Shields & Armour --- what's the point?

[Jon Brave]

I have a couple of questions about shields & armour that have bothered me for a long time. I have read "Zanthis"' "Armor, Shields and Damage (FAQ)" dating back to 5 Feb 2001 and, while very interesting, it does not answer these basic questions.

The questions concern upgrades to shields & armour. I sit with my Designer on "Only Show Latest" components and, 99% of the time, I'm quite happy to only pick the latest (most advanced) type of a component. But I don't understand the following:

1. Shields. When I research beyond "normal" shields V, they get replaced by phased shields I. That gives me (something like) 75 *phased* shield points in place of 400 *normal* shield points. Now, I understand that if I'm combatting phased (or is it non-phased) weapons this may be well and good. But most of my opponents aren't using these. I then find (in simulations) that I'm much worse off against normal weapons. I could understand if 75 phased shields counted as 400 normal shields *as well*, but they do not seem to.

2. Armour. Similar-ish. When I research beyond normal armour III I get, say, emissive armour I. Normal III is size=10kT, damage=40kT, whereas emissive I is size=20kT, damage=30kT. That's a *much* worse ratio of size/damage. The same basic principle is true for the scattering & stealth armour Is you get at the same time. I understand the other armours offer other sundry features, but in the simplest case (I think) I'm only interested in the size/damage ratio. And I'm paying upwards of 10 times the build cost for this...

In case 1 (Shields), it's particularly galling because phased shields *replace* normal ones completely. I don't want them, so I can no longer use the "Upgrade" button for redesign, which otherwise works fine, nor can I design a ship from scratch, wanting normal shields, without switching the "Only Show Latest" off. Also, I can never use shield regenerators. In case 2 (Armour), I notice they only *add* emissive etc. to the list, so I can still just find and use normal armour.

Given that everything else seems so logical, am I missing something in either of these two cases? I simply think these upgrades are *worse* than the original (or, in the armour case, just pointless as an alternative). For an upgrade to be "useful" it needs to offer original features + some extras; all other upgrades do. I know I can never research these things, but that's not it --- I want to want to use them!

As a kind of aside, but doubtless related, armour seems pretty pointless once weapons reach a reasonable damage-causing level, which happens fairly early in the game, seems to me it's puny, whereas at least shields are worth a bit?

[Phoenix-D]

"For an upgrade to be "useful" it needs to offer original features + some extras; all other upgrades do."

Stealth and scattering are *by far* worth the extra size. Don't underestimate that 15% defense bonus!

Armor is kind of puny compared to shields in general; especially when you consider that in the unmodded game there are NO shield-skipping weapons, but there *are* weapons that skip armor.

Phoenix-D

[tesco samoa]

Jon you need to take into conderation what the role of the ship will be.

Also what role it will have within a fleet.

I tend to make missle ships light on the armor and with no shields.

But a close assult ship that needs to take be able to take a pounding needs armour and/or shields.

When you start to factor in fleet tatics with different class ships the Armour and Shields issue must be addressed.

A classic armour design ship is the base ship with 1 computer 1 aux bridge 2 marine units 2 defence marine units, 2 engines, 1 weapon that has greatest damage for a fire rate of one and the rest of the ship is armour. As a variation to this class replace 5 armour with point defence
Tatic of the ship is point blank Secondary tatic is ram.

Now think of 10 of these supported by battleship - missle class ships...

There a wall.

Planetary assult ships need shields to surive.

etc...

[Texfire]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but Null Space Weapons are in the unmodded game and skip both armor and shields.

Texfire

[geoschmo]

quote:

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Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
[QB} especially when you consider that in the unmodded game there are NO shield-skipping weapons, but there *are* weapons that skip armor.
[/QB]

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There may be no weapons that skip shields and hit the armor (I can't remember honestly) but there are plenty that skip armor AND shields. And there are the shield depleters and the temporal "Quad damage to shileds" weapons.


Geoschmo

[Zarix]

Emissive armor is totally useless. Stealth and scattering armor gives defensive modifier that stacks so with both you can have +30. That is a lot.

Choice between normal and phased shields depends on your enemies. It is good to remember that if your enemy uses phased weapons normal shield become totally useless. I agree with you on that normal shields shoudn't be replaced by phased in the design window.

Also armor stops mine damage but shields don't.

Yes, Null Space skips both armor and any shields.