Help: Problem with shield strength calcs in Galaxy

From: desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)

Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1993 09:50:19 +0000

Todd L. George <georgetl@cnsvax.uwec.edu> writes:
> I am having problems figuring out at what level a ship becomes immune
> to a certain strength attack.  [....]  What I need is the calculations
> for the defending ships shield strength.

The standard expression for the "shield strength" of a ship is

1/3
  shield strength = (shields) * (shield tech) * (30 / ship mass)

In English: multiply the number of shields on the ship, by the shield
technology level at which the ship was constructed or upgraded, and then
multiply that by the cube root of the ratio of 30 over the mass of the
ship.  (Whether cargo counts toward the mass depends on the version you
are playing; I believe the rest is correct in all versions.)

The standard expression for the "weapon strength" of a ship is

weapon strength = (weapons) * (weapon tech)

The probability that a shot hits is

hit prob =  log  (4 * attacker weapon strength / defender shield strength)
                 16

In English: multiply 4 times the weapon strength of the attacking ship
and divide by the shield strength of the defending ship.  Now take the
logarithm to the base 16 of this quantity.

If the hit probability is greater than 1 then the shot always hits.
This occurs if the attacker weapon strength is at least 4 times the
defender shield strength.

If the hit probability is less than 0 then the shot always misses.  This
occurs if the defender shield strength is at least 4 times the attacker
weapon strength.

David desJardins

P.S. I have heard people from time to time suggest that describing a
ship's defense requires "three numbers": the 0% hit level, the 50% hit
level, and the 100% hit level.  As the above formula shows, it is
simplest to just use the 50% hit level as the statistic: the 0% hit
level is always just one-fourth of the 50% hit level, and the 100% hit
level is always just four times the 50% hit level.

References

Help: Problem with shield strength calcs in Galaxy
georgetl@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Mon, 01 Feb 1993 23:09:18 +0000

Referenced By

Help: Problem with shield strength calcs in Galaxy
georgetl@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Mon, 01 Feb 1993 23:09:18 +0000