SHIELD UPGRADES
Shields are used to protect ships, bases and other facilities from damage.
There are several components to each Shield. All, some or none can be upgraded.
The Structural Integrity Field (SIF) also contributes to the Shield.
Structural Cost for all components of the Shield System depend on the size of the structure protected.
The first component of the Shield System is the Distortion Field.

DISTORTION FIELD
Type
 Power
 Min. Vessel Size
Alpha
 5 1
Beta
 10
 2
Gamma
 15
 2
Delta
 20
 3
Epsilon
 25
 3
Zeta
 30
 4
Eta
 35
 5
Theta 40 6
Iota 45 7


The second component of the Shield System is the Generator.
All Ships and small craft have either 2, 4 or 6 Generators.
Starbases and other structures will have 10-100's or more depending on size.

SHIELD GENERATOR
Class
 Power
 Min. Vessel Size
1
 2
 1
2
 4
 2
3
 6
 2
4
 8
 3
5
 10
 3
6
 12
 4
7
 14
 5
8
 16
 6
9
 18
 7
10
 20
 8


The third component of the Shield System is the Grid Multiplier.
The Grid is a measure of how much overlap there is for the Generators.

SHIELD GRID
Type
 Multiplier
 Min. Vessel Size
A
 0
 1
B
 +10%
 2
C
 +25%
 2
D
 +33%
 3
E
 +50%
 3


The fourth and last component of the Shield System is the Recharge Rate.
All shields are able to recharge their strength, but the rate and time of the recharge can be determined below.

SHIELD RECHARGE
Class
 Power / Sec
 Min. Vessel Size
1
 1
 1
2
 2
 2
3
 3
 3
4
 4
 4
5
 5
 5


Regenerative Shields
A relatively new type of shield design was successfully tested on the Prometheus Class,
and has since been authorized for upgrades on all existing ships.

Regenerative Shields absorb a portion of the energy that impacts the shield and transfers it to the Grid,
which converts it into power that the Shield Generators use to reinforce the shields.
This makes it very difficult for the shields to completely fail.
NOTE - If you have the Regenerative Shields you do not need the standard 'recharge' package (above).
The Regenerative shields function as the 'normal' shield recharge until it has a power discharge to absorb which would allow it to use the higher recharge rate.
The rate of recharge and power absorbed is listed below.
REGENERATIVE SHIELDS
Class
 % Absorbed
 Recharge / Sec
 Min. Vessel Size
1
 10%
 10
 4
2
 15%
 15
 5
3
 20%
 20
 5
4
 25%
 25
 6
5
 30%
 30
 6


Non-Standard Shielding

There are three variants to the standard shield deisigns above.

Metaphasic Shields
A shield design first proposed by the Ferengi scientist Dr. Reyga, and successfully tested using a shuttlecraft aboard the USS Enterprise in 2369.  A variation was adapted for use on the Enterprise in 2370 to evade (and later destroy) a Borg ship by hiding within the corona of a star.

While normal shields are able to withstand both radiation and energy, Metaphasic shields are also capable of withstanding direct pressure like the Structural Integrity Field does.

Metaphasic shields are not standard on all ships since their use requires time to polarize the shield emitters, but the computer routines to enable them are avalable on all vessels.  Use of Metaphasic Shields enhances the output against radiation, energy and physical pressure by up to 150% of normal under ideal conditions, but it remains limited to short-term use due to power required to maintain the shields.


Unimatrix Shields
A shield design developed by Lt. Commander Tuvok aboard USS Voyager for use on the Delta Flyer.  It is a fusion of standard Starfleet shields and Borg technology, and may be considered an upgrade to Metaphasic Shields.

Considered a parallel development with Multiphasic shielding; it provides much the same protection, but with less power required to maintain.  This is due to physically modifying the shield emitters for polarization rather than merely activating computer routines to polarize the grid.

Unimatrix Shields are undergoing testing, but with the parallel testing of Multiphasic Shielding (below) it is not expected to enter full production for Starfleet vessels.


Multiphasic Shields
A shield design based on Metaphasic and Unimatrix shielding intended to replace the standard shielding currently in use.

Multiphasic shields are currently available on a limited basis to protect small areas (around the warp core if the "Omega Directive" is ordered), but the shields do require significant power drain.

Multiphasic Shielding is still in testing to reduce the amout of power needed to maintain it, but it is expected to enter full production for Starfleet Vessels before 2400.