[mjn.mixael]

So, I had this idea about how to get a working cloaking device in FSO. I started working on it and got pretty close to finished when I learned that this idea had already been explored at least once.. but I figured I'd post it anyway...

Anyhow, I used the change-ship-class sexp and created some ship variations and just swapped between them upon the keypress. I also added a hud element to tell you the status of your cloak. Once I got the basics working, I decided to test it on some Maras. I set it up so that when cloaked they would ignore the player UNLESS the player has fired a weapon within the last 15 seconds. Also, with the cloak on, you don't have shields or afterburners... (That + my horrid piloting skills and the fact that I didn't realize the shield bug at first caused me to not do so hot in this preview video.) Also, I cut out the latter half of the mission test because I figured you guys didn't really want to watch 12 minutes of me shooting Maras... 

Anyhow, I fixed the shield thing and am uploading a small modpack so you can rummage through it and see how I pulled it off.

Lastly, I was more interested in seeing if the idea would work so the actual cloaking effect is sub-par at best, IMO. Were I to actually use this in a campaign, I would make a cooler effect.

here's the Youtube video.

Here's the link to the modpack.

EDIT: In retrospect, I might see what I can do about the engine flares dissapearing... And I would consider a texture trick to distort the cloaked ship rather than have it purely invisible.

EDIT2: I forgot to unflag 'invulnerable' for Alpha 1 when I zipped this up. I'll upload a new version soon.

[Vertigo 7]

badassery at work, ladies and gentlemen.

[mjn.mixael]

Here's another look at the effect.

EDIT: also, here's a new version of the mission file that fixes a few bugs with the system. (Secondary ammo and whatnot) It's now in the main pack linked in the OP.

[Deadly in a Shadow]

Do you know what is cool?

That.

[Spoon]

Here's another look at the effect.

EDIT: also, here's a new version of the mission file that fixes a few bugs with the system. (Secondary ammo and whatnot)

Good sir, this looks absolutely stunning.
I hereby declare my intent to use this awesomeness and humbly request your permission

[Trivial Psychic]

The ideal combat method under those kinds of power restrictions would be to either get in close and hammer a target with combined primary and tempest fire, or to hit them one by one with volleys of Tornadoes.  After each kill, evade for the required 15 seconds and then line up for the next kill.

Most sci-fi *cough*Star Trek*cough* have different cloaking restrictions, with weapons being usually disabled, and sometimes shields being allowed.  You may wish to create a secondary mod for these possibilities.

[mjn.mixael]

I posted the files here so people could use it. The shields restrictions I put in there are just what I came up with for the test. It's mostly done with sexps, so you can easily just go in and change what the restrictions are.

Spoon, if you want nifty cloaking animations for some ships... I'd be happy to make something nicer for you.

EDIT: Yeah, I really don't have a place for this in my projects currently. I guess I'm putting the idea out there for other campaign creators to use. You could probably do some pretty interesting things with it to make a mission unique.

[Angelus]

that's awesome, MM. But y is i not allowed to DL the second mission you attached?

[Dragon]

It's in the main pack now.

[Spoon]

I posted the files here so people could use it. The shields restrictions I put in there are just what I came up with for the test. It's mostly done with sexps, so you can easily just go in and change what the restrictions are.

Spoon, if you want nifty cloaking animations for some ships... I'd be happy to make something nicer for you.

EDIT: Yeah, I really don't have a place for this in my projects currently. I guess I'm putting the idea out there for other campaign creators to use. You could probably do some pretty interesting things with it to make a mission unique.

Of course, I'll gladly accept that offer 

[mjn.mixael]

Yeah, just let me know.

Also, here's yet another update to the mission that allows you to choose your weapons.

Check out the mission file to see how it works, but essentially because the sexp tree uses change-ship-class, it would reset the weapons to the default weapons for the ship when you cloaked or decloaked. This mission though has a way around that, so you can choose better weapons.

Perhaps it's because I'm a terribad pilot, but I've yet to beat this with a high enough hull percentage to get the special commendation. (Nothing fancy, just a congrats in the debrief.)

[attachment deleted by ninja]

[T-Man]

*drooool followed by manic evil laughter*

I love the energy effect as it phases in and out; has a nice polish to it. The predator-like effect (where it can still be made out but is invisible) is cool too. Imagine a lot of mods will be grabbing this!

[Goober5000]

Well, when I first posted about this capability eight and five years ago, the only mod that grabbed it was WCSaga -- and then only after I posted the second thread.

It might have better luck this go 'round because mjn.mixael posted something a little more fleshed out than a proof of concept.  His mission actually makes the weapons and AI dependent on whether the ship is cloaked or not.

[Spoon]

It might have better luck this go 'round because I'm here (and I wasnt in 2003 and 2006) 

Right now I'm kinda waiting for the replace texture sexp Zacam is working on. That should prevent the need for 4 seperate pofs, table entries and the whole sexp tree needed to keep the weapons&ammo count for the player.

[yuezhi]

suppose an awacs ship was called in to deal with the stealth ship. What happens when the awacs activates? I'm guessing either the electronics disable the cloak or the ship provides friendlies with sonar vision, so to speak (thinking about bats).

[mjn.mixael]

Either are easily possible with the current setup... which would you prefer that I add to the test mission?

[Commander Zane]

Personally I'd go with the second option, which could be compared to detector units in Starcraft allowing units to target cloaked units, since whatever band of waves being used by the AWACS sensors (For the sake of having some sort of explanation) isn't going to directly botch the cloaking device, and it wouldn't make much sense if the AWACS was using EMP bursts to do the job since that would mess everyone's everything up.

[mjn.mixael]

Well since this whole pack is a proof-of-concept.. I did a little bit of both. The AWACS will disable your cloak when it arrives. Destroy its radar dish to restore it. However, as long as it lives the enemy wing will be able to gain an intermittent lock on you.

Download updated in first post.

[Black Wolf]

You should have used a bigger ship.

[yuezhi]

Either are easily possible with the current setup... which would you prefer that I add to the test mission?

my first option sounds simpler but the concept of sonar vision sounds cool

Personally I'd go with the second option, which could be compared to detector units in Starcraft allowing units to target cloaked units, since whatever band of waves being used by the AWACS sensors (For the sake of having some sort of explanation) isn't going to directly botch the cloaking device, and it wouldn't make much sense if the AWACS was using EMP bursts to do the job since that would mess everyone's everything up.

your statement reminds me of the eurocopter tiger featured in goldeneye. Not sure if EM immunity on large military equipment is possible on our planet anyways.