Bubble Shields or Hull Shields (ones that form roughly the shape of the hull)?

[USS_Parallax]

The shows seems to use whatever it feels is cooler at the moment. There are a few theories to the difference but I think this game should have both and create some new lore as to the differences and their strengths and weaknesses respectively.

[XE]

The shows seems to use whatever it feels is cooler at the moment. There are a few theories to the difference but I think this game should have both and create some new lore as to the differences and their strengths and weaknesses respectively.

Agreed. I would imagine some of the more agile, stealthier craft may use a Hull Shield with the concept being that it would wrap itself around the hull to be more streamlined and less conspicuous.

As far as the Bubble Shield, I could see it being employed in some of the larger vessels where multipile Run - About hangars and docks etc would have to be within it's sphere of protection rather than simply the ship itself.

[Cyjack]

I think the shape/nature of the shield was always an indication of how much power was being pumped into it. If you had the power, you could pump more into the shields and extend them farther from the ship. Low powered shields deflated much more closely to the contours of the ship. Some later ships were so powerful they could extend their shields over other nearby craft.

Perhaps theres a qualitative component to doing one or the other...Farther away is less powerful, but provides better inertial protection...closer shields are more dense but allow more force transfer.


I dont know...thats just my own rationalization. It would be cool if such considerations made it into the game though, and we could tweak our shield output when we upgrade to better ones better ones.

[UnknownX11]

I may be completely wrong, but if I remember correctly the TNG era shields are the bubble type while TOS era had the more form fitting shield config. I'm up for either or both as long as it makes sense.

Although my favorite would be the bubble type.:)

*Edited for spelling mistake.

[Kinneas]

facing shields

tactics tactics tactics

[UnknownX11]

I did find a little info on the wiki (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Shields), but not much.

"There are at least two different shield configurations commonly used by starships. One type projects an ellipsoid shield bubble around the ship in addition to a relatively large region directly adjacent to the ship. In the other shield configuration, a contour-conforming shield layer is projected a few meters outside the main hull.

The ellipsoid shield configuration isn't shown until the 24th century. Though shield harmonics can be adjusted to change the shape of shields of the 24th century, it is unclear if ships could produce both shield configurations.
Certain starships have a shield system advanced enough to allow protection of only specific areas of the ship while leaving other areas unprotected. This is useful in times when power reserves are low. Lowering portions of the shields also allows usage of transporters without completely sacrificing the protection that shields provide.

[Raven0238]

I am definitely in favor of Bubble Shields...the elimination of Bubble Shields, at least in DS9 was due to budgetary reasons. I have also always noticed that ships take MORE damage with form fitting shields...

[USS_Parallax]

In my mind (which doesn't actually matter) Bubble shields probably protect the hull better but drain faster. Hull shields might last longer but risk more hull damage. Mattering on the type of weapons you're against or what kind of Nebula or anything you fly through different shield types would be used. The differences would probably be more then that though.

[Cyjack]

I can't wait to customize my ship's shields. This game needs to come out like tomorrow.

[Capt._D]

It could also be possible that the more dated ships have the “bubble” shield where as the newer ships have the “hull hugging” variation.

[KO_Gilligan]

Bubble or form fitting? :eek: :eek: :eek:

My god this isn't a bra...

Two terms I've heard (although not entirely canon)

Proximity Shielding would be the bubble (web definition of proximity: region close around a person or thing )

and the obvious one

Contour Shielding is of course form fitting :D

[USS_Parallax]

Voyager I think (not sure) shows both of these shields at different times in different episodes.

Plus I must add looking at the picture above the forums it seems bubbles are at least in which is understandable. I'd hope for 'em both.

[CaptainRAVE]

The shows seems to use whatever it feels is cooler at the moment. There are a few theories to the difference but I think this game should have both and create some new lore as to the differences and their strengths and weaknesses respectively.

I would prefer bubble shields to no shields. But hull shields look cooler imo.

[Mjoellnir]

I would like to have both. The problem with shield bubbles is that they are even hit by shots that would've missed your hull, but they are nice if you want to protect other ships.

[Vladan]

I would actually prefer "form fitting" ones. Bubble shields are so 24th century.

[grimmage]

Was it necessary to resurrect this long dead thread?

This thread was dead for two years.

Stop Necromancy.

[CaptainRAVE]

It is a good debate (also, it isn't dead anymore!). I still think they should implement hull shields.

[Kunari]

The shows seems to use whatever it feels is cooler at the moment. There are a few theories to the difference but I think this game should have both and create some new lore as to the differences and their strengths and weaknesses respectively.

Well bubble vs "hull shield" was more about the technology/budget of the special effects available more than "what felt cooler". TOS era didn't have the tech for any shield effect (or budget), TNG had the budget but not the tech fur Hull Shield. Now with CGI they can do either one.

I don't really care which one, they seem to have gone with bubble and I'm good with that. If it's a client-side option so YOU see which one you want I'm good with it.

[Skud]

Was it necessary to resurrect this long dead thread?

This thread was dead for two years.

Stop Necromancy.bring up an old thread people complain about thread necro, make a new thread on the subject and people complain about not using the search function.

you just cant win

[kragen2179]

from the latest trailer it would seem that bubble shields are the way forward.

[Vagarner]

I don't like how, in the new trailer, the disruptors are going through the bubble shield and hitting the hull anyway. If they are going to have bubble shields, then the weapons should stop at the bubble impact.

I always thought the type of shield picked was based on budget and technology available.


The low point for me was in Undiscovered Country when the cloaked BoP fired a torpedo that literally went through the saucer. In one of the next scenes, they mentioned that the Enterprise's shields were at X%. I'm sorry. No. If a torpedo just went through your saucer, you don't have any shields.


Hull shields aren't actually shields at all unless they absorb damage prior to hitting the hull.


I don't have a preference as long as they make some kind of shield flickering effect and damage is absorbed at the point of impact.


Edit: Fixed a contraction.

[drknecro]

For the sake of helping people sleep better, perhaps the act of penetrating the shields makes the fire that impacts the armor or hull weakened to the point that it is only a light show, an impotent flash.

[Collapsingstar]

Bubble shields all the way. The bigger the visual difference between shield impacts and hull impacts the better.