Hypothesis: Shields reduce integrity wear

[disorganise]

Seen it previously reported that ships integrity is a hidden counter until you go for repairs, and once you've been exploring for a few thousand light years, it is inevitable 0.

After too many forgetful moments in my first leg on DWE, I took to flying with shields always on - the extra power and heat never bothered me.
I got to Beagle with almost 100% hull (it sometimes showed 100% from the sRV, sometimes 99%...the real figure was 99% from the cockpit), and took far too many reckless options on the way back - hence the 91% now.

So imagine my surprise to find I still have 36% integrity. This is after 5,482 jumps totaling 160,867 light years

I started out (for the 3rd time <sigh>) on 8th March, well before engineers (2.1) came out so this cannot be a 2.2 thing.
If I've misunderstood the previous posts, do please correct me. Otherwise, hope this is of benefit

 

[Satsuma]

Oh, that's interesting! I flew DWE with my shields up (I had one too many landings where I took a tick of damage because I forgot to raise my shields) for most of the route, and I remember having no integrity (shush!) when I got back. It could be that the hull damage I took along the way - I was at about 83%, IIRC, when I got to Jaques - eliminated more of my ship's integrity.

I've taken to flying with the shields up all the time now, so I'll be interested to see what my integrity is when I get back from my current 34 kly trip.

 

[Ca$hback]

Interesting. I need to check my integrity. I only put my shields on to land. I'm about 11,600ly out. I had a crash 4600ly out and my hull has been at 34% since.

 

[thehairymob]

I have always went into the dark with full shields and the best that I could afford. Sadly I've never noticed it helping with integrity. Though as the OP said it may have been a more recent thing which I do hope is the case.

 

[disorganise]

Colonia to HIP 72043 via Conflux.
1,720 jumps, 24,253 ly

I did it with the Shields off as a test - well, until I got to about 1500ly from the bubble anyway. Had quite a few heat sparks as I was Chiggying along. But even so, the integrity seems quite good. So....I think my hypothesis is bust

 

[Jon474]

Your theory does make sense. All that space-dust fries on the surface of the shield's force-field rather than impacting the hull.

I've had my shields switched on since I left Pallaeni in January. I'll leave them switched on as I head back home. We can see what effect the long round trip flight distance has on hull integrity. I should be back around Easter 2017.

Flying...with shields
Jon
Type-6 E