The Shield discussion thread

[deMangler]

Attempts to interpret the poll to show anything other than a majority feeling SCB's are broken, read like desperation to me. The results seem clear.
Apart from that, surely game features should provide meaningful choice and increase the richness of the game somehow. SCB's serve only to make the currently excellent power management and other strategic aspects of combat unecesarry. I LIKE having to manage my power and think about combat, whether I should even be in the fight etc. I would much rather be forced to learn a more defensive way of flying than just buy some healing potions.
I am sorry, but it does seem like SCB's really are the opposite to the point of what makes Elite combat challenging and fun.

 

[bassman]

Attempts to interpret the poll to show anything other than a majority feeling SCB's are broken, read like desperation to me. The results seem clear.
Apart from that, surely game features should provide meaningful choice and increase the richness of the game somehow. SCB's serve only to make the currently excellent power management and other strategic aspects of combat unecesarry. I LIKE having to manage my power and think about combat, whether I should even be in the fight etc. I would much rather be forced to learn a more defensive way of flying than just buy some healing potions.
I am sorry, but it does seem like SCB's really are the opposite to the point of what makes Elite combat challenging and fun.

+1, it would also be interesting to know how many of the "no change" voters are primarily PvE players and whether they would still vote for no change if most small/medium NPCs carried a cell bank, and larger NPC ships carried 2 or 3 banks.

 

[Joe Spivey]

My solution is that they should use a weapon mount and/or be single shot.

 

[CMDR Brock Samson]

One bank per ship is reasonable.

 

[bassman]

My solution is that they should use a weapon mount ...

Interesting idea although bigger ships can surely more afford to sacrifice a hardpoint than smaller ones.

 

[HeavyGroovez]

One bank per ship, max 5 charges.

 

[Zplintz]

i think they are ok when you have like 5 or 6, not freaking 18.

If you have many installed you are limiting other equipment installed. It's fair IMO.

 

[JonnyC0mbat]

One bank per ship, max 5 charges.

I agree with this. Shield cells have spoiled the dynamics of fighting. Being a superior pilot bears little advantage with the current rules.

 

[Veldryn]

If you have many installed you are limiting other equipment installed. It's fair IMO.

Only traders need to sacrifice anything. With a combat ship, internal slots are pretty much useless (I'm going with Cargo Racks and Discovery scanner because... Well, there's nothing else to fit).

Almost all interesting items go to utility slots (Point Defense, Chaff, Scanners, ...)

 

[blacky75]

Shield Cells... all gone in seconds!!!

Hi commanders...

don't know if that problem were raised aleady, at least I couldn't find it or badly searched it....

I got 3 units filled with Shield Cells, 5/5 each of them, so, 10 times I can reload shield! Now, here's the problem: as I got a dedicated key bind to Shield Cells, as soon as I fire one with that key-bind, it fire on of all cells group, as I have 3 cells groups, I loose 3 cells!!! So after hitting 5 times the cells button, I could imagine I'd have 10 left, of the 15.... but no.... 0, nada, all gone ^^

Bug?

Now at the moment the only way to get rid of, is shutting down the units to use later on once the first are all gone... (a bit panic onboard when needing to fire on next group through the right panel I tell ya!)

tia

 

[Riepah]

The keybind fires all your shield cell modules rather than one only, so every time you press it, you waste 3 shield cells with 3 modules, rather than 1, as you already noticed. Whether or not that is intended, I don't really know. It would be nice if we were able to bind the functions separately, a "Use all shield cell modules" versus "Use one shield cell". Anyway, if you get the right Shield Cell module fitted, you can have 9 charges from one module, there's not really a need for more modules than that. Many are asking for a nerf of shield cells to begin with, who knows, the ability to equip more than one shield cell module may be the first to go.

 

[Ortikon]

Turn off the unneeded extra cell modules. Turn one on when the other runs out. I cant really see why you would want 3 of those though. Maybe get a better rated one that does more significant repair. Spend more time delegating power to SHD when receiving fire to reinforce your shield and reduce damage, rather than continuously pumping it up. I have one on my Asp for emergencies and remove it when not doing combat. I never use it more than twice before a reload.

