Based on this preview, there will only 4 four shields in a 2d plane.If there are no ventral or dorsal shields, then it makes the entire idea of 3d movement useless and irrelevant. If there are only 4 shields based on a circular arc, then an attack from above or below is only ever an attack on some portion of a two-dimensionally defined shield arc. Similarly, if one wishes to rotate away from the attack to present another shield one is left with either doing something silly such as merely rotating in the x-axis to present some other shield arc or something inefficient such as moving in all 3 axes to rotate into the plane of the attacking ship and rotating away from the direction of the attack.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense to have actual dorsal and ventral shields and ability to roll. With dorsal and ventral shields an attack from above and below is just that, an attack registered from above or below not on some sliver of a two-dimensionally defined shield arc. And presumably, one of the most efficient defenses against attacks from above or below would be to roll the ship to present a port or starboard shield facing. This allows one to continue movement in the same direction while defending one's self. With 4 shields and no ventral and dorsal shields, one is forced to alter one's heading by either pitching or yawing.
So the easiest way to corral a player or force him or her to go in a different direction will be to shoot at him, similar in many respects to Starfleet Command which is not bad per se, but it makes the entire concept of 3d movement largely meaningless, as there will be no way to protect yourself without altering your heading just as in a 2d game.
I am in 100% agreement with you. I think it would be totally awesome to have rolling and the the dorsal/ventral shields are needed. I suspect that Cryptic made it like this to make it easier for the masses to jump in to. I can understand that. I'm just hoping it doesn't get dumbed down to an overall percentage or we'll see things like this:
Tactical: "Captain, we just took a major hit to starboard. The shield is at 25%." Tactical: "Captain, we just took a minor hit to the port shield. The shield has failed." Captain: "Abandon ship!"
At least with *some* directional shields, there will be a value to flying in formation and/or covering a teammate's wounded flank.
Reader Comments (2)
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 2:08PM Lepton1000 said
Based on this preview, there will only 4 four shields in a 2d plane.If there are no ventral or dorsal shields, then it makes the entire idea of 3d movement useless and irrelevant. If there are only 4 shields based on a circular arc, then an attack from above or below is only ever an attack on some portion of a two-dimensionally defined shield arc. Similarly, if one wishes to rotate away from the attack to present another shield one is left with either doing something silly such as merely rotating in the x-axis to present some other shield arc or something inefficient such as moving in all 3 axes to rotate into the plane of the attacking ship and rotating away from the direction of the attack.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense to have actual dorsal and ventral shields and ability to roll. With dorsal and ventral shields an attack from above and below is just that, an attack registered from above or below not on some sliver of a two-dimensionally defined shield arc. And presumably, one of the most efficient defenses against attacks from above or below would be to roll the ship to present a port or starboard shield facing. This allows one to continue movement in the same direction while defending one's self. With 4 shields and no ventral and dorsal shields, one is forced to alter one's heading by either pitching or yawing.
So the easiest way to corral a player or force him or her to go in a different direction will be to shoot at him, similar in many respects to Starfleet Command which is not bad per se, but it makes the entire concept of 3d movement largely meaningless, as there will be no way to protect yourself without altering your heading just as in a 2d game.
Posted: Jun 18th 2009 5:09PM Scarecrowe said
Tactical: "Captain, we just took a major hit to starboard. The shield is at 25%."
Tactical: "Captain, we just took a minor hit to the port shield. The shield has failed."
Captain: "Abandon ship!"
At least with *some* directional shields, there will be a value to flying in formation and/or covering a teammate's wounded flank.