This section has details missing or obscure mechanics that need clarification by Haxus. Description: Need a lot more information about how shields work. Like recharge rate and such. If you know the answer, please edit this page or state it on the talk page!
This section is in need of revision. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. The reason given is: Once information has been confirmed/corrected, this page could use a rewrite to make it easier to understand.
Module
Shield
Shields are an advanced defense technology. Once activated, they produce a large blue bubble around the spacecraft and protect that vessel from attacks. They also prevent any transporter beams from affecting the spacecraft.
Hull allocated to shields provides a set amount of protection for the ship. This amount is then divided between the 6 sides of the ship.
All attacks are completely absorbed by that specific side until the damage exceeds the absorption, and is then projected onto the hull itself. Shields can be diverted from other parts of the spacecraft to restore that particular section, however NPCcrewmembers simply balance out the 6 sides until there is no shield energy remaining. Shields are hardened against attacks like hull armor is, so level 10 armor will apply its resistance to the shield as well.
Transporter beams are blocked as long as all shield sections have at least the strength of 2.
Shield regeneration is a fixed rate. Low power shields recharge rather quickly, within the range of 1-5m for 5k per side. However massive shielding (100k per side) can take up to 30 minutes to fully charge, leading to the belief that regeneration is not improved with QL. Regardless, each shield unit draws a moderate amount of power while it charges, so caution should be used on ships with weapon bays in combat.
Destabilization
When damage causes a shield side to drop to zero, it will be destabilized for 10 seconds. A destabilized shield side will be unable to turn on and give protection.
A destabilized shield side will still be recharging.
Shield Types
There are 3 types of shields.
Energy Shield
Energy shields are 100% effective vs energy damage and only 80% effective vs kinetic damage.
Kinetic Shield
Kinetic shields are 100% effective vs kinetic damage and only 80% effective vs energy damage.
Such as ballistic weapons and rocket-propelled weapons.
Stealth Shield
Stealth shield module reduces the distance at which the ship can be detected on sensors. The effectiveness of the stealth shield depends on the quality of the module.[1]
The shield is only 80% effective vs kinetic and energy damage.
Corrosion Shield
Corrosion shields blocks 90% of acid damage and 100% of corrosion and insidious atmosphere damage.
The shield is only 80% effective vs kinetic and energy damage.
There are three kinds of energy shields but they all do the exact same thing.
This is finally done. Here is the result.
Cloaking shield was renamed to Stealth shield. The name is more indicative of what it does. Unlike the cloaking shield of popular scifi which acts more like an invisibility cloak.
Kinetic Shield - Provides full protection against kinetic damage. Provides 20% less protection against energy damage.
Energy Shield - Provides full protection against energy damage. Provides 20% less protection against kinetic damage.
Stealth Shield - Provides 20% less protection against kinetic and energy damage. Reduces sensor detection range based on shield module quality. If sensor can't detect your ship, weapons cannot lock onto it.
Previously, shields were treated as surface armor. The bubble was there only as a visual cue that shields were present. This was confusing to players who perceived the bubble to be the shield itself. Now, the bubble is the shield.
This caused some things to change.
Shields block weapon fire that originates outside the bubble. Weapons hit on the shield bubble, not the hull.
Shields do not block weapon fire that originates inside the bubble. Weapons inside the shield can fire outward.
Shields do not block explosives used to open doors because the blast originates inside the shield. This is a change from old style ships, where hull doors were protected by shields.
Shields block objects that enter the shield too fast. An object is blocked if it enters the shield with a speed greater than 150m/s relative to the shield. This one is going to kill some people.
Shields do not block objects moving around inside the shield or moving from inside to outside the shield.
Shields block missiles, rockets and bombs that enter the bubble. They explode on the shield surface. Shrapnel does not hit shield contents. Bombs that hit shields do not make craters in nearby terrain.
Shields absorb blasts and collisions. The protected ship cannot be pushed by hitting the shield.
Incendiary, acid, etc. weapons that explode on the shield do not inflict the protected ship with fire or acid.
