Regular Shields vs. Phased Shields

[E. Albright]

quote:

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Originally posted by s_rat:
And do shields provide any protection against DUCs? I'm assuming not, but I'm not sure.

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Alas, shields generally laugh off DUCs w/o any special problems. DUCs are not anything special, but are fairly mediocre. However, they're at least far better than they used to be...

[Baron Munchausen]

FYI, the only weapons in the default techs which skip armor are the Shard Cannon and the Crystalline Torpedo (actually a seeker) -- both in the Crystalline Technology racial area.

The AI doesn't seem to understand the distinction between standard and phased shields, unfortunately. Even when it researches them it doesn't actually use them but sticks with the original type. Maybe it would be better for the AI to go with the MOO system of adding a modifying component that "hardens" standard shields. The AI could probably understand that easier (less tricky for programming). I'd really like to see different 'types' of shields that were more or less effective against different 'types' of weapons.

[Blue Lord]

Highest lvl of normal sheilding generates 300 points. Highest lvl of pahes shielding generates 375. But as someone said, the gap between phased lvl 1 and normal shileds highest lvl is rather large. How do you solve it? Simple, I don't switch from pahed to normal untilthe pahsed can generate atleast as much as normal.

[rdouglass]

IMO and for my style of play phased shields are a waste of research points. The only weapon it gives you an advantage over is Phased Polaron Beams. I've only encountered 1 AI that ever used them and the range of the PPB's is too short to be very effective over weapons like WMG's and Enveloping Acid Globules (my personal favorite!!!). In tactical mode, they never get close enough to fire a shot and in Strategic mode, set the fleet / ship strategy to Max Range or Dont Get Hurt.

Now if I would play a mod that adjusted those values (range, etc.) I would probably rethink this (PPB thing), but I haven't seen one yet.

I'm sure this strat would probably break down BAD if I was up against another human, but I've not had the pleasure yet. PBEM games just would take too much time and require too much REGULAR play time for me.

[DirectorTsaarx]

Baron: The only reason I have phased shields on my ships right now is that I captured all five levels of phased shielding from enemy ships. They were silly enough to put phased shield V's on MINE SWEEPERS!!! And then sent those sweepers out all alone to be captured by the Moebius Consortium. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Sorry. Lost my head for a moment there.

Seriously, I captured three of those mine sweepers, plus a couple other dreadnoughts with phased shields and had a grand time deconstructing & analyzing... gotta love those shield regenerators too (you get those along with the phased shield generators).

BTW - be careful using the "Upgrade" command in the ship design window; it tends to replace regular shields with phased shields, even when that would cause a DECREASE in shield strength.

[This message has been edited by DirectorTsaarx (edited 30 January 2001).]

[s_rat]

"BTW - be careful using the "Upgrade" command in the ship design window; it tends to replace regular shields with phased shields, even when that would cause a DECREASE in shield strength."

This is precisely what prompted the question in the first place. My upgraded ship design to L1 phased shields suddenly had several hundred less shield points. Heck of a deal. :P

[DirectorTsaarx]

I'm glad I'm not the only one to make that mistake...