Deflector shield/Legends: Difference between revisions
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{{Otheruses|Shield}} | {{Otheruses|Shield}} | ||
{{Citation}} | {{Citation}} | ||
'''Deflector shields''', also known as '''deflector screens''', '''deflectors''' or simply '''shields''', were translucent or transparent energy fields produced by [[Deflector shield generator/Legends|deflector shield generators]]. These generators could be placed on [[Planet/Legends|planets]], [[Droid/Legends|droids]], [[Starship/Legends|starships]], [[Space station/Legends|space stations]] and individual buildings. The primary purpose of the shield was to block or deflect projectiles and lasers from hitting the object under protection. They could also provide a significant atmospheric speed boost, [[Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter/Legends|in some cases]] 36 times the speed of sound. | '''Deflector shields''', also known as '''deflector screens''', '''deflectors''' or simply '''shields''', were translucent or transparent energy fields produced by [[Deflector shield generator/Legends|deflector shield generators]]. These generators could be placed on [[Planet/Legends|planets]], [[Droid/Legends|droids]], [[Starship/Legends|starships]], [[Space station/Legends|space stations]] and individual buildings. The primary purpose of the shield was to block or deflect projectiles and lasers from hitting the object under protection. They could also provide a significant atmospheric speed boost, [[Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter/Legends|in some cases]] 36 times the speed of sound. | ||
==Shield types== | ==Shield types== | ||
There were two distinct types of deflector shield: [[Ray shield/Legends|ray shields]], also known as energy shields, and [[Particle shield/Legends|particle shields]]. The former protected against energy-based attacks, such as [[Blaster/Legends|blaster]] or [[Laser cannon/Legends|laser cannon]] fire, while the latter was developed in response to physical attacks, ranging from projectile missiles and incoming vehicles to asteroids and meteors. Commonly, larger ships and structures were protected by both types of shield, though [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighters]] often only projected ray shields.{{Fact}} Ray shields were also used as capture devices onboard [[Capital ship/Legends|capital ships]]; [[Obi-Wan Kenobi/Legends|Obi-Wan Kenobi]], [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Anakin Skywalker]] and [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]] were caught in a ray shield trap onboard [[Invisible Hand/Legends|''Invisible Hand'']]. Although designed to counter energy attacks, the energy given off by the ray shield would likely have disintegrated the [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]] duo had they attempted to pass through it. | There were two distinct types of deflector shield: [[Ray shield/Legends|ray shields]], also known as energy shields, and [[Particle shield/Legends|particle shields]]. The former protected against energy-based attacks, such as [[Blaster/Legends|blaster]] or [[Laser cannon/Legends|laser cannon]] fire, while the latter was developed in response to physical attacks, ranging from projectile missiles and incoming vehicles to asteroids and meteors. Commonly, larger ships and structures were protected by both types of shield, though [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighters]] often only projected ray shields.{{Fact}} Ray shields were also used as capture devices onboard [[Capital ship/Legends|capital ships]]; [[Obi-Wan Kenobi/Legends|Obi-Wan Kenobi]], [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Anakin Skywalker]] and [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]] were caught in a ray shield trap onboard [[Invisible Hand/Legends|''Invisible Hand'']]. Although designed to counter energy attacks, the energy given off by the ray shield would likely have disintegrated the [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]] duo had they attempted to pass through it. | ||
Deflector shields worked in a layered defense fashion: A volumetric field effect extended out from the surface of the shield projector, attempting to reduce the coherency of any beam attacks and deflect physical objects. The shield itself behaved in a manner similar to that of a thermally conductive material—energy applied was quickly diffused and re-radiated back into the environment, but the shield itself could also absorb some of the energy. The absorbed energy was shunted into [[Heat sink/Legends|heat sinks]], and re-radiated at a lesser rate by the shield and [[Neutrino radiator/Legends|neutrino radiators]]. The use of deflector shields on starfighters and other small craft, made them capable of hypersonic speeds in planetary atmospheres.<ref name="ROTS:ICS">''[[Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections]]''</ref> | Deflector shields worked in a layered defense fashion: A volumetric field effect extended out from the surface of the shield projector, attempting to reduce the coherency of any beam attacks and deflect physical objects. The shield itself behaved in a manner similar to that of a thermally conductive material—energy applied was quickly diffused and re-radiated back into the environment, but the shield itself could also absorb some of the energy. The absorbed energy was shunted into [[Heat sink/Legends|heat sinks]], and re-radiated at a lesser rate by the shield and [[Neutrino radiator/Legends|neutrino radiators]]. The use of deflector shields on starfighters and other small craft, made them capable of hypersonic speeds in planetary atmospheres.<ref name="ROTS:ICS">''[[Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections]]''</ref> | ||
