Why is cloak_passive false by default?

[m4r35n357]

Here's a good one (I think):

I have had two occasions where I needed to edit shipdata.plist in ship OXPs because they did not explicitly set cloak_passive to true. Would it not be more manly(sic) to default it to true?

Even those losers at Star Trek don't fire when cloaked

[another_commander]

Defaulting it to true may be more appropriate for separating the men from the boys, but the intention is to simulate the behaviour of the device the way it was in the original Elite by default.

[Commander McLane]

Would it not be more manly(sic) to default it to true?

You could make a suggestion for Oolite 2, which is going to be a major deviation from the old Elite heritage anyway.

[m4r35n357]

I think any OXP ship with a recharge rate of > ~4.5 and a NEU can essentially fly around cloaked all the time, even whilst shooting. Of course it's the player's choice at the end of the day, and I don't worry about it enough to want to limit that choice. I was just wondering if anyone else had noticed or cared about this, and don't remember seeing it discussed anywhere before. [Update]Then I actually went and looked and found this:

https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f= ... ve#p119437

[CommonSenseOTB]

As kind of an elite purest I myself don't even use or have the cloaking device. I view it as a TRUE cheat. The npc's don't have it so why should the player?

[Svengali]

The npc's don't have it so why should the player?

But they have it already (at least some OXP NPCs) .-)

[CommonSenseOTB]

Do you use the cloaking device? Just curious....

[Svengali]

Do you use the cloaking device? Just curious....

While playing Oolite? No.
But while testing mechanisms I'm working on - yes - but then with a script has keeps it online forever.

I know that some players are using it against missiles - it's one of the reasons for the fun missiles in Vector .-)

[Smivs]

I have one, but only really use it as an anti-missile feature.
I reckon most NPCs don't have one because they haven't got up off their butts to go to G5 and risk life and limb to win one.

[RyanHoots]

I have one, but only really use it as an anti-missile feature.
I reckon most NPCs don't have one because they haven't got up off their butts to go to G5 and risk life and limb to win one.

How do you get one? I am very interested, as a bounty hunter. I am willing to blast my through an army of Thargoids to get a cloaking device. I am currently Competent (519).

[Smivs]

I have one, but only really use it as an anti-missile feature.
I reckon most NPCs don't have one because they haven't got up off their butts to go to G5 and risk life and limb to win one.

How do you get one? I am very interested, as a bounty hunter. I am willing to blast my through an army of Thargoids to get a cloaking device. I am currently Competent (519).

The clue is in the quote

[RyanHoots]

I have one, but only really use it as an anti-missile feature.
I reckon most NPCs don't have one because they haven't got up off their butts to go to G5 and risk life and limb to win one.

How do you get one? I am very interested, as a bounty hunter. I am willing to blast my through an army of Thargoids to get a cloaking device. I am currently Competent (519).

The clue is in the quote

Got the device, I had to read the spoiler alert on the wiki. Worth it. The viper never saw it coming, and I'm still clean because they still don't know it's me!

[Smivs]

Won't see you around, then!

[RyanHoots]

But I'll see you...

[Smivs]

<Smivs engages cloak.........>