Shields - SCBs, and boosters

[bigity]

Just had a thought.

Huge shields are a problem, but one FDev seems willing to address.

How about instead of nerfing the 'big numbers', we simply make SCBs cause module damage to shield generators. So that using more than a couple/few brings about the possibility of shield failure from the stress on the module.

Now, shield boosters would magnify that damage at the same rate they increase shields. So stacking 8 boosters on a ship and using a second SCB would cause your generator to fail.

I think this would create an independent use for SCBs and boosters, and prevent unreasonable stacking of both.

It shouldn't be too harsh, as reverb weapons already damage generators directly and cascade rails - but it should be harsh enough to prevent stacking the silly amounts of shields we see out there, as well as giving a penalty for doing this even in strictly PvE gameplay.

 

[Allchemyst]

Nah, I'd rather FD went through with their original idea. The only thing they need is to find a way to make up for their mistake. Nerfing SB's contribution to total shields following a downwards curve (so the greater the pre-nerf bonus, the less powerful their individual efficiency) was IMO the way to go. They'd just need to maybe make it so that SBs also greatly increase the time before shields start regenerating (as in, heal their unbroken state) while giving the reneration rate an increase proportional to the shield boost nerf.

That way, thousands of players wouldn't feel betrayed out of their efforts for the devs' mistake (Let's admit it, why didn't they see this coming? And if tey did, why not nerf them before 2.1 went live?).

 

[bigity]

That would be my preference, they just seem to balk at that idea every time they have the chance to implement/test.

 

[Allchemyst]

That would be my preference, they just seem to balk at that idea every time they have the chance to implement/test.

Yeah. My guess is they don't want the deluge of bad rep they'd get from a unilateral nerf, given how engineering is both necessary and unenjoyable, and how taking away that work will really anger a lot of people - especially those who wouldn't have seen it coming.

Doubt they'll ever be able to take this mechanic away without giving something in return.

Your suggestion, for an example, would simply make SBs very tedious for PVE players who like to sit in RES for a long time... Unless you put them on a toggle, in which case they'd not be very different from SCBs, except for the fact that those only cause thermal damage, which can be mitigated.

Originally, I'd wager FD expected that having 8 G5 SBs would be too much of a drain on the powerplants to ever be viable... And then they added overcharged PPs.