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Shields: what is up with them?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited March 2010 in The Academy
Maybe someone here can help me with a problem I am having. My shields suck. They do not regenrate properly. Most of the time when they do regen even out of combat they only regen to 50%. This is even when I allocate all power to defenses (such as shields) I have even manually set shields to 100%. I use the shield boost to get them higher and usually it takes them up and then they go back down.

Is there something I am missing? Am I not using my power allocation properly? Do I have a sucky shield generator?

I am curious about this. I have reported this numerous times as a bug but I am not sure it is a bug. I certainly havent seen any other complaints on the forums about it so my only conclusion is that I must be doing something wrong, or maybe it is my shield generator.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Are you using any of the regen shield buttons or clickables?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I normally go into battle with power allocation set to defense or attack. Both have the same effect. Once the shields have been beaten down their regen is slow, which is to be expected. But they will only regen up to 50% then they stop.

    I push the emergency power to shields on my Bridge officer power and the shields regenerate up a little bit but then they go back down to 50%. It is almost like I have the power allocation set to 50% on the shields but I normally have them set to 100%.

    This even occurs when I am out of combat. It takes them a while to finally regen all the way to 100%. Sometimes they wont regen. They sit at 50%.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    As I recall, regen rate is related to power. 50% gets you 1x, 75% 2x, and 100% 3x. Someone can correct me if I’ve messed this up, but this should be roughly correct. Therefore, selecting Defense (100% shields) with Regen shields gets you a LOT of regeneration since they multiply with each other.

    Look at the regen rate – they vary a lot. Covariant are high power shields, low regen. Regen shields (obviously) are low power but high regen. Which you pick depends on preference. In my early ships I generally pick Resilient to limit bleed to my weak hull. Later ships I like Covariant, but by then I have quite a few shield buff tricks. But then I play science ships, which get a great shield bonus (better than cruisers, as I recall).

    You can also try other shield management techniques. For instance, roughly equalize your shields then do Emergency Power to Shields – you get more bang for your buck. Rotate shields also enhances regen. Science Team gets you a very nice shield regen and shield damage mitigation for a time. I also cap ‘equalize shields’ (center of ship icon in bottom center of display) to goose shield building. I’m not quite sure if this helps, but it makes me feel better!

    Use maneuver, too. If you have a decent regen then turning a fresh shield means your enemy will have a hard time hulling you. And while you’re spinning around pasting him with your wide-arc weapons (and your aft torp!) his forward shields are getting whacked. Combine this with a 2xRegen Regenerative shields, 100%+ to shields, shield boosting (emerg power, Sci Team, Rotate shields), and a few key shield boosting consoles and you can laugh maniacally at your opponent’s frustration.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I have played around with shield allocations to direct power to forward, aft, right, and left. I have also distributed equally and sometimes I can get them to go past 50% but it usually goes back down to 50% when I distribute equally.

    It is as though I have clicked a setting somewhere to only power up 50% but I am un aware of any setting like that.

    I do use turning manuevers to allow my shields to regen. I also use shield allocation alot. I can usually make it through most Pve combat situations. However I am toast when it comes to PvP.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Ok, in any major endurance fight, be it pve or pvp, right before you fire your first volley at your enemy, pre buff yourself with your highest rank of emergency power to shields and a science team. This will reduce the amount of damage your shields take for the next 30 seconds. The EPtS will also buff your shield power level, increasing its natural regen. Having them up before you take any shots is much better then reacting to shield damage.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    EPtS for me is a constant. I use it from the second before I enter combat to the second I exit combat. This is the only thing that really keeps me fighting. That and tucking tale and running when I get too much damage.

    BTW thank you to everyone that has replied so far. Every little bit of information helps! :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I fear the has been a misunderstanding...

    I think that the op is saying that the shield CAPACITY (that is, their HP) for some reason is fixed at 50% of their max value, regardless of the power setting or abilities. Even if for some moments they go up to above 50%, they soon get back down to it.

    Am I understanding correctly?

    If yes it is a bug, and has to be reported. Have you tried changing shields? Or just removing them for a moment and placing them back in? Also check your ship's character sheet and see at the shield values (not in sector space): do they match the nominal value for the shields? Also, is the number shown something like 3500/3500 or 1750/3500? I'm thinking it may be only a display issue, but best check to be sure.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    GeckoOBac wrote: »
    I fear the has been a misunderstanding...

    I think that the op is saying that the shield CAPACITY (that is, their HP) for some reason is fixed at 50% of their max value, regardless of the power setting or abilities. Even if for some moments they go up to above 50%, they soon get back down to it.

    Am I understanding correctly?

    If yes it is a bug, and has to be reported. Have you tried changing shields? Or just removing them for a moment and placing them back in? Also check your ship's character sheet and see at the shield values (not in sector space): do they match the nominal value for the shields? Also, is the number shown something like 3500/3500 or 1750/3500? I'm thinking it may be only a display issue, but best check to be sure.

    This is correct however I have had this problem since I started. I have reported it numerous times. I have upgraded my shields numerous times and the problem has followed me all the way. I am currently Lt. Comm with a cruiser. This problem has occured on all of my ships so it is not bugged to just one ship. (I have the enterprise model too, I realize that at my level I should only have two ships but I actually have the classic enterprise as well so I have three)

    I do believe this to be a bug and not a setting. I am just wondering if anyone else has had these issues. I will try to remove the shield and replace it. I will also see if I can purchase a new shield component and see if the problem goes away, as long as I can find one that is "reasonably" priced which may be a challenge seeing how a lot of people dream of riches and caviar.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    djdouglas wrote: »
    This is correct however I have had this problem since I started. I have reported it numerous times. I have upgraded my shields numerous times and the problem has followed me all the way. I am currently Lt. Comm with a cruiser. This problem has occured on all of my ships so it is not bugged to just one ship. (I have the enterprise model too, I realize that at my level I should only have two ships but I actually have the classic enterprise as well so I have three)

    I do believe this to be a bug and not a setting. I am just wondering if anyone else has had these issues. I will try to remove the shield and replace it. I will also see if I can purchase a new shield component and see if the problem goes away, as long as I can find one that is "reasonably" priced which may be a challenge seeing how a lot of people dream of riches and caviar.

    Just buy one from the vendor, they're good enough for pve until you drop something better. Or do some exploration missions and grab one with the badges.

    Strange bug though, first time I hear it. It DEFINITELY is a bug, like I said it MAY be a display issue (IE you are actually getting full health but it displays 100% as 50%), but since you said that it goes over 50% when healed by things like EPtS I think the issue may be something else altogether.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    It really sounds like a bug, nothing you are doing wrong on your part. Keep putting tickets in, it could be that your character itself is somehow messed up. Might want to try also making an alt up just to see if the problem follows you over there. If it doesn't, then something is wrong with whatever data makes up your main character. If it does follow you to your alt, then I would go and double check all of your shield settings or whatever just to make sure you didn't hit some off the wall option somewhere.

    Hope that helps.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Having a runabout has caused lots of issues too. Get rid of it and see if that fixes the problem.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I'd love to see a screenshot of your shield and power levels displays, as well as the tooltip for the specific shield that you're having problems with.

    If it's small enough (i.e. crop out the relevant areas in Paint or some other program), you should be able to just attach it to a post here.
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