Infantry. We aren't discussing Gv.0 vs. Cv.0

The HAV issue on shields is the fitting nerf.

We're discussing the systemic imbalance between infantry shields and armor. The imbalance is not as wide as a lot of people claim but it does exist.

Armor is not exponentially better.

most players adhere to the more HP>all theory of fitting.

Shields are excellent skirmishers and long range combatants. The weapons racially matched to shields tend to have good range, excellent optimal damage and generous falloff.

Weapons assigned racially to armor tend to be harder to employ, have shorter range or significantly worse falloff stats and are intended for use on a shorter range or limited movement platform.

Shields in turn, when running against armor past 40 meters, tend to hold an advantage, being able to duck and recover much more rapidly. This is not a brawler trait. It was never intended to be a brawler trait.

However the anemic ranges of almost all weapons and the extreme prevalence of circumstance which encourages CQC play absolutely dictate that brawling is the meta.

It wasn't until after release when armor received a few key buffs that shields fell out of favor.

Armor is not superior. It is easier to use, and thus doesn't require as much tactical awareness.

Does that mean shields are the most awesome thing?

No. But I'd start with removing extender penalties before trying to plug in multiple or severe buffs. Having the pendulum full swing yhe other way is a horrendous idea.

sHP: low HP, high recharge. Recharge delay.
aHP: high HP, low repair. No repair delay.

Good shield tanking is abusing high recharge, by lowering the delay as much as possible whilst adding a small buffer to have acceptable eHP.

HOWEVER. To be an effective "true" shield tank, almost all your slots are dedicated to survival. Unlike armor, which can have some leeway in aHP mods because of high eHP. This is why armor tanking is the preferred fit, it's easier to pull off.

I only have a CalAss so, i can't talk about armor fits as clear as shield fits.

But I'll get to the point. There are 3 ways people shield tank in the game:
-Buffer tank (mostly/all extends, lower recharge with regs as much as you can. High sHP offsets low sHP/s for fit)

-Recharge tank (half extends to give acceptable buffer, half energ/recharge to give high sHP/s. REGS are a must to abuse the sHP/s as much as possible. Very high sHP/s offsets low sHP per fit. Rarest fits to see. (best tank style IMHO, cover when low on shields, 2.05 seconds later (two comp regulators) 70+ sHP/s is pouring in.))

-incorrect tank. aHP is high. while either having a recharge tank/partial buffer fitted. This is simply wrong. I use this fit when there is a reptool in squad, makes me use my triage hives after all.

Oddly, brick tanking works. Sadly only for a few engagements, and not at close range at all (no speed to move with the penalties of plates.) Also, using one reactive + one regulator is the best way to "hybrid" tank (but duel tanking is not really a good thing)

But to be so thoughtful of your sHP is something people don't want to do. also, knowing when "you're on armor you've died basically" doesn't support the lower eHP shield tank suits, nevertheless.


(To be similar to the OP, I'll talk tools)
As for tools for shields, i want it to be like the reptool. IMPROVING THE FLAW OF THE TANK.

See how reptools increase the aHP/s? That's the flaw of the tanking style; Low HP/s.
Shields have the higher end of the HP/s for the main tank. What the flaw is, is low HP.

So i thought of shield tools increases the sHP by X amount and lowering the delay by Y amount.

Essentially a hardener per se, for example:

I have 425 sHP, and 75 sHP/s. I have around 4s delay.
Shield tool arrives. +50% sHP, -25% delay.
Now when tethered, i have 637 sHP, 75 sHP/s, 3s delay.

Let's go to a full buffer tank. It's proto suit, all mods for shields.

I have 707 sHP, 30 sHP/s, 1.6 second delay.
Shield tool arrives. +50% sHP, -25% delay.
Now I have 1060 sHP, 30 sHP/s, 1.2 second delay.

"1060 sHP!? That's insane"
No, it's a big number but look at what I got? A delay. You can shoot me and stop the recharge. Plus it's only 30 sHP/s... One bullet from anything will take out my recovered sHP anyways :/ Plus i just pulled the numbers out of nowhere just for the sake of discussion.

Cool cool?

Armor suits don't necessarily have low rep rate. An Amarr Assault with 750 armor can have 20 armor repair.

ScR has almost the same (only 5m less) and proto ScR does over 100 damage with proficiency 5 not including the damage mods that seem to infest all Amarr Assaults. No matter what, shield is nothing in front of an ScR. Many times I have gone up against Proto Cal Assaults with 600 shields ect. and they get disintegrated by my standard ScR. As long as ScR and AScR exist, shield will suck.

No weapon does as much DPS to armor as an ScR does ti shield.