Ships Help with shield mechanics

[VoluptaBox]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to understand shield mechanics but I still can't wrap my head around the whole thing. I get the part where each ship has its base shield strength and the shield generator is a multiplier. I also realize that the biggest difference between shield sizes is the min - optimal - hull mass. And this is the part that confuses me.

Let's say I want to build a ship and I want to figure out the smallest shield size that I can fit while still having optimal strength. Let's also say I use Coriolis, as this is the tool I best get along with. Which value do I need to take into account? The hull mass seems not to change no matter what I do, is that the figure I need to look at? Do I add up module weight etc?

Cheers

 

[Darkman Returns]

Shield Generator

Forms a continually regenerating protective energy shield around the vessel. — In-Game Description A shield generator comes with each ship by default, and upgrades can be found throughout the galaxy. It occupies an Internal Compartment slot. Note that not all ships will keep this shield...

elite-dangerous.fandom.com

Mass

Each ship has a base mass which is the main factor in determining how effective each shield type is. If the ship's base mass (doesn't include cargo or modules) is below the optimal then shield strength is increased by a modifier whereas if it is above optimal then the shield strength is decreased by a modifier.

Personally I find EDSY easier for this kind of thing. A red triangle with an exclamation mark is pretty obviously not an option when you look at shield sizes

 

[Morbad]

The hull mass seems not to change no matter what I do, is that the figure I need to look at?

Yes.

Do I add up module weight etc?

No.

 

[VoluptaBox]

Shield Generator

Forms a continually regenerating protective energy shield around the vessel. — In-Game Description A shield generator comes with each ship by default, and upgrades can be found throughout the galaxy. It occupies an Internal Compartment slot. Note that not all ships will keep this shield...

elite-dangerous.fandom.com

Personally I find EDSY easier for this kind of thing. A red triangle with an exclamation mark is pretty obviously not an option when you look at shield sizes

Yes.
No.

Fair, but I'm still missing something. Based on this logic, a 5A (405T optimal) and a 6A (540T optimal) should provide the same bonus on the Phantom from the above screenshot (270T hull mass). Yet the 5A is giving me 302MJ and the 6A is giving 340MJ. Where is that difference coming from? The WIKI clearly states that class does not provide a bonus in shield strength, only rating does.

 

[Darkman Returns]

See if this page helps you understand it better: https://cmdrs-toolbox.com/guides/shield-mechanics

 

[Morbad]

Fair, but I'm still missing something. Based on this logic, a 5A (405T optimal) and a 6A (540T optimal) should provide the same bonus on the Phantom from the above screenshot (270T hull mass). Yet the 5A is giving me 302MJ and the 6A is giving 340MJ. Where is that difference coming from? The WIKI clearly states that class does not provide a bonus in shield strength, only rating does.

To clarify, shield strength doesn't stop improving until ship hull mass is at or below the 'minimum' mass of the shield gen, which is half the 'optimal' mass rating.

 

[VoluptaBox]

See if this page helps you understand it better: https://cmdrs-toolbox.com/guides/shield-mechanics

To clarify, shield strength doesn't stop improving until ship hull mass is at or below the 'minimum' mass of the shield gen, which is half the 'optimal' mass rating.

Thanks guys, now it makes sense. For some reason I thought that the value stopped at optimal, not at minimum (which is not even displayed in Coriolis).

Cheers

 

[Darkman Returns]

These 2 tools make life so much easier:

Release - Elite Dangerous Market Connector (EDMC)

STOP, this is an old thread. You want the new, 5.9.0+ thread instead. Elite Dangerous Market Connector ("EDMC") is a third-party application for use with Elite Dangerous. Its purpose is to facilitate supplying certain game data to, and in some cases retrieving it from, a number of websites...

forums.frontier.co.uk

Release - EDSY - The ship outfitting tool formerly known as E:D Shipyard; reimagined, redesigned, reborn

At long last, I am pleased to announce the general availability of EDSY, a complete redesign of the original Elite Dangerous ship outfitting tool formerly known as E : D Shipyard. The complete set of changes and updates are too long to list, but here are some highlights: Complete visual...

forums.frontier.co.uk

Just start EDMC, click on your ship name and it'll open your current ship in EDSY. Simples.

 

[SergMx]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to understand shield mechanics but I still can't wrap my head around the whole thing. I get the part where each ship has its base shield strength and the shield generator is a multiplier. I also realize that the biggest difference between shield sizes is the min - optimal - hull mass. And this is the part that confuses me.

Let's say I want to build a ship and I want to figure out the smallest shield size that I can fit while still having optimal strength. Let's also say I use Coriolis, as this is the tool I best get along with. Which value do I need to take into account? The hull mass seems not to change no matter what I do, is that the figure I need to look at? Do I add up module weight etc?

View attachment 206949

Cheers

My personal opinion.
Unlike FSD where you can reduce the optimal mass and jump further, I believe that with the shield it is not suitable. Basically it just depends on the ship. My favorite example : the Vulture's shield.

 

[Oytis57]

If you want to have fun compare the shields of an iCourier and a Clipper,you'll see what Fdev did there!