Grismar's EVE Wiki : SensorDampening

Sensor Dampening

Sensor dampening reduces a ship's locking speed and locking range.

Methods of application:

• Modules - Sensor dampeners are midslot modules, the main characteristics of which are Targeting Range multiplier, Scan Resolution multiplier, Optimal, Falloff.
• Drones - Sensor dampening drones come in three flavors, from small to heavy, however due to heavy stacking penalties their effects are fairly limited, and they are rarely used.

Working Mechanism:

Each sensor dampener reduces a targets locking speed and range. To calculate the Optimal range reduction for one dampener used against a target, the following formula is used:

R = R0*M

Where R0 is the targeting range of the ship with targeting range bonuses applied, M the targeting range multiplier of the dampening module or drone and R the resulting targeting range. Calculating the locking speed reduction is slightly different due to the fact that the
relation between locking time and scan resolution is not quite linear. The formula for locking time is:

T = (10000/(M*X))/(asinh(Y))

Where X = scan resolution of your ship with positive bonuses applied, Y = sig radius of the target, M the signature resolution reduction multiplier of the dampening module or drone and T the locking time.

Sensor dampeners are subject to stacking penalties and have a falloff range, please refer those articles to learn how to calculate the falloff chance and the dampening multiplier with more than one module.

Another important thing to note is that if your locking range becomes shorter than your distance to your currently locked target, then you will lose the lock.

Skills affecting:

• Sensor Linking - 5% Reduction to capacitor need per skill level.
• Signal Suppression - 5% bonus to effectiveness of sensor dampeners per skill level.
• Long Distance Jamming - 10% bonus to optimal range per skill level.
• Frequency Modulation - 10% bonus to falloff per skill level.

Specialized ships:

Dampening is the domain of the Gallente.

Maulus - Frigate, 5% bonus to dampening effectiveness per level.
Celestis - Cruiser, 5% bonus to dampening effectiveness per level.
Arazu, Lachesis - Recons, 5% bonus to dampening effectiveness per cruiser level.

Counters:

The direct counter to dampening are sensor boosters and signal amplifiers, which increase your scan resolution and locking range.

Examples:

A huginn with lvl4 signal suppression, two t1 dampening rigs and t2 dampeners dampens a falcon with lvl5 signature analysis and lvl5 long range targeting.

Range and signature resolution reduction from 1 dampener: -48%
1 Rig: 10% bonus to reduction
Signal suppression lvl4: 20% bonus to reduction

Multiplier to range / signature resolution from 1 dampener with 2 rigs and skills applied:
(1-0.48)*(1-0.2)*(1-0.1)*(1-0.1*0.87) = 0.3418272

For 3 dampeners:
0.3418272*(1-(1-0.3418272)*0.87)*(1-(1-0.3418272)*0.57) = 0.0913

Falcon base locking range: 120km
Falcon base signature resolution: 200mm
Falcon locking range after lvl5 skill: 120km*1.25=150km
Falcon signature resolution after lvl5 skill: 200mm*1.25=250mm
Falcon locking range after dampeners: 150km*0.0913 = 13.7km
Falcon signature resolution after dampeners: 250mm*0.0913 = 22.83mm
Huginn signature radius without penalties: 127m
Falcon locking time on huginn after dampeners: (10000/(22.83))/(asinh(127)) = 79.1 seconds