RE: [FT] Shields or not

On Saturday, December 22, 2001 2:44 PM, Jaime Tiampo
[SMTP:fugu@spikyfishthing.com] wrote:
> Here's a question for all the vac heads out there. At which point do
you
> consider it cost effective to put shields on ships? 50mass? 80mass?
Only
> if it's planning on getting into beam range?

It's most effective when you hit 15 hull.
Reasons?  Before this point, 3 armour is more effective; after this
point
the 0.2 per die reduction in beam damage makes screens more attractive,
but
the break point shifts as the ship size goes up.  Screen-2 effectively
has
0.3 per die reduction.

Screen-1
Mass 60 = 3 mass screen vs 3 armour = 15 hull break point
Mass 80 = 4 mass screen vs 4 armour = 20 hull break point
Mass 100 = 5 mass screen vs 5 armour = 25 hull break point etc.

Screen-2
Mass 60 = 6 mass screen vs 6 armour = 20 hull break point
Mass 80  = 8 mass screen vs 8 armour = 27 hull break point
Mass 100 = 10 mass screen vs 10 armour = 33 hull break point etc

Even with the break point, it comes down to whether to put more into
defences or offensive armament.  Every mass you spend on screens or
armour
is one less mass to spend on guns, so you have to balance it with your
play
style.

Brendan