... One of us has had a bit too much caffeine today....It may be me. I will try to make sense of this tomorrow when my brain might actually be able to figure it out...

I really don't think the Dems are going to learn from this election and Trumps policies will likely create an upturn in the economy. The smart bet is always on the incumbent in any case. Trump will get his 8 years and then who knows. Maybe by then a new party will have its act together enough to challenge both the asses and elephants...Hard to say what a decade will change.

I suspect you're right Pa. Though I'm not hopeful about getting decent showing for a third party given how weak the 3 third party candidates were last year.

Change is good!

I think a shield which varies its maximum output relative to the hp of the ship containing it would work well.

Yes, you could put it on a hog, but the shield would be like 2000hp worth or something.

Also, why make it take the energy if the shield is not under duress? Have the energy draw only in effect when under fire.

Overall i like this idea, and the comments about balance and change... Its another of those "everything in moderation" scemarios. Change is essentially good, but too much of it is bad, and will reflect in damage to the overall balance. Preservation of the balance is also good, but too much represents stagnation and a lack of change, or, another way of putting it, of evolution.

So, maybe 20% of a ships hull is generated in shield hp, modified to 5% for a capship.