The point is, you automatically build up hard flux at a certain rate, in exchange for an increased ability to vent "soft" flux and a dramatically increased shield efficiency.
This is theoretically what is supposed to happen. My point is that presently, no "soft" flux is being vented, and furthermore, the ship system is not achieving its intended function.
When Fortress Shield is on, Paragon will:
- Gain dramatically higher shield efficiency
- Generate (625?) flux per second
- Lose ability to fire weapons
- Lose its passive flux dissipation (i.e. flux dissipation/sec = 0)
For the sake of simplicity, let's assume that Paragon's shield efficiency is so high that no additional flux is added through damage. So turning on Fortress Shield simply results in 625 flux generated per second.
Contrast this with a manual solution (stop firing):
- Shield efficiency does not change
- No hard flux generation
- Lose ability to fire weapons (equivalent)
- Don't lose passive flux dissipation
Even a skeleton Paragon with 0 Ordnance Points has a passive flux dissipation of 500/second after 750 is paid for shield maintenance. Once we factor in the 625/sec hard flux generation from the Fortress shield, simply pressing X to stop all weapons fire results in a difference of 1125 flux/sec. Divide this by the shield efficiency of the Paragon (0.6) to get a figure of 1875 shield damage per second. What this means is that any time a totally unmodded Paragon is taking less than 1875 shield damage per second, it is better to stop firing than to use Fortress Shield. Any time it's higher, Fortress Shield is better.
What if the Paragon is actually modded for flux dissipation and shield efficiency?
50 Vents + Resistant Flux Conduits = 1875/sec
Stabilized Shields = 375 Shield Maintenance
Hardened Shields + Elite Crew = 0.3 Shield Efficiency
Passive Flux Dissipation = 1875-375 = 1500
Fortress Shield Hard Flux Generation = 625
Shield Damage/sec = (1500+625)/0.3 = 7083.33
So on a modded Paragon, you need to be taking over 7083 shield damage per second in order to justify using Fortress Shield instead of simply stopping to shoot. Just to put this into perspective, 7083 shield damage is equal to ~5 Storm Needlers, ~ 16 Heavy Autocannons, ~13 Plasma Cannons, or ~35 Annihilator Rocket Pods.
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So all this to say that all I've been trying to point out is that the amount of damage you need to be taking in order for Fortress Shield to be worthwhile is simply unrealistic. Either that, or you fly around with a Paragon that has no Vents and no Hull Mods, and then it begins to make some sense.