Shields: How does this make any sense?

FuzzySpider · Jun 18, 2015

If I'm offline my reputation decays. My missions count down. Everything continues without you.

I've just logged in and found my shields in the same state they were in yesterday. What's the logic here?

Whiterose · Jun 18, 2015

You must have switched your engine off.

Glenn Ross · Jun 18, 2015

Perfect sense if the state your shields were in yesterday was "Fully charged and operational"!

Krepose Gavayne · Jun 18, 2015

If the shields regenerate at a fixed rate and the game can calculate the time passed since logging off it would seem a simple calculation to have that elapsed time taken into consideration.

Mephane · Jun 18, 2015

And as usual, my reply is: fix shield regeneration so that it has a decent speed so that it does not really matter whether they regenerate while offline, or instantly when docked.

SpitTheDog · Jun 18, 2015

FuzzySpider said:
If I'm offline my reputation decays. My missions count down. Everything continues without you.

I've just logged in and found my shields in the same state they were in yesterday. What's the logic here?

I think when you log out the ship is placed inside a box with a shield recharging point that may or may not be connected. Until you open the box and take the ship out again it is in a quantum state of uncertainty and therefore the shields stay in their current state. Makes sense when you think about it since the fact they don't charge means they aren't getting power, but since they also don't discharge they must be getting power from somewhere. It's all quantum (or possibly timey-wimey).

TruffleSnout · Jun 18, 2015

SpitTheDog said:
a quantum state of uncertainty

Oooooo

Schrödinger's Asp

Oscar Gogo · Jun 18, 2015

In all honesty, neither does the ship use fuel when we're offline. If this was the case, exploration would be insanely hardcore as you wouldn't be able to get away from the computer for more than a few hours.

Same for hull integrity decay.

This is a good compromise IMO.

Shaamaan · Jun 18, 2015

Oscar Gogo said:
In all honesty, neither does the ship use fuel when we're offline. If this was the case, exploration would be insanely hardcore as you wouldn't be able to get away from the computer for more than a few hours.

Same for hull integrity decay.

This is a good compromise IMO.

Or you could, you know, turn the engines off.

The whole thing is the effect of lazy and short-sighted design. Calling it anything else is just lying to yourself.

TruffleSnout · Jun 18, 2015

Oscar Gogo said:
In all honesty, neither does the ship use fuel when we're offline. If this was the case, exploration would be insanely hardcore as you wouldn't be able to get away from the computer for more than a few hours.

Same for hull integrity decay.

?? Whenever I've gone offline while in Supercruise (usually due to a transaction server crash), when I log back in, I'm no longer in SC, and my throttle is set to 0. So I think the fuel usage and hull integrity decay would both be zero in that case.

The Librarian · Jun 18, 2015

I'm ashamed to admit than when I first went out exploring, the last thing I did before going to bed was to drop to real-space, run a quick check on all modules then off-line most of them to conserve power, just in case there was a timed power drain on them whilst not around.

Silly me.

Alex Brentnall · Jun 18, 2015

Pure and simple it is to add 1 more level of annoyance to those who combat log or try to exploit the game systems.

Its why the whole shields do not insta-recover in supercruise was introduced since people went out and in just to be back at 100% for combat.

Edit: I think being docked should insta-recharge shields but logging out shouldn't, just hang around in normal space for 10 minutes, go get a coffee or something. Its really quite safe being in a random patch of space

TruffleSnout · Jun 18, 2015

The Librarian said:
I'm ashamed to admit than when I first went out exploring, the last thing I did before going to bed was to drop to real-space, run a quick check on all modules then off-line most of them to conserve power, just in case there was a timed power drain on them whilst not around.

I usually bring them online, as I explore with them offline for heat management purposes. Never know when the next time you log in 17,000 Ly from home and you're jumped by a Thargoid battle fleet. Be nice to already have my shields online when that happens, yeah?

Scudmungus · Jun 18, 2015

It makin combat loggin less an option - or loggin on/off an havin yuh big ship wid 101 SB recharge full, nice an safe.

Nah perfect but wat yuh gonna do?

TruffleSnout · Jun 18, 2015

Alex Brentnall said:
just hang around in normal space for 10 minutes, go get a coffee or something.

I get where you're coming from, but what's the difference between floating in normal space for 10 minutes vs. floating in normal space, logged out, for 10 minutes?

Alex Brentnall · Jun 18, 2015

TruffleSnout said:
I get where you're coming from, but what's the difference between floating in normal space for 10 minutes vs. floating in normal space, logged out, for 10 minutes?

The difference is your shields won't recharge if logged out. -.- < I know, im joking here.

In seriousness I get it. I understand why this is a problem, if it can be made to keep the recharge rate when logged out then great but if its a flat choice between "always login with 100% shields" or "Always login with past shields" then i'd choose option 2.

Rauminen · Jun 18, 2015

Well, they - the devs - can't get to everything. It's a matter of priorities. Would you rather have the powerplay CC calculated in a bug-free way or the shields recharge when you're offline? Which one is more important? You can't have both RIGHT NOW. You can have one now, and the other later. That's it.

FuzzySpider · Jun 18, 2015

Oscar Gogo said:
In all honesty, neither does the ship use fuel when we're offline. If this was the case, exploration would be insanely hardcore as you wouldn't be able to get away from the computer for more than a few hours.

Same for hull integrity decay.

This is a good compromise IMO.

Ahh! That explains why I log in dead, as the life support also uses fuel!

Rauminen said:
Well, they - the devs - can't get to everything. It's a matter of priorities. Would you rather have the powerplay CC calculated in a bug-free way or the shields recharge when you're offline? Which one is more important? You can't have both RIGHT NOW. You can have one now, and the other later. That's it.

I'd rather have the shields recharge properly. I've tried powerplay, and my opinion of it only worsened as a result.