Shield recharger

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:42 am

For a while, I had been wandering the void with a shield recharger and a stealth generator. I would switch between the two, depending on the mission, always putting the other in my cargo.

However, I have recently sold my shield recharger because it just does not help me much in combat. I find that when I'm firing on a target, and the target is firing back, my cannons are suddenly empty because the shields are recharging from the cannon energy.

THe net effect is that it prolongs the battle by preventing me from having enough cannon energy to finish off the opponent before his shields recharge.

Additionally, if I need to make a quick jump out, I cannot do so until my shields are fully recharged which, of course, defeats the point of jumping out.

So, does anyone else get much use out of these devices, or is my experience fairly typical?

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:49 am

You hit it dead on!:)

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:50 am

Yep, it is useless for combat but great for exploring to give you that extra protection...the Shield recharger that is......

:P

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:13 am

I use it all the time ... but you gotta adjust your settings to compensate.

TGS · Post by **TGS** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:25 am

Honestly I really really wish there was a "activate" button on this device. It is really frustrating to try to use on the basis that it is always on. It being "always on" means it really hampers your ability to use other things.

I don't know if this has changed but I noticed that it would seriously limit the ability to use the stealth generator because it would be constantly trying to recharge the shields whilst they were down due to the stealth generator. Kind of a catch 22.

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:18 pm

Yes, you wouldn't use both at the same time, normally, though both together will give you a few seconds of stealth, if you need it.

Ophiuchus · Post by **Ophiuchus** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 5:58 pm

Hey TGS and Nigel S. Here is something to consider for the shield recharger and the stealth generator. Both do not work equally well together, for several reasons specific to their design and application functions. TGS - try using the recharger with your shield strngth at -3 and wepons at +3. These are the settings I use with a shield recharger installed (Starmaster frame, both cgo/cmbt templates: C-9 shld on cgo, C-10 shld on cmbt), and appear to be doing something right,

. Nigel - the stealth generator works off of the installed shield core and shield booster units on the frame you fly, to create a stealth field. This field cloaks the ship visually, and prevents it from being detected on sensors. With an installed shield recharger and a stealth generator, the stealth capability is severely drawn down to mere seconds, by the stealth gen trying to "do" its job; all the while the shield recharger is trying to keep your shields at max amps or whatever. Without the shield recharger, stealth times increase to about 5 minutes, maybe 3 or so depending on power regulation. Using the stealth gen, you might want to zero out shield and weapon power supplies, or experiment with the shld/wpns power settings; betcha get better results.

[Edited on 2-14-2011 by Ophiuchus]

[Edited on 2-14-2011 by Ophiuchus]

Post by **DaveK** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:28 pm

Sounds like the one shot stealth/cloaking field devices might be better with a shield array recharger, except that I have an excalibur at last (for exploring in places where no missile salesperson has gone before) so no spare weapons slots!

An on/off switch on the shield recharger would be ideal - I wonder how hard it would be for Vice to arrange!

Post by **DaveK** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:31 pm

Hey TGS and Nigel S. Here is something to consider for the shield recharger and the stealth generator. Both do not work equally well together, for several reasons specific to their design and application functions. TGS - try using the recharger with your shield strngth at -3 and wepons at +3. These are the settings I use with a shield recharger installed (Starmaster frame, both cgo/cmbt templates: C-9 shld on cgo, C-10 shld on cmbt), and appear to be doing something right, . Nigel - the stealth generator works off of the installed shield core and shield booster units on the frame you fly, to create a stealth field. This field cloaks the ship visually, and prevents it from being detected on sensors. With an installed shield recharger and a stealth generator, the stealth capability is severely drawn down to mere seconds, by the stealth gen trying to "do" its job; all the while the shield recharger is trying to keep your shields at max amps or whatever. Without the shield recharger, stealth times increase to about 5 minutes, maybe 3 or so depending on power regulation. Using the stealth gen, you might want to zero out shield and weapon power supplies, or experiment with the shld/wpns power settings; betcha get better results.

I didn't realise that you could play with relative energy allocations! Is the info in the guide?:)

Ophiuchus · Post by **Ophiuchus** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:38 pm

Hey Dave, your shield and weapons energy allocation buttons are the "[" for shields, and "]" for the weapons; default keyboard key bindings. Yes, the info is in the guide (tutorial too), as well as the keyboard quick reference jpeg (printable) from the instructions. Sorry if preaching to the converted.

Post by **DaveK** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:48 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm about to go on a long holiday tour exploring a route that seems to be tourist free at the moment. I'd rather have extra fuel capacity than two conflicting bits of equipment and i don't think that I'll be near a shipyard once I set off, so I need to experiment and get it right before I set off!