The strength of a deflector shield was a factor depending on how close the shield was to the projector, the efficiency of the projector, the power applied, and the surface area of the shield. It was common for starship deflectors to be projected a few molecules underneath the hull plating, and then extended outwards to protect hull integrity. Starship shields could handle massive amounts of energy or punishment, although it was possible to disable a shield by concentrating fire on a specific location. | The strength of a deflector shield was a factor depending on how close the shield was to the projector, the efficiency of the projector, the power applied, and the surface area of the shield. It was common for starship deflectors to be projected a few molecules underneath the hull plating, and then extended outwards to protect hull integrity. Starship shields could handle massive amounts of energy or punishment, although it was possible to disable a shield by concentrating fire on a specific location. | ||
Aside from the standard defensive shields carried by most ships, there were other variants: | Aside from the standard defensive shields carried by most ships, there were other variants: | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
{{Quote|The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted.|[[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] [[Gial Ackbar/Legends|Ackbar]]|<ref name="Episode 6">{{Film|VI}}</ref>}} | {{Quote|The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted.|[[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] [[Gial Ackbar/Legends|Ackbar]]|<ref name="Episode 6">{{Film|VI}}</ref>}} | ||
Deflector shields were first developed during the early years of space exploration, designed to absorb heat and [[Radiation/Legends|radiation]] encountered in space and within a planetary [[Atmosphere/Legends|atmosphere]]. Before the introduction of deflector shields, [[Pilot/Legends|pilots]] had to rely solely on thick, armored hulls and panels of reflective armor for protection against meteors and laser attacks. More advanced versions of the energy shield were developed centuries later, until eventually modern shielding was able to combine ray and particle protection. Eventually, shield technology improved enough to allow some ground vehicles to have dedicated shield generators. | Deflector shields were first developed during the early years of space exploration, designed to absorb heat and [[Radiation/Legends|radiation]] encountered in space and within a planetary [[Atmosphere/Legends|atmosphere]]. Before the introduction of deflector shields, [[Pilot/Legends|pilots]] had to rely solely on thick, armored hulls and panels of reflective armor for protection against meteors and laser attacks. More advanced versions of the energy shield were developed centuries later, until eventually modern shielding was able to combine ray and particle protection. Eventually, shield technology improved enough to allow some ground vehicles to have dedicated shield generators. | ||
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From the era of the [[Jedi Civil War]], [[Personal energy shield/Legends|personal shielding]] for individual units was commonplace. There were [[Mandalorian melee shield|melee shields]], [[Echani shield|energy shields]], and [[Verpine prototype shield|Verpine shields]]. | From the era of the [[Jedi Civil War]], [[Personal energy shield/Legends|personal shielding]] for individual units was commonplace. There were [[Mandalorian melee shield|melee shields]], [[Echani shield|energy shields]], and [[Verpine prototype shield|Verpine shields]]. | ||
During the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]] through the [[Yuuzhan Vong War]], however, personal shield tech was all but lost. Very few armies equipped their soldiers with personal shielding, due to their ineffectiveness with modern weapon technologies, assuming that they were small enough for personal use. Notable exceptions include the [[Mercenary/Legends|mercenary]] [[Kyle Katarn]], [[Durge/Legends|Durge]], and possibly{{Fact}} the [[Bounty hunter/Legends|bounty hunter]] [[Boba Fett/Legends|Boba Fett]]. | |||
During the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]] through the [[Yuuzhan Vong War]], however, personal shield tech was all but lost. Very few armies equipped their soldiers with personal shielding, due to their ineffectiveness with modern weapon technologies, assuming that they were small enough for personal use. Notable exceptions include | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
| Line 49: | Line 37: | ||
*[[Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith 6|''Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith'' 6]] | *[[Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith 6|''Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith'' 6]] | ||
