Ablative Force Field Altenative

[Brett]

I was wondering why TUV and SH do not seem to have options for force fields or walls that are weakened by attacks and then are directly recharged by a set recovery rate or by spending END.

For example, A 50 ED force wall on a starship gets hit by a laser cannon for 30 Body, so now it is down to 20 ED until recharged (either at a steady rate of recovery or by using the ships power source and using energy that may be needed elsewhere). This seems more like the way shields work in most Science Fiction movies like Star Wars or Star Trek (or at least the computer games based of these movies).

[Steve Long]

Since this isn't a rules question, I've moved it to "HERO System Discussion" so that those who wish to can comment.

[Farkling]

Somebody ahd this discussion earlier...I wa in part of it...but we were talking about "Doc" Smith Space Opera of the Skylark/Lensmen variety.

I picture it more like "Layered" force walls, even in Star Trek's case. When that first wall (deflector) fails, the secondary soaks it up. Structural integrity fields are force fields or Aid overlaying the entire ship...or maybe even a low level regeneration (the original Voyager concept comes to mind)

Then re-establishing the deflectors is an aspect of rebuilding/repairing/reactivating the force wall. Extra Time limitations, and "requires engineering skill roll"....or else the generators take BODY from feedback and need repaired...some mechanic of this nature is completely valid.

Once those Star Trek deflectors go down there is always an activation time to fire them back up::

Lt Torres:: "Captain, the rear deflector shields can't absorb much more damage. The self-repair functions are already at their limit from the portside shield failure. The hull plating and structural integrity fields won't absorb that kind of punishment either." (my housemate likes Voyager. I like the Doctor)

Geordi LaForge:: "It'll take me at least 15 minutes to get the port shield generators back online captain" (watched a lot of these when I was in England. We got them shipped to us.)

Scotty:: "I canniblized the control circuits from the backup warp generator to rebuild the deflector controls. She canna take much more a this captain" (Dad raised us on these reruns)

[Farkling]

The approach that more closley mimics your ideas is something that I think Killer Shrike might have posted...about "extra BODY" bought as a "field/screen" effect. Then there is a tangible number to manipulate.

I think that approach would lend to the deflector generators granting Aid to the "intangible" BODY points...and allows for a better representation of "Shields at 30% Captain"

[Farkling]

Found the thread. Here you go.

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6474

The observation about force fields in here is completely valid, and should by all means be considered as an alternative to the force walls for point effectiveness.

There's all my contributions....happy hunting.

[Jeff]

It was suggested in another thread and another context, but a different approach to take to such fields might be an Entangle with personal immunity, used to generate a field attacks have to bust down before they can start getting to you but that you can shoot through freely and do not hinder your own mobility, courtesy of the personal immunity advantage. Recharging them is a matter of "firing" the Entangle again once it's down, or to reinforce its BODY if it's damaged but not yet destroyed. You can get a directional aspect - shields fore, aft, port, starboard, over and under - getting individual projectors each with 60 degree coverage for a -1 limitation and doubling their number up to a suitable amount for +5 points a doubling.

[Ndreare]

Originally posted by Jeff
It was suggested in another thread and another context, but a different approach to take to such fields might be an Entangle with personal immunity, used to generate a field attacks have to bust down before they can start getting to you but that you can shoot through freely and do not hinder your own mobility, courtesy of the personal immunity advantage. Recharging them is a matter of "firing" the Entangle again once it's down, or to reinforce its BODY if it's damaged but not yet destroyed. You can get a directional aspect - shields fore, aft, port, starboard, over and under - getting individual projectors each with 60 degree coverage for a -1 limitation and doubling their number up to a suitable amount for +5 points a doubling.


I like this way and think It will actualy be able to simulate the "Star Treck" slieled Fore Fields I like. It is so simple yet complete in all the rules.