Regular Shields vs. Phased Shields

[s_rat]

When you upgrade from regular shields to the first level of phased shields, I notice that there's quite a drop in the value of shielding provide by one unit.

Do phased shields also provide protection against unphased weapons, or should I be providing a mix of both shield types in my designs?

Or maybe I should mix both types when I'm at the top of the unphased tree and the bottom of the phased tree....and the gradually go to all phased shields as I get to higher levels?

And do shields provide any protection against DUCs? I'm assuming not, but I'm not sure.

Sorry for so many questions.

[Triumvir Emphy]

Phased shields at level I are a trade off between less points but blocking more weapons. At level III phased shields provide more shield points than normal shields.

Yes, phased shields block "normal" weapons and phased weapons. But not weapons like null-space and other non phased shield skipping weapons.

[DirectorTsaarx]

Actually, I think Phased Shield IV's are equal to Shield V's; and Phased Shield V's are better than Shield V's.

To expand on the other point: the only weapon that is stopped by Phased Shields but not by regular shields is the Phased Polaron Beam. All the other shield-skipping weapons (IIRC) will also skip phased shields (i.e., null-space weapons, one of the temporal weapons, the weapon & engine damaging weapons). And don't forget that some weapons skip shields but not armor, while others skip armor but not shields (just to make it confusing)...

[s_rat]

Thanks for your responses.

Out of curiosity, which weapons "skip" armor?

[DirectorTsaarx]

Shard cannons skip armor but not shields. I can't think of any others that only skip armor. There may be an organic weapon that does this...

And we've already discussed the weapons that skip both shields and armor, and the weapons that only skip shields (i.e., phased-polaron beams).

I think the weapons that only damage specific components (weapons, engines, bridges, computers) also skip shields (both kinds) and armor.

[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...