 

[blacky75]

thnks for you both

Well, Stressed I installed 4 units of them, 10 cells each (leaves me 40 refills!). Why? I got a mission to kill some pirate, 128k worth.... that patatoe nealy nailed my asp to dust, it was an anaconda and went out of shield cells! But to be honest, I was a bit under panic... didn't fought since weeks, and the ASP was just 5 minutes 'old' Had eanough to recover it IF I failed, but I finally got him down! My hull off 50%, 95k repair costs : shock So now i'm the sure side

 

[ReaperAlex]

you can set up fire groups, one for each shield cell. that way one press is one cell, then when the bank is empty cycle to the next fire group

for elite condas try kiting out at range. some get good results at 1-1.5Km, i get good results at 2-2.5Km. at that distance my natural shield regen is enough on my viper

 

[Ortikon]

thnks for you both

Well, Stressed I installed 4 units of them, 10 cells each (leaves me 40 refills!). Why? I got a mission to kill some pirate, 128k worth.... that patatoe nealy nailed my asp to dust, it was an anaconda and went out of shield cells! But to be honest, I was a bit under panic... didn't fought since weeks, and the ASP was just 5 minutes 'old' Had eanough to recover it IF I failed, but I finally got him down! My hull off 50%, 95k repair costs : shock So now i'm the sure side

I failed my first 120k+ mission, had to leave with my tail between my legs. It took an overall better fitting to beat one. Default Asp is not combat ready until a few more million is dumped on it.
The A rating stuff is not necessary, but at least some D and C's where it counts.
The Cell bank did help a lot on my second time around, but I noticed I didn't really need to use it as badly as the first try would have helped.

My priority upgrades at least up from stock on the Asp is:
1. Power distributor, get as quality as you can. Nothing like good shield and boost charge.
2. Shields better than the starting shield.
3. Power Generator, just because you have to at this point.
3.5 Thrusters because I would have got them before power generator.
Now your ship will stay alive as a trade vessel.
4. Get 'ur gunz!

 

[adoredtv]

Yup I realised this too late to save myself while doing my latest video. I toyed with the idea of a fire group for both on each button but in the end I was able to take the Conda down in my Eagle with 8 Cells used out of 9 in the B2.

They'll get nerfed soon enough so try not to get too attached to them.

 

[excalibus]

just set them up as fire groups... I have 3 cells, and so I have 3 firegroups containing my shield depleting weapons on primary and cells on secondary, then 1 group with all weapons on primary and my last cell (smallest) on secondary 1 more group with my weapons split on primary and secondary for lasers and cannons respectively...

works a treat no need to manage power to modules mid flight and at the flick of a button I have a shield cell on secondary ready to go

 

[fergal]

Shield Cell Recharge amount vs Shield Strength

I'm not looking for a debate on whether shield cells are overpowered or balanced, lots of other threads for that.

The actual differences between the different grades of shield cells, and their effect on different ships should be looked at.

On a viper with an A3 shield, an A3 shield cell recharges up over 80% of the shield.
The A2 shield cell charges about 66% of the A3 shield.
A1 does under 50%, probably over 33%.

This doesn't hold true for other ships though.
A c4 shield on a cobra is nearly or fully charged with an A2 shield cell.

You should have to match the shield grade and size to be able to get the same kind of recharge, eg. c4 shield cell on a c4 shield.

I don't own an asp or python, has anyone tried an A6 shield with some shield cells? What size/quality is required to get nearly a full charge back?

 

[Wolf Starslayer]

I've been using A5 shield with B3 cell , seem to do about 60-70%, I had the A6 with a B5 and that seemed to do about 80%, but didn't like the extra time the A6 took to come back up if the shield dropped.
Even using the cells I had a python strip me bare and take out my canopy,22% hull(military) and i'm runnin 4 me life .

 

[Bokugo]

I think class is strength of recharge and rating is amount of charges. But I could be wrong/there might be much more