Shields

The Shields

Deflector shields, or just 'shields', are a device projecting an energy that canopies an object in order to protect it. In the case of starfighters and other ships, those harmful materials would be projectiles like missiles and cannon fire. There is more than one type of shield though, and thus- functions.

Two distinct deflector shields are prominent: ray shields, also known as energy shields, and particle shields. The first type protected against energy-based attacks, such as blaster or laser cannon fire, while the latter was developed in response to physical attacks, ranging from projectile missiles and incoming vehicles to asteroids and meteors. Commonly, larger ships and structures were protected by both types of shield, though starfighters often only projected ray shields. In the case of VEN starfighters above TIE Fighters, both energy and particle are used in a more up to date fashion where the two tent to act as one. VEN TIE fighters were only equipped with energy shields, though- the addition of shields was already adding a lot- fitting two forms would have increased the price far to much and thus, defeated the purpose..

Ray shields were also used as capture devices onboard capital ships; Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were caught in a ray shield trap onboard the Invisible Hand. Although designed to counter energy attacks, the energy given off by the ray shield would likely have disintegrated the Jedi duo had they attempted to pass through it.

Space Purposes

Shields were also used in space travel to protect the ship from collisions while travelling through hyperspace. Had the shields not been installed on the ship when it jumped, it was likely that it would end up meeting either a rogue asteroid or dark matter that would destroy the ship. Thus, these shields are employed almost always-

In terms of Space Battle, shields serve very specifically to protect a ship from the weapons of the enemy. Shields only have a capacity to absorb so much though, so it is preferred that a pilot worry more about his flying than his shields. Shields can take just enough in case the pilot makes a mistake though- say a strafe across the side of the ship occurs, the pilot will be protect momentarilly until the shield can absorb no more. Then its up to the pilot to survive on his own or he will take 'hull damage.' Hull refers to the ship itself, thus- hull damage is real damage on board the ship that can cause to malfunction or become incapacitated.

Energy can be converted to shields, weapons and engines, or any system that is linked to the power converters on board a ship. In this case, shields can be given basically all the power on the ship vs the engine and weapons that can overheat. Also, shields can be sent to specific positions around the fighter- to the front, aft, port (left), starboard (right), ventral surface (top), dorsal surface (bottom) and everywhere inbetween. This is all done through a monitor in front of the pilot that switches 'modes'. One mode may be the sensor display while another is the targetting computer and yet another the power distribution settings we've just discussed.

So- think of shields as a safety net- not your key tool. Shields can only take so much, after all. A missile that makes impact could very well take out your shields as well as give you significant hull damage, so its paramount that one use the tactics they've been taught to defend themselves and win the day and not simply rely on their shields- a safety net: "just in case."