phased shields?

[maud'dib]

i'm sure this info is buried some where here, but do phased shields only stop ppb from skipping shields or stop all shield skipping weapons??

[Cyrien]

In the unmodded game they only stop PPB Last I checked.

[Taera]

Phased shields stop any weapon that has the "skip normal shields" ability. Modded and unmodded. Usually thats Phased Polaron something.

[Ed Kolis]

That's just because PPB's happen to be the only weapon that skip normal shields only - there are other weapons that skip shields and armor (Nullspace Cannon), weapons that skip shields and only damage internal systems (Tachyon Projection Cannon, Shield Disrupter) and there's even a damage type that allows a weapon to skip all shields, even phased ones, but no weapon uses that - does it even work? It would be nice if phased shields prevented nullspace cannons, tachyon projection cannons, and shield disrupters from skipping shields, but unfortunately they don't

But if you did decide to mod in another weapon with the same damage type as PPB has (forgot what it's called, something like "Skips Normal Shields"), then it would also be blocked by phased shields.

[Rollo]

Originally posted by Ed Kolis:
...there's even a damage type that allows a weapon to skip all shields, even phased ones, but no weapon uses that - does it even work?...

yep, that does work. The chant crystal from Devnull Mod uses that. Also that ability has been given to the Graviton Hellbore in some mods (which ones I cannot recall right now).

Rollo

[ April 16, 2003, 22:10: Message edited by: Rollo ]

[maud'dib]

thanks,
so then it doesnt even seem like shields are worth the research and space....

do you feel that fighters are worth anything once pd becomes avail?

[Taera]

fighters are never worthless. if you make tonns of them, they have to go PDC. When they do, well, storm them with your battlecruisers.

[Taera]

re: worthlessness of shields: if you dont research shields pity on you cuz ID's are soon to cripple your ships. There are only three standard weapons that skip all shields - NSP, Tachyon and SD. NSP... well some say this cannon rocks but when facing it all you need is distance. Its costly and has a low range, plus a ROF3. Tachyon is quite expensive too but effective... but shooting a cannon (if hit) once in three turns on low range is aint a problem. SD is neither.

All those weapons are expensive and difficult to use so shields are quite useful. Besides, they always regenerate. Which is good.

[Phoenix-D]

"re: worthlessness of shields: if you dont research shields pity on you cuz ID's are soon to cripple your ships."

-standard- shields are almost useless because PPBs are so powerful and common. The upper level Phased shields work nicely (upper level, mind- you get better protection out of armor if you use the lowers)

Phoenix-D

[Cyrien]

Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
upper level, mind- you get better protection out of armor if you use the lowers

Unless facing a Crystal race.