Remove the chance for riot shields to block bullets/laser

[Alberyk]

Remove the chance that riot shields have to block projectiles, except items being thrown at someone. If possible, increase the chance on blocking melee attacks, because that is what they are designed for. Meanwhile, keep the energy shield and e-sword in the same way they are, allowing them to block both melee attack and ranged ones.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

Why? Lore-wise they're made of space age materials and since the base weapons of our setting are lasers it makes sense to give them thermal protections as well as protections against thrown toolboxes. Security has no other real defense against range weapons without doing the annoying habit of using the gear of downed traitors or mercenaries.

[Alberyk]

Why? Lore-wise they're made of space age materials and since the base weapons of our setting are lasers it makes sense to give them thermal protections as well as protections against thrown toolboxes. Security has no other real defense against range weapons without doing the annoying habit of using the gear of downed traitors or mercenaries.

 

Research is still able to print energy shields. Also, the ablative and bullet-proof vests gives enough protection against ranged attacks.

[canon35]

No nerfing, keep it as is. But, we could change it from a riot shield to something like a Plasteel polymer shield or whatever.

[CampinKiller]

Many riot shields IRL have bullet protection. I think it's safe to say they'd have been upgraded since then.

[CakeIsOssim]

I looked at the variables of all the armor available in the armory.

Bulletproof vest:

 

Ablative vest:

 

Riot armor:

 

I... actually couldn't find out how to check the riot shield's block chance. I assume it's the exact same, or nearly the same, as the energy shield. My point is, the riot shield is capable of doing all three of those jobs, to some lesser degree of effectiveness. Why??? Why not just have it be really freaking good at blocking melee, but nothing else? Maybe stun bolts, too, since those aren't actually, you know, destructive like bullets or lasers.

[Serveris]

If we remove the function of them blocking projectiles, which would involve changing the parameters of the IsShield() function (I see of no other way of doing this), then I would like to see ballistic shields added to the armory for the express purpose of deflecting projectiles; maybe make them less effective against brute melee attacks. As it stands, ablative/bulletproof vests are the only material within the armory that makes sense (mechanics and lore-wise), and even still, when put into play, it ends up using RNG based armor code, and is still relatively unreliable against projectiles. To maximize protection against say, drones, I've always issued officers armor against the respective threat, and sent them out with a carbine and a shield.