[Taera]

re: worthlessness of shields: if you dont research shields pity on you cuz ID's are soon to cripple your ships. There are only three standard weapons that skip all shields - NSP, Tachyon and SD. NSP... well some say this cannon rocks but when facing it all you need is distance. Its costly and has a low range, plus a ROF3. Tachyon is quite expensive too but effective... but shooting a cannon (if hit) once in three turns on low range is aint a problem. SD is neither.

All those weapons are expensive and difficult to use so shields are quite useful. Besides, they always regenerate. Which is good.