I like the idea, however I feel like higher shield values will nearly always be preferable because of the volley/burst damage nature of the game. In my current game I have some large ships with some large shields and in most fights the regeneration isn't a big deal. I think it's 2 points per 5s increment. If that dropped to say 0.5 points but I get 25-50% more shields out of it, I'd be pushing over 1k in shielding value.. Just not sure how well this idea would balance out in the game especially as you move up in generator size and the bonuses it gives.

It would be significant if Rapid Reloading ASMs were any good, they've definitely received some buffs but I think the reduced size launchers focused around the alpha strike still is way more potent where the regeneration wouldn't really come in to play. After all, the Alpha-Strike^TM is what a lot of modern missile doctrine is based around, courtesy of point defense.

The niche were regen shields could be preferable is if you get stuck in a gauss (maybe railgun?) knife fight or you're a particle beam/lance fleet going up against lasers at long range, so there is definitely some tactical space for regen over capacity.

Pretty cool idea, there's an example of that in the Last Angel series by ProximalFlame the Compact has all-around shields which are super tough but take a long time to come back up once taken down (though good luck taking them down at all) while their primary rivals have layered mini-shields that go down super easy but come back up near instantly, with most factions have sectional shields that are in between durability and recharge time.

Thinking maybe recharge rates should be much lower than 2x recharge time for increased capacity. Against box launchers/reduced rate launchers you'll still fully recharge most likely. Perhaps the recharge rate can follow the same progression as reduced rate launchers, up to 100x recharge time? And then a shield that doesn't recharge at all outside of hangars/maintenance facilities?

Box shields? :-)

 ---Well if you scroll up a bit, you'll find that upon double checking my work, the High-Capacity Shields would have a 3x recharge rate, not 2x.

Quote from: Zap0 on December 08, 2023, 08:34:00 PM

Box shields? :-)

Armor, but better, when shields are already better than armor at a high enough tech level? Somehow I don't see this making its way into the game...

It's even bettererer when you consider fighter suseptibility to shock damage (IIRC shield hits don't proc shock).

Box shields could make sense, call them shield capacitors and they are a shield charged by the base/mothership before launch and which cannot be recharged at all . Could be interesting in making more durable fighters

Hooray! I did a communicate!

Quote from: xenoscepter on December 08, 2023, 01:19:36 PM

   - With a -50% Recharge and +50% Capacity, what would have been a 20 second recharge with a Standard Shield of 100 Capacity would be a 40 second recharge with 150 Capacity.

This is still not how shield recharge works. The -50% recharge/+50% capacity shield would take 60 seconds to recharge, because the recharge rate is defined in terms of shield points regenerated per 300 seconds, not in terms of percentage of shield regenerated.

 --- No, you're still not understanding me. A -50% Recharge shield, regardless of how it worked under the hood, would only regenerate at HALF the rate of Standard shield. So mechanically, it would recharge in terms of shield points regenerated per 150 seconds. So a Standard Shield with 300 Shield Points would take 5 seconds to recharge, but a High-Capacity version of it would have 450 Shield Points and take 15 Seconds to fully recharge at -50%/+50% Shield Tuning Tech. Because it tanks the recharge rate of the shield... like I said. Oddly enough, my initial math was wrong as well, and it would seem it does not double, but rather TRIPLE the recharge time in practice.

 --- So if we assume that, "recharge rate is defined in terms of shield points regenerated per 300 seconds" Then the High-Capacity Shields, would recharge at a rate of:
   - 270 @-10%/+10% Shield Tuning
   - 255 @-15%/+15% Shield Tuning
   - 225 @-25%/+25% Shield Tuning
   - 210 @-30%/+30% Shield Tuning
   - 180 @-40%/+40% Shield Tuning
   - 165 @-45%/+45% Shield Tuning
   - 150 @-50%/+50% Shield Tuning

 --- Do you understand what I am saying now? Or...

Quote from: xenoscepter on December 08, 2023, 01:19:36 PM

   - Incidentally, these would indirectly buff Meson Cannons, as a shield-ignoring weapon would become that much more useful~

I think you meant to say microwaves, unless I've missed/forgotten something mesons ignore armor, not shields.

Mesons now ignore shields, but only have an attenuation chance to pass through armor.

As an aside what are everyones thoughts regarding the old absorption shields? My understanding was instead of the shield having a capacity it would instead reduce incoming damage by some %, effectively working in tandem with armour.

It is about time the Invaders got their scary and unique features back.