Be nice to have a shield status percentage - or when do you use your shield cells?

[dioogio]

Any one else think it would be really useful to have a % shields left status as well as the 3 rings to give a better indication of when to use a shield cell. Yes I use them, couldn't take on an anaconda on my own without them (viper).

 

[EAGLE 5]

Nice yes but not necessary the HUD will only get more cluttered that way.

 

[dioogio]

How about a verbal warning at 5% - "shields failing" - Shields down is a tad late.

 

[BacchusZA]

How about a verbal warning at 5% - "shields failing" - Shields down is a tad late.

I'm pretty sure there's an audio cue in the few seconds before the shields fail. I've not done too much combat, and very little of that involved me taking any significant drain on my shields, so I do stand open to correction.

 

[HipToss]

Any one else think it would be really useful to have a % shields left status as well as the 3 rings to give a better indication of when to use a shield cell. Yes I use them, couldn't take on an anaconda on my own without them (viper).

I am sure they could squeeze a % somewhere on the HUD

 

[nosscar]

best use a shield cell when on last ring, useless if shields already down.

 

[EAGLE 5]

I'm pretty sure there's an audio cue in the few seconds before the shields fail. I've not done too much combat, and very little of that involved me taking any significant drain on my shields, so I do stand open to correction.

You are correct. There is a single HONK before the shields deactivate. Unfortunately like most background sounds in Elite Dangerous it is too faint especially in the heat of the moment for you to realize it happened unless you're looking for it. We really need a volume slider for background ship sounds which as is are barely audible.

 

[Yodafone]

Any one else think it would be really useful to have a % shields left status as well as the 3 rings to give a better indication of when to use a shield cell. Yes I use them, couldn't take on an anaconda on my own without them (viper).

In some respects all aspects of the hud need to me constantly glanced at regularly. One thing Ive found with the shield cells, sometimes it pays to deploy a cell quite a bit earlier than the normal approach of "at the last moment you dare", when it really is at imminent failure. At this moment, when once the cell is engaged its a bit too late for a complete recharge, particularly when youre being fired at during the period it is trying to recharge the shields. Bit of practice over time, one gets to know when the best time is. Like i say this varies depending if youre under fire at the time in which case a bit earlier is actually beneficial.

One does get the imminent failure audible dong just prior to shields failing so sometimes this is all the indication one needs, without having to look at your current shield status hud at all, but as mentioned sometimes can't replenish all of the shield back to full health if you are under fire at the time)

Lancer

 

[EAGLE 5]

+1 on cell usage. I often fire one as soon as I dive into a hot area or against an aggressive foe(s) because it soaks up the hits before they get to my shields versus waiting for the last ring. That way if you're met with an overwhelming force your shields don't fail immediately negating the effect of the cell. Remember cells only supplement active shields not depleted ones.