Querens wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 2:47 pm
And I hate to see that shields mean nothing right now. I invested heavily in fleet with shields( this is the first game since a long time, I wouldn't do that anymore) and that was pure dumping of resources because everybody builds hulls with fighters and no shields for 30-40% cheaper while fighters work just like common hull fully armed and ignore shields(!). Yeah, you blow them up with 1 hit, but hey, they are free and unlimitied!
I saw you didn't research fighters and got shields so I didn't invest much on shields.
I would have invested in some shields otherwise (i.e., if I could not see your researched techs or scout your fleet composition).
The shields you chose cost 40 PPs, same as two flak cannons. You could have used cheaper hulls (organic) to get more ships and more RIS effect for the same investment, or cheaper shields (the ones that give you 5 defense).
Fighters ignore shields, yes, but can be destroyed so they do less damage than cannons vs no shields.
Fighters ignore shields, yes, but cannons ignore flaks.
Fighters are not free, any hangar+launch bay is more expensive than early and mid game shields. They are as "free" as shields in that sense.
Fighter can be resupplied, yes, but not out of supply (which is a pain in the ass when you attack without clear superiority to destroy full enemy fleet in a single turn, because then you have lost your weapons for next turn and must retreat), and most fighters can't attack planets.
But you are welcome to not use shields at all. My defenses would have destroyed one or two ships in that case.