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Overshield: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|HCW}}
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An '''Overshield''' is a form of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]-developed technology that strengthens the [[energy shield|energy shielding system]] of the user.
An '''overshield''' is a form of [[Covenant]]-developed technology that strengthens the user's [[energy shield|energy shielding system]]


==Function==
== Overview ==
The Overshield technology is developed by the Covenant to enhance their [[Sangheili]] warriors' [[Sangheili Personal Energy Shield|personal shielding system]]. The Overshield can be used by anyone utilizing a personal shielding system such as a [[SPARTAN]] in a [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR armor]] or [[Sangheili]] with a [[combat harness]].
The overshield technology was developed to enhance the Covenant's [[Sangheili]] warriors' [[Sangheili Personal Energy Shield|personal shielding system]]. Although designed in mind for the Covenant shielding system, the technology can also be used by anyone utilizing a personal shielding system such as a [[SPARTAN-II]] in a [[MJOLNIR|MJOLNIR armor]].


In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2]]'', the overshield boosts the player's shields to 300%. This was reduced in ''[[Halo 3]]''; the overshield only boost a player's shields to 200%. It takes approximately three seconds to overcharge the energy shields once picked up. During this short period, the player is invincible. The player's normal shield does not take damage until the overshield is completely depleted (although any damage overlapping from something destroying the overshield (i.e. a grenade's explosion) will also do damage to the player's normal shield). In the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' [[Anniversary Map Pack]] shields are once again boosted to 300%, however players now spout a trail of flames, further revealing their position. The trail also forms if the player enters a vehicle.
== Gameplay ==
In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'', the overshield boosts the player's shields to 300%. This was reduced to 200% in ''Halo 3''. In ''Halo: Reach''<nowiki />'s [[Anniversary Map Pack]], the shields are once again boosted to 300%; however players now spout a trail of flames, further revealing their position. The trail also forms if the player enters a vehicle.


In campaign mode, the overshield is reduced only when the player takes damage.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'''</ref> In multiplayer, the overshield is not only subjected to the same rule in campaign mode but also gradually depletes overtime.
In campaign mode, the overshield is reduced only when the player takes damage.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'''</ref> In multiplayer, the overshield is not only subjected to the same rule in campaign mode but also gradually depletes overtime. Due to its reductive nature, the overshield is only useful for a short period in multiplayer; the overshield slowly loses its strength over prolonged duration. Like the standard energy shield, the overshield can be fully depleted by an overcharged [[Plasma Pistol]].


==Appearance==
It takes approximately three seconds to overcharge the energy shields once picked up. During this short period, the player is invulnerable to all forms of attacks, save for a [[melee]] attack from behind. The player's normal shield does not take damage until the overshield is completely depleted (although any damage overlapping from something destroying the overshield such as an explosion from a grenade will also do damage to the player's normal shield).
In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the Overshield appears as a glowing red orb of energy encased in a clear glass cube. The same design is used in ''Halo 2''; this time, however, the orb and cube are gold in color. The design of the Overshield in ''Halo 3'' differs and shares some resemblances from previous titles: the orb appears as a glowing red orb of energy, without a glass cube encasing it.


After picking up an Overshield in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the player's [[Heads-up display]] shield display changes color from blue to red to yellow. The same is present in ''Halo 2'', though the shield display changes color from blue to red to green instead of to yellow. In ''Halo 3'' however, the shield display only changes from blue to red. This gives the indication that each color represents one layer of shield. A visual effect that is present only in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' is the glowing effect which surrounds the user with an Overshield. This visual effect also negates the [[Active Camouflage|camouflage ability]].
In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', the wearer is awarded a visual effect which gives off a full-body glowing effect. This visual effect negates the effects of an [[active camouflage]] and makes the wearer more visible to other players, often drawing unwanted attention.


