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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Imaculata" data-source="post: 6760089" data-attributes="member: 6801286">Space stations could very well have a ban on weapons. But a simple dagger or fighting stick could easily be smuggled into a bar (especially if its one of those awesome Minbari folding canes). Besides, not even the most advanced plasma rifle can defend you against some alien coming up behind you in a bar, and stabbing you in the neck. Personal shields could definitely be a thing. You could even make a difference between energy shields (against energy weapons) and kinetic shields (against ballistic weapons). But if personal shields are a thing, then there is no reason why not every soldier and every combat droid would be equipped with one as well. The logical outcome of the existence of any such device, is that almost everyone would buy one.This opens up the possibility that there are also weapons that specifically take out shields, or at least weaken them. Perhaps some energy weapons even have an adjustable setting between weakening shields, and just doing damage. Like in Judge Dredd, such weapon settings could be voice activated.It is also not hard to imagine that in a future setting, people could have personal shields surgically implanted in their bodies (depending on how big and heavy they are).So how would personal shields work?Well, first of all I think a player would have to choose between an energy shield or a kinetic shield. Maybe a personal shield can do both, but would they both work at the same time? That could possibly cost a lot of energy. I presume this fictional device uses energy to soak up what ever energy is coming its way (be it kinetic energy, plasma, lasers or something else). So I think depending on the quality and size of the device, it simply soaks up damage, until it runs out. If the shields get hit every round, they have no opportunity to regenerate. But if the player takes cover, the shields can recover for a bit, and then the player can go back into combat. If you get caught in a crossfire, that shield could run out pretty fast (so it doesn't render you invulnerable).You could also allow the player to choose the size of the shield. Much like the shields in Star Trek, they could be focused in one direction, or they could completely surround the user. This means that they can either block only the attacks coming from one direction (chosen by the player), or from all directions (but at the cost of more power).Enemies could use mobile shield generators, which allow them to take cover, and stick their weapons through them to return fire. This allows them to slowly close in on their enemy during a fire fight. In order to take out such enemies, you would either have to take out the shields, or get into close combat with a melee weapon that bypasses the shields entirely. And that is I think what you (the OP) are thinking of.</blockquote>

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