SE V shield question

[Q]

Is it still in SE V like in SE IV that if you mix phased and normal shield in a ship or base you only have normal shield protection?

[Captain Kwok]

You'll have both (in theory http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif).

[Phoenix-D]

From what I was told in IRC, it drops down to the lowest level of shield protection as defined in the shield types file..

[Fyron]

Both shields and armor should be damaged in the order listed in ShieldAndArmorLevels.txt.

[Phoenix-D]

Imperator Fyron said:
Both shields and armor should be damaged in the order listed in ShieldAndArmorLevels.txt.



The question is, then:

You have three (theoretical, the stock ones DON'T do this) shield levels. Normal, Phased, Null-Space. In that order.

Null-Space blocks NSP shots but is otherwise normal- PPB hits go right through it. Phased blocks PPB but not NSB.

You have one null space shield on your ship and one Phased shield. A PPB hits. Does it go through, or does it skip the Null shield and damage the phased one?

[Fyron]

From the file:

=====
Number Of Shield Levels := 4
Shield Level 1 Name := Normal Shields
Shield Level 2 Name := Phased Shields
Shield Level 3 Name := Plasma Shields
Shield Level 4 Name := Null-Space Shields
=====

So, what should happen is that the PPB first hits the phased shield portion, since it is listed first. It won't even consider the null shield points until all phased ones are eliminated.

Even if you reversed the order, you would still damage the phased shields. The PPB would first hit the null shields, and see that it can skip them. It then goes up against the phased shields, and sees that it can't. Its damage is then applied to the phased shields.

The ordering is such that regular damage depletes the worst type of shields (normal) first, so that future phased shots can still be blocked.

Assuming it all works properly in implementation, of course. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Kamog]

That sounds great. That's a big improvement over the normal/phased shields in SEIV. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Captain Kwok]

Although there are no components in stock that actually use the plasma/null shield types.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

In stock or in the demo?

[Suicide Junkie]

Yes.

[Q]

Captain Kwok said:
You'll have both (in theory http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif).



And in practice??
So let me rephase my question: did anybody test, if it works like you would expect it from the theory?

[se5a]

Edit: actualy I better not say that.

[Caduceus]

You can try it by using the cheat alltech and run the simulator.

[Q]

Yes but I hoped that some betatester already made that test.
Unfortunately in the demo simulator the combination of phased and normal shields gives just normal shields. Phased polaron beams pass right through this shield combination. So in practice any shield combination is useless (as it was already in SE IV).

[se5a]

problem is... the nda is a bit hazy on what we are and are not allowed to say...

the armor however, works perfectly, well... the armor types being hit in order does anyway.

[Q]

As the demo is publically released, I think the NDA will allow to confirm a bug in SE V demo without any problems. And if you say that it has been reported to MM and therefore is on the list to be fixed, who would object either? I would even accept, if MM says that it is not a bug but a feature, which prohibits the mix of shields. You just have to know it!

[Captain Kwok]

I don't think shields are stacking properly either... will pass this on as well...

[Caduceus]

Well, that's worrisome.