*[[Tales of the Jedi – The Sith War 6|''Tales of the Jedi – The Sith War'' 6]] | *[[Tales of the Jedi – The Sith War 6|''Tales of the Jedi – The Sith War'' 6]] | ||
*{{Journal|7|Mist Encounter}} {{Mo}} | *{{Journal|7|Mist Encounter}} {{Mo}} | ||
*{{Journal|7|Passages}} | *{{Journal|7|Passages}} | ||
*{{Journal|3|When the Domino Falls}} | *{{Journal|3|When the Domino Falls}} | ||
*''[[Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu]]'' | *''[[Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu]]'' | ||
*''[[Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon]]'' | *''[[Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon]]'' | ||
| Line 87: | Line 49: | ||
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|text=''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition|story=Against the Pirate Armada}} | *{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|text=''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition|story=Against the Pirate Armada}} | ||
*{{Journal|8|A Certain Point of View (short story)|A Certain Point of View}} | *{{Journal|8|A Certain Point of View (short story)|A Certain Point of View}} | ||
*{{Journal|3|Droid Trouble}} | *{{Journal|3|Droid Trouble}} | ||
*{{Journal|13|The Occupation of Rhamalai}} | *{{Journal|13|The Occupation of Rhamalai}} | ||
*{{Journal|12|Small Favors}} | *{{Journal|12|Small Favors}} | ||
*{{Journal|10|Only Droids Serve the Maker}} | *{{Journal|10|Only Droids Serve the Maker}} | ||
*{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (first edition)|text=''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game''|story=Rebel Breakout}} | *{{WEGCite|book=Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (first edition)|text=''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game''|story=Rebel Breakout}} | ||
*''[[Scoundrel's Luck]]'' | *''[[Scoundrel's Luck]]'' | ||
*''[[Jedi's Honor]]'' | *''[[Jedi's Honor]]'' | ||
*{{Journal|15|The Great Herdship Heist}} | *{{Journal|15|The Great Herdship Heist}} | ||
*''[[Star Wars Missions 13: Prisoner of the Nikto Pirates]]'' | *''[[Star Wars Missions 13: Prisoner of the Nikto Pirates]]'' | ||
*[[Starfall (adventure)|''Starfall'']] | *[[Starfall (adventure)|''Starfall'']] | ||
| Line 141: | Line 93: | ||
*{{WEGCite|book=The Far Orbit Project|story=The Capture of Coh Veshiv}} | *{{WEGCite|book=The Far Orbit Project|story=The Capture of Coh Veshiv}} | ||
*{{WEGCite|book=The Far Orbit Project|story=Hunter/Hunted}} | *{{WEGCite|book=The Far Orbit Project|story=Hunter/Hunted}} | ||
*{{Journal|10|The Capture of Imperial Hazard|The Capture of ''Imperial Hazard''}} | *{{Journal|10|The Capture of Imperial Hazard|The Capture of ''Imperial Hazard''}} | ||
*{{Journal|13|The Last Hand (short story)|The Last Hand}} | *{{Journal|13|The Last Hand (short story)|The Last Hand}} | ||
*{{Journal|14|Galaxywide NewsNets}} | *{{Journal|14|Galaxywide NewsNets}} | ||
*{{Film|V}} | *{{Film|V}} | ||
*[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (novel)|''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' novel]] | *[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (novel)|''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' novel]] | ||
*''[[The Empire Strikes Back: A Storybook]]'' | *''[[The Empire Strikes Back: A Storybook]]'' | ||
*''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]'' | *''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]'' | ||
*[[Star Wars (1977) 40|''Star Wars'' (1977) 40]] {{Mo}} | *[[Star Wars (1977) 40|''Star Wars'' (1977) 40]] {{Mo}} | ||
| Line 167: | Line 116: | ||
*{{Film|VI}} | *{{Film|VI}} | ||
*[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' novel]] | *[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' novel]] | ||
*''[[Hard Merchandise]]'' | *''[[Hard Merchandise]]'' | ||
* | *{{Shortstory|story=One Last Night in the Mos Eisley Cantina: The Tale of the Wolfman and the Lamproid|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}} | ||
*[[The Ewoks Join the Fight (storybook)|''The Ewoks Join the Fight'']] | *[[The Ewoks Join the Fight (storybook)|''The Ewoks Join the Fight'']] | ||
*{{Journal|8|Black Curs Blues}} | *{{Journal|8|Black Curs Blues}} | ||
| Line 187: | Line 135: | ||
*{{Journal|14|No Disintegrations, Please}} | *{{Journal|14|No Disintegrations, Please}} | ||
*{{Journal|15|Firestorm (short story)|Firestorm}} | *{{Journal|15|Firestorm (short story)|Firestorm}} | ||
*{{Journal|15|Two for One}} | *{{Journal|15|Two for One}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]'' | *''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]'' | ||
*''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]'' | *''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Notes and references== | ==Notes and references== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Shields| ]] | [[Category:Shields| ]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:19, 6 February 2023
Deflector shields, also known as deflector screens, deflectors or simply shields, were translucent or transparent energy fields produced by deflector shield generators. These generators could be placed on planets, droids, starships, space stations and individual buildings. The primary purpose of the shield was to block or deflect projectiles and lasers from hitting the object under protection. They could also provide a significant atmospheric speed boost, in some cases 36 times the speed of sound.
