[primitive]

Very strange that you have the Toltoyans beating up the other AI's several games in a row. I have played a bundle of SP games with TDM 3.20, and I can't remember the Toltoyans ever making it very far.

Originally posted by Me Loonn:
...... but toltayans are using PPBs etc, ripping thru my shield generator IIIs, making them useless.

Anyway, here my 0.02 $ on shields:
Personally I (almost) never build any Shields before I have at least Shield IV. If there are PPBs around, I dont build Shields until i get Phased III or IV. My advise is to always research Armor to the end before starting Shields to get Stealth and Scattering Armor early (for the bonuses). This gives ordinary Armor III for "free", which is comparable to low level Shields but both cheaper and safer.
1 Shield III: 40 KT - 150 shield points + 40 Damage - 300 Minerals
4 Armor III: 40 KT - 160 Damage - 200 Minerals