[Baron Munchausen]

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.