Will scanners use a utility hardpoint? Is there a physical item on the exterior of the ship?
TL;DRScanners are currently internal items like power plants, with external or turret-mounted placement possible later, though Kirk Tome personally wants damageable internal items first.
Currently, they're internal items, just like power plants and shield generators.
And ships like the Aquila have a giant scanner suite that comes up out of the top.
Correct. That's not fully implemented. In fact, the implementation we have, I know people know it's just a turret without any weapons on it. But I think we'd want to implement it by putting it on the actual turret item.
Yeah, the tier zero is get it fleshed out, put it on a location. That's what we've done with systems in the past until we're actually able to get their actual physical location. So further out, yes, you're going to have locations on them, especially the one you just said.
But regarding externalizing these items, my personal opinion is we need to get the ability to damage internal items first, because I want to be able to knock out people's power plants and the shield generators from outside the ship. And I think when we get to that point, then whether the scan item is defeatable by shooting the scan item that's internal on the ship, or by destroying the turret itself on the Aquila, will be a thing.
I think it goes back to get it working, and then work towards how we could break it and move it around a bit after that.