The Overshield can only be found in campaign mode in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. It is absent from ''Halo 2''<nowiki />'s and ''Halo 3''<nowiki />'s campaign mode. In ''Halo 3''<nowiki />'s campaign mode, a piece of equipment called the [[Invincibility]] which replaces the Overshield. The Overshield makes an appearance in ''Halo 3: ODST'' as a shielding effect awarded to those within the vicinity of a Covenant [[Huragok|Engineer]]; Covenant and UNSC units are provided an additional layer of protection because of the Overshield ability.
== Appearances ==
In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the overshield appears as a glowing red orb of energy encased in a clear glass cube. The same design is used in ''Halo 2''; this time, however, the orb and cube are gold in color. The design of the overshield in ''Halo 3'' differs and shares some resemblances from previous titles: the orb appears as a glowing red orb of energy, without a glass cube encasing it.


==Tactics==
After picking up an overshield in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the player's [[HUD]] shield display changes color from blue to red to yellow. The same is present in ''Halo 2'', though the shield display changes color from blue to red to green instead of to yellow. In ''Halo 3'' however, the shield display only changes from blue to red. This gives the indication that each color represents one layer of shield.
===Advantages===
The Overshield effectively triple the strength of any shielding system in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'', and double in ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 3: ODST''. The Overshield can protect users from a direct fire of a [[Fuel Rod Gun]], [[Sniper Rifles]], [[Fragmentation Grenades]] and the Covenant [[Beam Rifle]], and from indirect fire of a [[Rocket Launchers]] and [[Plasma Grenades]].


During the three seconds of charging directly after picking up the Overshield, users are granted a brief moment of invincibility.
The overshield can only be found in campaign mode in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. It is absent from ''Halo 2''<nowiki />'s and ''Halo 3''<nowiki />'s campaign mode (replaced by [[Invincibility]]. The overshield makes an appearance in ''Halo 3: ODST'' as a shielding effect awarded to those within the vicinity of an [[Engineer]]; Covenant and UNSC units are provided an additional layer of protection because of the overshield ability.
 
===Disadvantages===
A Overshield user is susceptible to [[Melee|an assassination]]. Due to its reductive nature, the Overshield is only useful for a short period in multiplayer; the overshield slowly loses its strength over prolonged duration. Like the standard energy shield, the overshield can be fully depleted by an overcharged [[Plasma Pistol]].
 
In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', the wearer is awarded a visual effect which gives off a full-body glowing effect. This visual effect negates the effects of a [[Active Camouflage|camouflage ability]] and makes the wearer more visible to other players, often drawing unwanted attention.


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The [[Halo 2 Skulls|Black Eye Skull]] allows the player to achieve overshields through meleeing enemies which restores the player's shield, though only in ''Halo 2''<nowiki />'s campaign.
*The [[Halo_2_Skulls#Black_Eye|Black Eye Skull]] in ''Halo 2'' allows the player to achieve overshields through meleeing enemies which restores the player's shield.
*In ''Halo 3'', you can pick up the overshield (or [[Active Camo]]) as equipment if you have a piece of equipment and hold your equipment change button (default RB) and barely touch the overshield. Then if you die you drop the Overshield, or if you pick up another piece of equipment you will drop/pickup the overshield, allowing you to surprise your enemies. This works on matchmaking online.
*In ''Halo 3'', you can pick up the overshield (or [[active camouflage]]) as equipment if you have a piece of equipment and hold your equipment change button (default RB) and barely touch the overshield. Then if you die you drop the overshield, or if you pick up another piece of equipment you will drop/pickup the overshield, allowing you to surprise your enemies. This only works on matchmaking.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', when you walk over an overshield, your screen will turn pink for a second and you will hear the same sound as when your shields are loading.
*The overshield was most likely inspired by a similar device found in the ''Marathon'' series. Using this device in the ''Marathon Series'' causes up to two additional layers of heath to be added (yellow/purple).
*The overshield was most likely inspired by a similar device found in the ''Marathon'' series. Using this device in the ''Marathon Series'' causes up to two additional layers of heath to be added (yellow/purple).
*The first overshield in the series can be found inside the first Covenant boarding craft that the player encounters on the level ''The Pillar of Autumn''.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="160">
<gallery>
File:Overshield.jpg|An Overshield in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Overshield.jpg|An Overshield in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:Overshield.png|An Overshield in ''Halo 2''.
File:Overshield.png|An Overshield in ''Halo 2''.
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[Active Camouflage]]
*[[Active camouflage]]
*[[Energy Shields]]
*[[Energy shield]]
*[[Sangheili Personal Energy Shield]]
*[[Kig-yar Point Defense Gauntlet]]
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
*[[Speed Boost]]
*[[Speed Boost]]
*[[Damage Boost]]
*[[Damage Boost]]
[[Category:Shield technology]]
[[Category:Shield technology]]
[[Category:Campaign]]
[[Category:Multiplayer]]

