Plasma shield

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Shields redirect here. For the marine shield, see Ballistic Alloy Combat Shield.

The plasma shield is a protoss defense method created by a blend of psionic power and technology. The technological aspect renders them vulnerable to EMP effects.^[1]

Contents 1 Overview and History 2 Game Properties 2.1 StarCraft I 2.2 StarCraft II 2.2.1 Development 3 References

[edit] Overview and History

During the Aeon of Strife, protoss warriors created personal shields by focusing psionic energy. The protoss later reproduced the effect using psi-field generators. These generators could be installed in machines giving protoss vehicles shields as well.^[2] Psionically powerful protoss such as Khastiana can still enhance the power of their shields.^[3] Shields must be dropped to make use of some physical contact-based psionic abilities.^[3]

Terran Dominion tactics state that plasma shields are best overcome by mass fire.^[3]

[edit] Game Properties

[edit] StarCraft I

Plasma shields
Researched at	Forge
Hotkey	S
Properties
Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 200 300 400 Gas 200 300 400 Required Cybernetics core Cybernetics core
Notes
+1 bonus to shields per level for all units and structures.

Shields points act as another form of hit points and are usually lost first. Unlike regular HP, plasma shields always suffer full damage regardless of the type of attack used against them or the size of the shielded object. For example, a large-sized dragoon's shields will take full damage from concussive damage attacks such as from a vulture.

Shield points have a separate "armor" rating from regular hit points. The base "armor" is 0 and may be upgraded. This applies to both units and buildings. Shield points regenerate slowly but a shield battery may be used to restore them faster.

Shields caught within the terran science vessel's EMP Shockwave are reduced to 0 points.

[edit] StarCraft II

Plasma shields
Researched at	Forge[4]
Hotkey	S[4]
Properties
Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 200[4] 300[4] 400[4] Gas 200[4] 300[4] 400[4] Research time 140[4] 170[4] 200[4]
Notes
+1 to shields per level.
Edit

Shield points regenerate slowly, at the same rate for each unit.^[5]

Shields are not subject to bonus damage.^[6]

[edit] Development

Shield points regenerated more quickly when out of combat than in StarCraft I,^[7][8][9] twice as quickly.^[10] They are very useful for probes when used for scouting but it takes a long time for archons to fully regenerate their shields.^[11]

Shields used to treated as the base unit "underneath them" for purposes of damage calculations in January 2008. An armored unit's shields took extra damage from units that gain bonuses against armored units.^[12]

“	Here's how it works. You have an armor type. Say "Light." Units get a damage bonus to a single armor type. Example: 10+10 vs. light. If you are a "Heavy" unit you would take 10 points of damage from that weapon. If you are a light unit you would take 20. A unit may have multiple types of armor, though generally they do not. For example, most buildings are "Building" as well as another armor type. Some weapons have a bonus vs. Building. You also have "armor points." These subract 1 point of damage from every hit you take per point of armor you have (just like the original StarCraft). [sic] This system is simpler than the original StarCraft in some ways, and it is also clearer. We haven't gotten into our balance phase just yet, so I don't know that this system will hold up to our needs. This system is what you played at Blizzcon (if you got to come).	”
- Cavez, Armor in SC2

[edit] References