Regular Shields vs. Phased Shields

s_rat · #1 January 30th, 2001, 03:41 PM

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 · #2 January 30th, 2001, 04:43 PM

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 · #3 January 30th, 2001, 05:38 PM

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 · #4 January 30th, 2001, 06:03 PM

Thanks for your responses.

Out of curiosity, which weapons "skip" armor?

DirectorTsaarx · #5 January 30th, 2001, 06:08 PM

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 · #6 January 30th, 2001, 07:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by s_rat:
And do shields provide any protection against DUCs? I'm assuming not, but I'm not sure.

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...

Baron Munchausen · #7 January 30th, 2001, 08:12 PM

FYI, the only weapons in the default techs which skip armor are the Shard Cannon and the Crystalline Torpedo (actually a seeker) -- both in the Crystalline Technology racial area.

The AI doesn't seem to understand the distinction between standard and phased shields, unfortunately. Even when it researches them it doesn't actually use them but sticks with the original type. Maybe it would be better for the AI to go with the MOO system of adding a modifying component that "hardens" standard shields. The AI could probably understand that easier (less tricky for programming). I'd really like to see different 'types' of shields that were more or less effective against different 'types' of weapons.

Blue Lord · #8 January 30th, 2001, 08:33 PM

Highest lvl of normal sheilding generates 300 points. Highest lvl of pahes shielding generates 375. But as someone said, the gap between phased lvl 1 and normal shileds highest lvl is rather large. How do you solve it? Simple, I don't switch from pahed to normal untilthe pahsed can generate atleast as much as normal.

rdouglass · #9 January 30th, 2001, 08:49 PM

IMO and for my style of play phased shields are a waste of research points. The only weapon it gives you an advantage over is Phased Polaron Beams. I've only encountered 1 AI that ever used them and the range of the PPB's is too short to be very effective over weapons like WMG's and Enveloping Acid Globules (my personal favorite!!!). In tactical mode, they never get close enough to fire a shot and in Strategic mode, set the fleet / ship strategy to Max Range or Dont Get Hurt.

Now if I would play a mod that adjusted those values (range, etc.) I would probably rethink this (PPB thing), but I haven't seen one yet.

I'm sure this strat would probably break down BAD if I was up against another human, but I've not had the pleasure yet. PBEM games just would take too much time and require too much REGULAR play time for me.

DirectorTsaarx · #10 January 30th, 2001, 09:30 PM

Baron: The only reason I have phased shields on my ships right now is that I captured all five levels of phased shielding from enemy ships. They were silly enough to put phased shield V's on MINE SWEEPERS!!! And then sent those sweepers out all alone to be captured by the Moebius Consortium. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Sorry. Lost my head for a moment there.

Seriously, I captured three of those mine sweepers, plus a couple other dreadnoughts with phased shields and had a grand time deconstructing & analyzing... gotta love those shield regenerators too (you get those along with the phased shield generators).

BTW - be careful using the "Upgrade" command in the ship design window; it tends to replace regular shields with phased shields, even when that would cause a DECREASE in shield strength.

[This message has been edited by DirectorTsaarx (edited 30 January 2001).]