Revision as of 03:17, February 15, 2013

An overshield is a form of Covenant-developed technology that strengthens the user's energy shielding system

Overview

The overshield technology was developed to enhance the Covenant's Sangheili warriors' personal shielding system. Although designed in mind for the Covenant shielding system, the technology can also be used by anyone utilizing a personal shielding system such as a SPARTAN-II in a MJOLNIR armor.

Gameplay

In Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, the overshield boosts the player's shields to 300%. This was reduced to 200% in Halo 3. In Halo: Reach's Anniversary Map Pack, the shields are once again boosted to 300%; however players now spout a trail of flames, further revealing their position. The trail also forms if the player enters a vehicle.

In campaign mode, the overshield is reduced only when the player takes damage.[1][2] In multiplayer, the overshield is not only subjected to the same rule in campaign mode but also gradually depletes overtime. Due to its reductive nature, the overshield is only useful for a short period in multiplayer; the overshield slowly loses its strength over prolonged duration. Like the standard energy shield, the overshield can be fully depleted by an overcharged Plasma Pistol.

It takes approximately three seconds to overcharge the energy shields once picked up. During this short period, the player is invulnerable to all forms of attacks, save for a melee attack from behind. The player's normal shield does not take damage until the overshield is completely depleted (although any damage overlapping from something destroying the overshield such as an explosion from a grenade will also do damage to the player's normal shield).

In Halo 2 and Halo 3, the wearer is awarded a visual effect which gives off a full-body glowing effect. This visual effect negates the effects of an active camouflage and makes the wearer more visible to other players, often drawing unwanted attention.

Appearances

In Halo: Combat Evolved, the overshield appears as a glowing red orb of energy encased in a clear glass cube. The same design is used in Halo 2; this time, however, the orb and cube are gold in color. The design of the overshield in Halo 3 differs and shares some resemblances from previous titles: the orb appears as a glowing red orb of energy, without a glass cube encasing it.

After picking up an overshield in Halo: Combat Evolved, the player's HUD shield display changes color from blue to red to yellow. The same is present in Halo 2, though the shield display changes color from blue to red to green instead of to yellow. In Halo 3 however, the shield display only changes from blue to red. This gives the indication that each color represents one layer of shield.

The overshield can only be found in campaign mode in Halo: Combat Evolved. It is absent from Halo 2's and Halo 3's campaign mode (replaced by Invincibility. The overshield makes an appearance in Halo 3: ODST as a shielding effect awarded to those within the vicinity of an Engineer; Covenant and UNSC units are provided an additional layer of protection because of the overshield ability.

Trivia

  • The Black Eye Skull in Halo 2 allows the player to achieve overshields through meleeing enemies which restores the player's shield.
  • In Halo 3, you can pick up the overshield (or active camouflage) as equipment if you have a piece of equipment and hold your equipment change button (default RB) and barely touch the overshield. Then if you die you drop the overshield, or if you pick up another piece of equipment you will drop/pickup the overshield, allowing you to surprise your enemies. This only works on matchmaking.
  • The overshield was most likely inspired by a similar device found in the Marathon series. Using this device in the Marathon Series causes up to two additional layers of heath to be added (yellow/purple).

Gallery

List of appearances

Sources

See also