Shield types
There were two distinct types of deflector shield: ray shields, also known as energy shields, and particle shields. The former protected against energy-based attacks, such as blaster or laser cannon fire, while the latter was developed in response to physical attacks, ranging from projectile missiles and incoming vehicles to asteroids and meteors. Commonly, larger ships and structures were protected by both types of shield, though starfighters often only projected ray shields.[source?] Ray shields were also used as capture devices onboard capital ships; Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine were caught in a ray shield trap onboard Invisible Hand. Although designed to counter energy attacks, the energy given off by the ray shield would likely have disintegrated the Jedi duo had they attempted to pass through it.
Deflector shields worked in a layered defense fashion: A volumetric field effect extended out from the surface of the shield projector, attempting to reduce the coherency of any beam attacks and deflect physical objects. The shield itself behaved in a manner similar to that of a thermally conductive material—energy applied was quickly diffused and re-radiated back into the environment, but the shield itself could also absorb some of the energy. The absorbed energy was shunted into heat sinks, and re-radiated at a lesser rate by the shield and neutrino radiators. The use of deflector shields on starfighters and other small craft, made them capable of hypersonic speeds in planetary atmospheres.[1]
The strength of a deflector shield was a factor depending on how close the shield was to the projector, the efficiency of the projector, the power applied, and the surface area of the shield. It was common for starship deflectors to be projected a few molecules underneath the hull plating, and then extended outwards to protect hull integrity. Starship shields could handle massive amounts of energy or punishment, although it was possible to disable a shield by concentrating fire on a specific location.
Aside from the standard defensive shields carried by most ships, there were other variants:
- Shift shields: These shields protected any ship traveling in hyperspace from collisions with interstellar atoms, dust, or dark matter. An unprotected collision would destroy the ship. Failure of the shift shields in a meteor shower was how Darth Vader explained the loss of Tantive IV to the Imperial Senate prior to its dissolution.[2]
- Relativistic shields: Not shields in the classic sense, but relativistic shields still insulated the user from outside forces, thus justifying their name. Under the normal application of physical laws, as one accelerated to speeds approaching that of light, time would dilate. Time flow was slowed for the traveler, yet for any (relatively) stationary observers, their specific experience of time would be much more rapid than the close-to-lightspeed traveler. Relativistic shields or Stasis fields effectively anchored the contents of the field to a specific relative condition of time passage. This function was essential for travel in hyperspace as it is strongly indicated that physical laws and phenomena do not behave the same there as in Realspace. Without Stasis fields, after a brief hyperspace jump, perhaps only seconds would have passed, or perhaps one would find themselves untold thousands of years in the future. See also: stasis fields.
History
Deflector shields were first developed during the early years of space exploration, designed to absorb heat and radiation encountered in space and within a planetary atmosphere. Before the introduction of deflector shields, pilots had to rely solely on thick, armored hulls and panels of reflective armor for protection against meteors and laser attacks. More advanced versions of the energy shield were developed centuries later, until eventually modern shielding was able to combine ray and particle protection. Eventually, shield technology improved enough to allow some ground vehicles to have dedicated shield generators.
Following the Waymancy Storm, Verpine master crafter Lyns Skutroo reverse-engineered the Sif-Alulan process used by the Waymancy weapons to develop the squintpipe process. This resulted in a brief period where rapid-firing turbolasers outclassed any available deflector shield across the galaxy, until 7500s BBY when further developments in the squintpipe process resulted in stronger deflector shields.[4]
Some of the largest and most powerful deflector shields produced were those that protected the Death Star battlestations of the Galactic Empire. The second Death Star was protected by a SLD-26 planetary shield generator on the moon of Endor. This effectively forestalled any attack against the station, until Han Solo's strike team destroyed the generator.
Personal shields
- "The Imperials think I'm somehow immortal, but I just have a good supply of power cells."
- ―Kyle Katarn on the Military Mobility Shield
From the era of the Jedi Civil War, personal shielding for individual units was commonplace. There were melee shields, energy shields, and Verpine shields.
During the Galactic Civil War through the Yuuzhan Vong War, however, personal shield tech was all but lost. Very few armies equipped their soldiers with personal shielding, due to their ineffectiveness with modern weapon technologies, assuming that they were small enough for personal use. Notable exceptions include the mercenary Kyle Katarn, Durge, and possibly[source?] the bounty hunter Boba Fett.
