Grista
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Posted - 2009.03.19 15:10:00 -
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Since I didn't see it mentioned, I'll note the biggest reason most players don't put much emphasis on Shield Compensation skills - there is no shield module equivalent to an Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane (EANM). EANM's add relatively low (15% give or take, obviously T2 and faction are better than T1) base armor resists against all damage types, while being completely passive (don't need to be activated, and therefore don't use cap).
Some will say, well they'll help me with shield resists in my "passive" (passive shield tanks refer to using active hardeners, but no shield booster, relying on shield recharge rate and/or a large hp buffer through shield extenders to protect you - some passive setups include no hardeners, some due) drake if I get capped out (through energy neutralizers) and my Invuln II's cycle off. If you get capped out in a passive drake (enough ships with neuts on you), you're likely to die anyway because those hostiles will be doing damage as well.
The modules Shield and Armor Compensation skills are really meant to address are the purely passive ones. For shields (as noted above), they really only improve resists against one damage type. Unless you are using a faction/officer passive shield hardener to plug a single "resist hole", you should probably just use an active hardener. If you're fighting something that heavily neuts your ship, you should likely fit a cap booster. There are circumstances where you can make a case for a passive hardener, but these are usually only a single resist, in a particular ship (often T2 specialty like logistics, heavy assault ships, and command ships), and fighting a particular opponent. It's almost always more effective and smarter to use a shield-resist rig or active hardener than a passive hardener.
For these reasons, my main (who can fly 3 races' HACs, Command Ships, Logistics, and Recons) has never used a passive hardener, and never trained shield comp skills. I did buy the skills long ago, in the event that if things ever change (new modules or skill description change), I can simply train them up.
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