Quantum Enforcement is the usage of different devices to inhibit a quantum drives ability to function, with the most capable devices being able to stop quantum travel. Due to the nature of this technology, certain jurisdictions will require licenses or for the operator to be a part of certain organizations.[1] Devices used in Quantum Enforcement (listed below) generally operate in one of two possible modes / use two techniques, Quantum Snaring, and Quantum Dampening.
| Device | full Name | has Snare | has Dampener | ship list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QED | Quantum Enforcement Device | ✔ | ✔ | Mantis |
| QDMP (formerly QD) | Quantum Dampener[2] | X | ✔ | Scorpius_Antares, Cutlass Blue, Zeus Mk II MR |
| QID | Quantum Interdiction Device[3] | ✔ | X | None (currently not actively used on any ship) |
Quantum Snare
The Quantum snare is the primary utilization of the QED (and QID), intended for ambushing targets hiding through or utilizing Quantum Travel,[4] and will create a "bubble" around the ship (which presumably appears as an obstacle to the Quantum Drive of a target ship)[5]. Any ship passing that bubble will be forced to perform an emergency stop. Anyone already present in the bubble will also be unable to engage their Quantum Drive. Engaging the Quantum Snare requires significant charge-up time, and maintaining the snare requires a lot of power while generating large amounts of heat.[1]
Current functionality
The current game implementation is fairly limited at best, as the functionality for properly scanning travel routes does not yet exist. If you want to interdict a ship it has to pass close enough to you. In the case of the Mantis (the only ship currently with Snare functionality) this will be 20km in each direction. If the ship gets into range, your QED will interdict the ship automatically. As Interdiction does not discriminate between ships an active QED in Snare Mode will interdict everyone and everything that will pass through your Snare.[5]
As a Snare is effectively a fancy roadblock that interrupts quantum travel (presumably by exploiting the collision avoidance system). It does not however actively disrupt the quantum drive of a ship. Ships may still make use of it and reach high enough speeds to escape the attacking Mantis.[5]
After you've enabled your QED, you can choose to charge your Quantum Snare. This generally takes 90 seconds before you can engage your Quantum snare. For the duration the Quantum Snare is active, the QED will require a lot of power and ship will emit a considerable amount of IR and EM. If you choose to then disengage your Quantum snare, the QED goes into a cooldown mode for 1 second during which you cannot utilize the QED in any way.[5]
Ranges are component (and therefore ship) dependent.
Other things to consider
- For an unknown reason the Quantum snare will only pull out ships traveling in the Quantum Tunnel. This tunnel opens after the ship traveled roughly 2000km - 4000km after departure, depending on the Quantum drive used. Because of this, sitting in range of a spot below this limit will cause you to only catch inbound traffic.
- It is suspected that bad server tick rates may cause target to bypass the Quantum snare bubble.
- Nothing is static. Moons in the game rotate and if you are on the same physics grid you will rotate with them. Places like Everus Harbor or Grim Hex orbit a planet and are constantly rotating. Catching inbound and outbound traffic there is almost impossible. Always consider these places to be at every point of their orbit at the same time.
- Interdicting ships is illegal and you will get you a 7500aUEC fine. You can stay outside of the range of a Comm Array to combat this issue but it is not always guaranteed you won't get a fine. Interdicting party members won't automatically get you a fine.
- The Snare can not be used when its "Green Zone Check Range" overlaps with any "Greenzone" of any nearby station or outpost.
- Snare-Event-Markers will be shown to all your party members. This makes it easy to engage a target fast.
Quantum Dampening
Quantum Dampening is the secondary usage of the QED and the primary usage of the QDMP, preventing the activation of quantum drives within a short range while active. In contrast to the Snare, Dampening can be activated instantly, trapping lone unwary ships as long as they are within its radius.
Contrary to the Snare, while a Dampener is incapable of Interdicting a ship, it is the superior solution for fixating a target for attacks as it actively disrupts Quantum Drives, also limiting its ability to make use of different Master Modes.[5]
Ranges are component (and therefore ship) dependent.
Quantum Dampeners for makeshift Interdictions
While a Quantum Dampener cannot actively interdict ships, a ship equipped with a QED or QDMP can "chase" after a ship and engaging its Dampener once both drop out of Quantum Travel.[6]
Tools like SnarePlan provide integrated solutions for this kind of Interdiction.
Ships
QEDs and QDMPs are available on the following ships.
| Ship | Snare Range | Snare Charge/Cooldown | Dampener Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mantis | 20km | 90/1 seconds | 12km |
| Scorpius Antares | n/a | n/a | 5km |
| Guardian QI | n/a | n/a | 4.5km |
| Cutlass Blue | n/a | n/a | 4km |
| Zeus MkII MR | n/a | n/a | unkown |
Tools
Due to the limited implementation currently available up to and after Alpha 4.0 members of the community have created tools to make Quantum Interdiction specifically more accessible to players.
SnarePlan is the most popular solution as it features a complete map of both Stanton and Pyro as well as actively supporting a QED Operator with the help of ingame slash-commands and by providing life feedback on positioning.
Lore
Little is known about how Quantum Enforcement works in lore.
Whoever is theorized that a Snares "Interdiction Field" appears as an obstacle to approaching ships, causing an emergency stop.[5] This may also be the reason why NPCs can use wreckage to interrupt Quantum Travel and why players sometimes get interdicted by wreckage.
The Quantum Dampener's "Interdiction Field" is theorized to directly inhibit a Quantum Drives ability to form a Quantum Bubble. However it is not currently explained by official sources how this is done.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Mantis Q&A. Engineering - Comm-Link
- ↑ RSI Zeus MK2 Q&A
- ↑ The Mirai Guardian does not have a QED : starcitizen (reddit.com)
- ↑ Newsweek Mantis reveal article
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Fishing Ships - A guide to Quantum Interdiction : starcitizen (reddit.com)
- ↑ How To: Doing Quantum Interdiction using a Blue : starcitizen (reddit.com)