I hardly doubt that you would buy an alarm system that gives robber a chance to get in unspotted.

They don't see that far. Limitations of 500m will make it useless

IMHO, as reaction to the increased detection on light bots, the probes should have an increased masking.

pre-balance patch, a probe would see a light bot at 450m, and the light bot would see it at 436
post-patch its shifted so even without any equip, the light would see the probe at 509m

the "Stealth" bot, aka a light ewar can see a probe at 250m, but is seen 333m (310m MK2)

IMHO they should rebalance it, so a light ewar can come through a teleport, and has a chance to mask before pinging the probe (aka minimum distance for probe deployment)

also, no bot should be able to see the probe withit pinging it, without the use of either detection or masking modules.

both criteria are easy to achieve, maintaining the usefullness of probes,  while also limiting their powers, asd you would need more probes around teleports to have a sure ping for anything that leaves the dropzone

hell, even plant incubators are restriced from beeing placed within 1km of a teleport!!!

It's all tactics and counter, there is nothing to change. If someone want to sneak on enemy island he should take all the risks being hunted down. And me, as an owner, should have the possibility to put alarm right on my house instead of 2 streets away.

I don't like the idea of being able to place them close around stations (perhaps a 500 m exclusion. Or around teleports (same exclusion zone applies). That way a player can enter an island, but if they move around it, then the probe works.

Probes ain't protecting island. People do.

I thought a lot about this long ago, and the most logical conclusion to balance them I came to is to give them a timer like a fieldcan (1 hr) and then they get removed.

Want to scout a teleport/station/chokepoint? then get out there and plant them every time your need to get intel.

As it is now I think they even stay there after a server restart like patch day (stand to be corrected~)

a good idea, better then the crap one above it.
also, agree with Inda 2h, which is more realistic, given their lifetime if spoted.

I thought a lot about this long ago, and the most logical conclusion to balance them I came to is to give them a timer like a fieldcan (1 hr) and then they get removed.

Want to scout a teleport/station/chokepoint? then get out there and plant them every time your need to get intel.

As it is now I think they even stay there after a server restart like patch day (stand to be corrected~)

Not a bad Idea imo.

2 hour

Want to scout a teleport/station/chokepoint? then get out there and plant them every time your need to get intel.

As it is now I think they even stay there after a server restart like patch day (stand to be corrected~)

To balance them they should be limited to beta outpost holders and same rules as walls should apply imo (the 100 from this 200 from that BS) limit them to maximum 4 per station or 10 total if all stations owned.

Leave probes as they are. They are already too vulnerable for that price.

+1, you can already take an Arkhe and kill them without any risk to your resources......

but, for god's sake... give probes the status of a gamma building, so i get at least a log naming the killer...

I think this is the only smart thing I have ever seen Anni write......+1

Remove from beta islands.
only for gamma!
risk up!

Quit b*itching and go get your own beta island.  There are plenty free for the taking.....