Re: Regular Shields vs. Phased Shields
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)...
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L++ Se+++ GdY $++ Fr C+++ Csc Sf Ai AuO M+ MpTM S Ss RRSHP+ Pw- Fq->Fq+ Nd+++ Rp G++ Mm++ Bb---
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