Anyway, feel free to preach - I read the guide very carefully, but a long time ago - well about year ago actually . At that time a lot of the more interesting technology was put onto my wishlist (actually "in my dreams") and so the details didn't really register!

Presumably if I "up" the shield allocation it "downs" the weapons - if not, where does the extra energy come from?

I still think that if Vice could/would code in an on/off switch for the shields it would be really cool and simple to use!

I'll send you a postcard if I find a postbox!

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:09 pm

From post: 102308, Topic: tid=7270, author=DaveK wrote:Thanks for the quick reply. I'm about to go on a long holiday tour exploring a route that seems to be tourist free at the moment. I'd rather have extra fuel capacity than two conflicting bits of equipment and i don't think that I'll be near a shipyard once I set off, so I need to experiment and get it right before I set off!

Anyway, feel free to preach - I read the guide very carefully, but a long time ago - well about year ago actually . At that time a lot of the more interesting technology was put onto my wishlist (actually "in my dreams") and so the details didn't really register!

Presumably if I "up" the shield allocation it "downs" the weapons - if not, where does the extra energy come from?

I still think that if Vice could/would code in an on/off switch for the shields it would be really cool and simple to use!

I'll send you a postcard if I find a postbox!

Take a builder with you (mounted) and you can build a station when you want to swithch things around and/or get fuel.

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:33 pm

From post: 102308, Topic: tid=7270, author=DaveK wrote:I'm about to go on a long holiday tour exploring a route that seems to be tourist free at the moment.

Please take a Build Constructor with you and erect a station wherever you find an uncharted star or planet. That way, the rest of us explorers, should we come across that system, will know it's already been discovered.

Ophiuchus · Post by **Ophiuchus** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 12:39 am

Hey Dave - cpy what TBird and Marv said, re: taking along a build constructor.

Update on my last. Not surprised at the lack of readily available info on shield/weapons power management details. Except for the EM training vids, I have only found it mentioned once in the Evochron Legends Strategy Guide, under "Shield Systems - Arrays, Cores, and Boosters"{Pg 23 or so} - full-page w/graphics and a rather healthy paragraph on same. [EL Strat Guide: Available in the SW forum under the Evochron Mercenary slice, or on SeeJay/MapMan's website(s)]. Dave, there is no "extra" energy. What energy you do have, is provided by your engine/ship systems power core combined output. That energy per se, is managed by the ship systems along with "pilot" input, specifically the shield/weapons power management toggles. What "energy" you use for weapons is that "energy" not available to shields, which you can balance or bias as you are disposed. Hope this helps.

Post by **DaveK** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:48 am

Thank you to the three of you. I've got a deploy constructor already, but I'll change if for a build one when I explore in MP - neat idea for flagging newly discovered systems.

I have some free cargo bays so in SP I can pop the Stealth generator into "store" until I think that it's needed. I quite like the ability of the construct builder to create a shielded zone and sensors. Build constructors in SP don't seem as useful as in MP - when I'm exploring I'm not too worried about improving local conditions - that's for the pioneers who might like to follow on

Thinks . . . I could pop a build constructor into a cargo bay as well

Thanks for the info on [ and ] ! I'll experiment with a bit of combat before I set off since I can always find a fight in Pearl!. As Griefer says in another thread, I am very effective at bringing peace there - everyone (and it does feel like everyone) stops scrapping with each other and chases me - even the Navy! (Don't they talk to the Navy in other systems - I'm very popular in Sapphire!)

:P:P

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:00 am

I wouldn't change the deploy device to a construct. Install both.

When in a hostile area it might help to deploy a "shield-bubble" before building stations and
stay in there during the build time (Not moving) to keep you alive.

Good luck and contribute to the map if you wish. Remember to name systems after the star location
and not the surrounding planets location.

You might wanna use the new map where you can locally add objects on the fly, if you don't
prefer Atollskis great program.

Have fun out there.

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:53 pm

When exploring, I usually have the Build constructor attached. This is because I have lots of cash and, when I run low on gas, don't mind building trade stations out in the boondocks ... where even I will probably never, ever find them again. But, when I find an uncharted system, I first build a station at every planet in the system ... and then, before taking a contract, dock at one of the stations and switch over to the Deploy constructor I've been carrying around in the cargo hold.

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:11 pm

I quite like to have the stealth generator fitted when exploring - there's nothing more having a stream of reds interrupting your wandering time or station building. I'd also say that exploring is best when you have others flying with you!

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:38 pm

From post: 102373, Topic: tid=7270, author=Atollski wrote:I quite like to have the stealth generator fitted when exploring - there's nothing more having a stream of reds interrupting your wandering time or station building. I'd also say that exploring is best when you have others flying with you!

I load the deployer B4 I go out and if in Red space I stop about 400 units out from spot for my station, deploy shield array and move in about 400 units then build my station in peace.