Energy Shield

[David-CZ]

What type of target is it, a structure? And what damage modifiers does it have?

http://youtu.be/yO_6MXvH-kM?t=6m30s

In the first 10 seconds of the video there are two shields that go down. It seems the second one went down faster thanks to the flamer so I assume it behaves like a structure.

[Wise Windu]

It's armor type 'infantry', unit type 'energy_shield'.

It pretty much grants 100% damage reduction against everything.

[Asmon]

Yeah its armor is light infantry which means flamers will down them in a blink. It has 100% ranged damage reduction on both side, including aoe damage like grenades.

[Torpid]

They also consume manticore rockets.

[Lost Son of Nikhel]

One question: the Energy Shield gives 100% ranged damage protection until the Energy Shield "die" (HP reach 0) or until the "shield" effect/graphic is on?

Because I was rewatching a replay and I saw a Dire Avenger squad was covered by a Energy Shield and they were receiving sniper fire. Then the Energy Shield reached 50-60 hp and the "shield" graphic effect disappeared, and the snipers took two Dire Avengers models.

[David-CZ]

I guess if the shot's damage is let's say 150 and the shield's HP 50 then 100 damage gets through even though the visual effect indicates otherwise most likely due to the animation of dissipation being triggered after the HP reaches 0.

In fact this is an issue of various abilities of similar nature. Take HT's invulnerability for instance. Because the dissipation animation takes place after the timer reaches its limit it makes it dificult for the player to tell whether the ability is still active or not.

[Torpid]

IIRC the shield will dissipate before it reaches 0 energy and it will grant no protection at that point. However if you cease shooting the shield it will eventually regenerate its energy past that point and protect stuff again. If it ever does reach 0 energy the shield will be destroyed and a new one has to be placed. Unfortunately I don't know what level of energy that point is specifically at...

[David-CZ]

I see, I didn't know that. If anyone knows the exact numbers let us know.

[Torpid]

Just tested it and the shield dissipates at around 140 energy.

[Helios]

I thought cover bonus was directional. Why the hell don't grenades or manticore rockets placed behind them damage units? Or does the manticore/unit that threw the grenade have to originally have been behind the shield for it to work?

[David-CZ]

It says directional in the tooltip but AFAIK it has always worked both ways.

Regarding the granades and such I think as long as the unit is in green cover it won't take any damage. This would explain why it works both ways. My guess is the game checks if the unit is under the effect of green cover provided by the shield and if so transfers the damage to the shield regardless of where the unit actually stands.

[Batpimp]

It says directional in the tooltip but AFAIK it has always worked both ways.

Regarding the granades and such I think as long as the unit is in green cover it won't take any damage. This would explain why it works both ways. My guess is the game checks if the unit is under the effect of green cover provided by the shield and if so transfers the damage to the shield regardless of where the unit actually stands.

Yup I learned the hard way that grenades don't do jack to units behind energy shields. Now I use it against my foes and steal their shield, when I can, and I can safely ignore nades from DA's

[David-CZ]

It's ridiculous sometimes. Nades are kind of acceptable but in Indrid's latest cast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyExjnYTFPU you can see it deflects nukes as well. I don't remember the exact time and I'm too lazy to search for it, sorry.

[Nuclear Arbitor]

~~28:50

[Indrid]

Seems to be one of those things that people just accept now. I'm sure if the energy shield was not in retail but implemented in Elite, people would cry about how it absorbs grenades (even if they are thrown behind the shield) and nukes etc.

[BaptismByLoli]

Seems to be one of those things that people just accept now. I'm sure if the energy shield was not in retail but implemented in Elite, people would cry about how it absorbs grenades (even if they are thrown behind the shield) and nukes etc.

Well...
Some might argue that DA early game are quite fragile and would use the fact that GM can build covers but not DA and ask for some kind of change had the Energy Shield not been implemented in Retail

[Torpid]

I think Indrid meant they would complain about the energy shield's protection from explosive damage, not normal damage.

[BaptismByLoli]

Ouh... Derp :p