missile battery, the missile is 'equipped' with an electronics suite that makes it appear to be a ship on radar. It has a range similar to normal missiles, an generally travels in a roughly straight line once fired. The unit needs time to charge from ship's power and can be stored charged, then has a high reload time. This object could serve multiple purposes
A) a decoy to distract missiles that might rely on a radar based system that is not already locked on, or if it is fired directly toward such inbound missiles to attempt to fool them as the target changes course.
B) to make a pursuer who is relying on radar tracking follow the wrong signal, allowing the firing vessel an attempt to escape or maneuver for better retaliating position.
C) to make a target believe there are vessels approaching from the origin point. For example one 'decoy ship' (one with multiple decoy launchers on board and charged) approaches from the Z- axis, and fires five decoys and turns to run away, while 3 actual allies are approaching from further away from the Z+ axis, either driving the target toward the approaching vessels, or drawing the target away from a strategic objective.
D) to make an approaching potentially hostile vessel believe the bulky vessel it is closing on is a carrier that is launching fighters.
-- The Radar Decoy reload speed does not change despite number of blocks together, multiple blocks together represent larger radar signatures (1-2 would be small or large fighter size signatures, for example) larger numbers of blocks require more power to recharge, and may have a configurable recharge rate.
The size component really only matters depending how much difference there is in perceptible radar signatures.
Ghost ship Projector: Another modified missible battery, projects a semi-random vessel image depending on the size of the projector system. Like the radar decoy, it travels fairly straight, and serves the purpose of making it appear there is a vessel present, presumably radar jamming, since it has no radar signature. Since I believe AI looks for a visible craft (i.e. non-cloaked) instead of a radar signature, this type of device makes a good diversion for use against AI targets. Hits on the 'ghost ship' have a chance of damaging or destroying the ghost generating system, exposing the deception, since the smaller image is closer to the size of the missile, smaller ghosts are easier to destroy.
Using like sized ghost ship and radar ghost units, one could fire, for example 3 radar ghosts and 3 ghost ships in the small fighter category, to make it appear both visually and on radar that there are 3 small to medium sized fighters coming.
An on ship decoy would be a block that looks like another block but is actually just effectively a painted hull block:
A fake core to distract an opponent. They see a core exposed after a hit, but it's not the real core, it is a strategically placed fake. Blowing it to kingdom come won't kill the ship, but makes that spot look vulnerable, distracting the attacker from where the actual core is.
Similar functions for a fake engine, fake power, fake cockpit, fake computer, fake weapon etc. If someoen wants to cripple a ship they will target specfic systems if they can, the decoy blocks have them attacking hull instead.
Off ship decoy examples:
Radar ghost projector: a modification of a missile battery, the missile is 'equipped' with an electronics suite that makes it appear to be a ship on radar. It has a range similar to normal missiles, an generally travels in a roughly straight line once fired. The unit needs time to charge from ship's power and can be stored charged, then has a high reload time. This object could serve multiple purposes
A) a decoy to distract missiles that might rely on a radar based system that is not already locked on, or if it is fired directly toward such inbound missiles to attempt to fool them as the target changes course.
B) to make a pursuer who is relying on radar tracking follow the wrong signal, allowing the firing vessel an attempt to escape or maneuver for better retaliating position.
C) to make a target believe there are vessels approaching from the origin point. For example one 'decoy ship' (one with multiple decoy launchers on board and charged) approaches from the Z- axis, and fires five decoys and turns to run away, while 3 actual allies are approaching from further away from the Z+ axis, either driving the target toward the approaching vessels, or drawing the target away from a strategic objective.
D) to make an approaching potentially hostile vessel believe the bulky vessel it is closing on is a carrier that is launching fighters.
-- The Radar Decoy reload speed does not change despite number of blocks together, multiple blocks together represent larger radar signatures (1-2 would be small or large fighter size signatures, for example) larger numbers of blocks require more power to recharge, and may have a configurable recharge rate.
The size component really only matters depending how much difference there is in perceptible radar signatures.
Ghost ship Projector: Another modified missible battery, projects a semi-random vessel image depending on the size of the projector system. Like the radar decoy, it travels fairly straight, and serves the purpose of making it appear there is a vessel present, presumably radar jamming, since it has no radar signature. Since I believe AI looks for a visible craft (i.e. non-cloaked) instead of a radar signature, this type of device makes a good diversion for use against AI targets. Hits on the 'ghost ship' have a chance of damaging or destroying the ghost generating system, exposing the deception, since the smaller image is closer to the size of the missile, smaller ghosts are easier to destroy.
Using like sized ghost ship and radar ghost units, one could fire, for example 3 radar ghosts and 3 ghost ships in the small fighter category, to make it appear both visually and on radar that there are 3 small to medium sized fighters coming.