HardCMP is a hardpoint editor, but it's often used to create quick renders of ships, mostly for size comparisons. I noticed that pressing the "S" key shows something that looks like a shield hitbox. Examples:
Are these the actual shield hitboxes that are used in game? Can we use them for balance comparisons?
Yes, for fighters, bombers and freighters. For gunboats and upward the outer edge hitbox is automatically determined but is not the shieldgrid, unless explicitly stated otherwise: The Storm, Kusari Gunboat, Kusari Explorer, Tridente and Bottlenose each got a shield grid since their shapes allow for many shots to pass through their hull when aiming center mass. That or the models are just too damn tiny for their shield strength.
Please note that once the shield is down, you have to actually hit the hull, which has a very tight fitting hitbox itself in most cases. The shield bubble is only there when the shield is up.
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