Suggestion: New Shield Type 'Facing Shields'

[Sylow]

The problem with facing shields is that engineering adds so much resilience,
that this would result in even more broken combat.

Very much this.

And on the idea of having this as multi-crew feature: while it would be a logical thing to do for a co-pilot and would make sense, it lacks when you look the complete package: now you'd have a player along to do nothing else but move shields around? What else would he have to do? Even if you have more ideas of things he could do, how do you avoid it being just a random collection of minigames? How do you make a complete package out of it, which provides interesting and rewarding gameplay?

Over the years i've seen more than such minigame for a co-pilot being suggested and in other games even implemented. But it never added up to a complete role and a rewarding experience. And as long as it doesn't do that, it's not worth implementing.

 

[Stealthie]

Sounds like Star Citizen

Sounds like almost every other space-sim that has shields, to be fair.

And there's nothing wrong with that.
All the X-Wing games required that the player balance weps/eng/sys power AND allowed you to transfer power between front and rear shields.
I don't think anybody found that too difficult to deal with.

 

[Northpin]

Directional shielding? Nope.
Reverski even more?

 

[Stealthie]

The problem with facing shields is that engineering adds so much resilience,
that this would result in even more broken combat.

I'd look at it as creating new opportunities.

Two shield-tanks face-off and then one of them launches an SLF which can get behind the opponent.
Or, perhaps, calls in a wingmate.

Might actually improve combat if it was harder for a single ship to destroy another single ship by turning PvP into something that favoured teamwork rather than just allowing some lone tool to pew-pew any other CMDR they see.

 

[RamirezKurita]

While I do feel that directional shields would be a good addition to the game, the actual implementation raises a huge amount of questions.

OP's suggestion was about having the shields be reassignable to work with different arcs, but the suggestion could work equally well with shields simply always being fixed in a particular direction. This fixed direction could always be forwards, but alternatively there could be multiple specialised generators to cover each arc.

There's been very little discussion thus far about whether these directional shield generators would still occupy the "shield" slot in outfitting, or whether they could be outfitted in addition to existing omnidirectional shields. Personally, I am very much in favour of additional outfitting options that such a combination would provide, as it would both provide additional choice for ships with very few large internal slots as well as giving things like the low-power mods another lease of life although I am quite conscious of the potential hit point inflation issues.

How would engineering and shield boosters work with these new directional shields? Would they benefit from the same set of bonuses or would they have their own? Would they be prototype unengineerable modules themselves from the tech broker? This is particularly important if they can be used to supplement existing omnidirectional shields, as it is quite undesirable to be able to double-dip with buffs as that kind of scaling tends to exclude other options.

 

[Rick6549]

Directional shielding? Nope.
Reverski even more?

How to beat reversing.

Step 1. Dont chase him
Step 2. ???
Step 3. You win, congrats.

 

[sandkid]

Would be a good multicrew ONLY feature.

Having read the various comments thus far...this isn't a half bad idea. Allow me to modify my OP a little here. Keeping in mind, multi-crew itself is a farcry from what it should be in terms of playability and bugginess. So assume multi-crew were to actually function 'good' for this:

Directional Shield Booster Module - Military Module Slot

• Increases resistances (not shield capacity or recharge) in one of six directions.
• Usable by Gunner Role if filled

How it Works

• (No Gunner) DSB automatically shifts every 5 seconds to facing receiving most (absolute) damage. Can be manually locked to a position by pilot via systems panel, module control. Cannot be manually moved any other way - either auto or manual, no keybinds except to toggle this function.
• (With Gunner) DBS can be controlled like a turret, allowing total freedom of movement for a 90 degree resistance boost facing instantly. Can also be left to automatic adjustment, which occurs every 2 seconds with Gunner role filled.

I could see such a module being not only practical but actually fun (strategically) to use for a Gunner role. Especially on the smaller ships that allow multi-crew but generally lack justification for splitting up the hardpoints between a gunner and pilot. The Directional Shield Booster (DSB) would give the gunner role a strong utility in these instances, scaling up to more complex ships with additional utilities to control.

Thoughts on this iteration?

 

[Mersozz]

I used to play xwing alliance with my brother and "buy" ships with monopoly money. We'd roleplay missions we created, total blast, now I've got that dream game with Elite and sometimes my brother will wing up with me.

X-Wing alliance was a fun game, too.

 

[Mersozz]

The problem with facing shields is that engineering adds so much resilience,
that this would result in even more broken combat.
Macro shield facings and boom you are even harder to kill.
Elite never had shield facings iirc, just leave it as it is
and invest manpower in balancing instead, then we could talk
about skilled shield operation.

Being able to reinforce rear shields would certainly be a defensive improvement for those looking to escape an encounter.

 

[Morbad]

For PvP scenarios there is also the issue of the game not being entirely synchronous. Due to latency compensation, relative facing can be a highly uncertain thing.

