[Pax]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
Given the above, a token improvement for levels 4 to 6 would look better than exact duplicates.

A token mprovement for them, and an overall hp/kT improvement for all armor, would be best.

Here's a possible suggestion:

code:

---

Component ... Old HP      ... New HP      ... Net Research cost

                                              (Medium)

Armor I   ... 30 (3.0/kT) ...  30 ( 3/kT) ...  55,000

Armor II  ... 35 (3.5/kT) ...  40 ( 4/kT) ...  65,000

Armor III ... 40 (4.0/kT) ...  50 ( 5/kT) ...  87,500

Armor IV  ... n/a         ...  60 ( 6/kT) ... 127,000

Armor V   ... n/a         ...  80 ( 8/kT) ... 199,500

Armor VI  ... n/a         ... 100 (10/kT) ... 289,500



Note, the cost includes the cost of Chemistry(1) at 50,000.

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Compare this with shields:

code:

---

Component  ... Old HP+SP        ... Net Research cost

                                    ( Medium )

Shield I   ... 30+50  ( 2.7/kT) ...    60,000

Shield II  ... 40+100 ( 3.5/kT) ...    80,000

Shield III ... 40+150 ( 4.8/kT) ...   125,000

Shield IV  ... 40+225 ( 6.6/kT) ...   205,000

Shield V   ... 40+300 ( 8.5/kT) ...   330,000

Phased I   ... 40+75  ( 2.9/kT) ...   510,000

Phased II  ... 40+150 ( 4.8/kT) ...   755,000

Phased III ... 40+225 ( 6.6/kT) ... 1,075,000

Phased IV  ... 40+300 ( 8.5/kT) ... 1,480,000

Phased V   ... 40+375 (10.4/kT) ... 1,980,000



Note, the cost includes the cost of Physics(1) at 50,000.

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With that said, I think that a few things should be fixed. The Shield Generator I component is the ONLY 30kT shield generator. IMO, it should be upped to 40kT, with 40kT structure, to maintain the pattern.

As well, Shield IV and V have greater increases in shieldign levels compared to prior levels. I think they should be adjusted to 200 and 250, respectively.

OTOH, the entire progression fo Shield tech and components could be changed:

code:

---

Component  ... New HP+SP        ... Net Research cost

                                    ( Medium )

Shield I   ... 40+100 ( 3.5/kT) ...    60,000

Phased I   ... 40+50  ( 2.3/kT) ...    80,000

Shield II  ... 40+200 ( 6.0/kT) ...   125,000

Phased II  ... 40+100 ( 3.5/kT) ...   205,000

Shield III ... 40+300 ( 8.5/kT) ...   330,000

Phased III ... 40+150 ( 4.8/kT) ...   510,000

Shield IV  ... 40+400 (11.0/kT) ...   755,000

Phased IV  ... 40+200 ( 6.0/kT) ... 1,075,000

Shield V   ... 40+500 (13.5/kT) ... 1,480,000

Phased V   ... 40+250 ( 7.3/kT) ... 1,980,000



Note, the cost includes the cost of Physics(1) at 50,000.

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This would make unphased shields better, for the same comparative level of component, in terms of SP generated, and total effective hp/kT. Of course, it's then rock-paper-scissors WRT PPBs, APBs, and the like: do you want more SP but vulnerability to PPBs, or, do you want less total SP but the ability to stop PPBs with your shields?

It might also serve to nerf PPB without changing that weapon at all, as the first phased shields (albeit weaker than unphased) would be available for a total of only 80,000 research points, rather than the current 510,000 cost.