 

[sandkid]

For PvP scenarios there is also the issue of the game not being entirely synchronous. Due to latency compensation, relative facing can be a highly uncertain thing.

I get your point on this, but that's kinda the same issue for lots of modules and has more to do with how the game is designed than the module itself.

Fact is, PvP could see this be usable but it probably won't be 'l33t build' worthy simply because of your point. Half the tactics favored in PvP have less to do with what makes sense and more with what actually works in the existing environment (bugs and all).

 

[Morbad]

Half the tactics favored in PvP have less to do with what makes sense and more with what actually works in the existing environment (bugs and all).

This is true, but is not entirely limited to PvP, nor is it unreasonable to look at the practical hurdles to any given feature.

I certainly wouldn't mind directional shielding and more uses for multi-crew, but underlying mechanisms that could have profound impacts on how well such could be implemented would need to be improved.

 

[Drelthar]

Having read the various comments thus far...this isn't a half bad idea. Allow me to modify my OP a little here. Keeping in mind, multi-crew itself is a farcry from what it should be in terms of playability and bugginess. So assume multi-crew were to actually function 'good' for this:

Directional Shield Booster Module - Military Module Slot

• Increases resistances (not shield capacity or recharge) in one of six directions.
• Usable by Gunner Role if filled

How it Works

• (No Gunner) DSB automatically shifts every 5 seconds to facing receiving most (absolute) damage. Can be manually locked to a position by pilot via systems panel, module control. Cannot be manually moved any other way - either auto or manual, no keybinds except to toggle this function.
• (With Gunner) DBS can be controlled like a turret, allowing total freedom of movement for a 90 degree resistance boost facing instantly. Can also be left to automatic adjustment, which occurs every 2 seconds with Gunner role filled.

I could see such a module being not only practical but actually fun (strategically) to use for a Gunner role. Especially on the smaller ships that allow multi-crew but generally lack justification for splitting up the hardpoints between a gunner and pilot. The Directional Shield Booster (DSB) would give the gunner role a strong utility in these instances, scaling up to more complex ships with additional utilities to control.

Thoughts on this iteration?

My thoughts are:

Just make all shields able to be positioned by (insert multicrew role here - there SHOULD have been a third role, which this may have fit into for now, gunner role, yeah) in order to grant extra protection in the direction they are facing.

That's it, everything else works as normal now.

The way to make multicrew good/worthwhile, is to make it have things that just cannot be done outside of it. The only minor thing it has in this way, is that you can fire missiles/torps, etc right behind you while running away at full boost, with a gunner. That's pretty much it.

I kinda wish they had made fixed and gimballed weapons, be abllowed to use turret mode, which can only be used by gunners - no turrets without crew, no need to specialise your ship for it though and no crazy damage reductions for turrets this way.

 

[Trotsky2112]

It might work if your ship is a multi-crew dedicated gunboat. But those shields would be mostly useless for solo players.
Don't get me wrong, it's a good idea, I just think it needs some tweaking.

 

[Drelthar]

It might work if your ship is a multi-crew dedicated gunboat. But those shields would be mostly useless for solo players.

Which is in my opinion, perfectly fine.

What Multicrew needs to be good/pointful - is things you can ONLY do using it.

Otherwise you might as well just solo or wing up.

 

[Arry]

It might work if your ship is a multi-crew dedicated gunboat. But those shields would be mostly useless for solo players.
Don't get me wrong, it's a good idea, I just think it needs some tweaking.

I use my Cobra III a lot. I have two turreted beam in the small slots. I can fly in a constant down hill curve and my beams will constantly hit and strip the shields, of anything behind me. Now if I could direct the strength of my shields, to the rear of my ship. That would be very handy.

That said: If i can, then the ship chasing me, can as well. Maybe not so good.

 

[Trotsky2112]

I use my Cobra III a lot. I have two turreted beam in the small slots. I can fly in a constant down hill curve and my beams will constantly hit and strip the shields, of anything behind me. Now if I could direct the strength of my shields, to the rear of my ship. That would be very handy.

That said: If i can, then the ship chasing me, can as well. Maybe not so good.

I suppose if you have a self-sufficient turret boat (no crew) then you could redirect the shields as you fly. Good thought.

 

[Drelthar]

I suppose if you have a self-sufficient turret boat (no crew) then you could redirect the shields as you fly. Good thought.

Would still prefer it if turrets had to be manned.

 

[Kissamies]

A simple multicrew implementation: The direction where the Gunner is looking at gets an extra 20 % damage reduction as long as the shields are up. That includes absolute damage as well. Not necessarily a good idea, but it would be simple for the interface side of things at least. Having a dedicated engineer role that controls shield direction and fine tunes power distribution to the modules would be more interesting.