Overshield: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:19, August 21, 2010

An Overshield is a form of Covenant-developed technology that strengthens the energy shielding system of the user.

Function

The Overshield technology is developed by the Covenant to enhance their Sangheili warriors' personal shielding system. The Overshield can be used by anyone utilising a personal shielding system such as a SPARTAN in a MJOLNIR armor or Sangheili with a combat harness.

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 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 it will also gradually depletes overtime.

Appearance

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 and 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 camouflage ability.

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. In Halo 3'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 Engineer; Covenant and UNSC units are provided an additional layer of protection because of the Overshield ability.

Tactics

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.

Disadvantages

A Overshield user is susceptible to 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 camouflage ability and makes the wearer more visible to other players, often drawing unwanted attention.

Trivia

The Black Eye Skull allows the player to achieve overshields through meleeing enemies which restores the player's shield, though only in Halo 2's campaign.
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: 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).

Gallery

Overshield.jpg

An Overshield in Halo: Combat Evolved.
Overshield.png

An Overshield in Halo 2.
Over.jpg

An Overshield in Halo 3.

Sources

^ Halo: Combat Evolved
^ Halo 3: ODST

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Ratings}}
 {{Era|H1|H2|H3|GOO|H3R}}
+An '''Overshield''' is a form of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]-developed technology that strengthens the [[energy shield|energy shielding system]] of the user.
-'''Overshields''' are a form of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] developed technology that strengthens the [[Energy Shields]] of the user.
 ==Function==
-[[File:Overshield.jpg|thumb|Overshield in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]].]]
+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 utilising 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 by the [[Covenant]] to enhance their [[Elite]] warriors' [[Elite Personal Energy Shield|shields]]. In [[Halo: Combat Evolved|''Halo: Combat Evolved'']] and [[Halo 2|''Halo 2'']], overshields boost a player's shields to 300%.  In [[Halo 3|''Halo 3'']], however, these overshields only boost a player's shields to 200% (although [[MLG]]'s playlists have a [[Custom Powerup]] Overshield that is of 300% strength). Overshields can be used by any [[Spartan]] (in [[MJOLNIR Mark V|Mark V]] or [[MJOLNIR Mark VI|VI]] [[MJOLNIR]] [[armor]]) or [[Elite]] who might come upon it.
-It takes approximately three seconds to charge once picked up. During this time, 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). If the overshield is picked up when the player's shield is below 100%, the player receives a full charge and the effects of the overshield stay.
+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 single player [[Campaign]], the overshield is reduced only when the player takes damage, but it is slowly reduced in an amount of time. In [[Multiplayer]], it gradually depletes over time.  The overshield can only be found in Campaign in some levels of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.  ''Halo 3'' includes a piece of equipment in Campaign, [[Invincibility (Equipment)|invincibility]], which has a shield-strengthening effect, though it only lasts 10 seconds. In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', all hostiles next to a Covenant [[Engineer]] are given an overshield; in the case of [[Brutes]], this does not ''enhance'' their armor's shields, it provides an additional layer of protection, similar to the effect of an overshield on a Spartan. Towards the end of the campaign, the player (as [[the Rookie]]) accompanies a friendly Engineer named [[Vergil]], and staying near to him will grant overshield abilities as well, though it isn't quite clear how it effects the player, as the [[HUD]] for [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s does not include a shield meter, as their armor lacks shields.
+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 it will also gradually depletes overtime.
 ==Appearance==
-[[File:Overshield.png|thumb|An Overshield in Halo 2]]
+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.
-In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the overshield is a glowing red orb of energy encased in a clear glass cube. In ''Halo 2'', both the orb and cube are gold in color. In ''Halo 3'', the orb, again glowing red, appears to be held together by several small magnets.  After walking over an overshield in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' or ''Halo 2'', the person's [[HUD]] shield display changes color from blue to red then green. In ''Halo 3'', the [[HUD]] shield display color changes from blue to green. Each color indicates one layer of [[Energy Shields|shields]].
-While wearing an overshield in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', the [[MJOLNIR]] armor is surrounded by a glowing force field which is easily seen even when wearing the [[Active Camouflage]]. This does not happen in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
+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 and ''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]].
-On the [[HUD]], the shield monitor shows a light green for a fully charged overshield, red for the second level, and the usual blue/purple (depending on player model) for the normal shields. The ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' overshield shows yellow/green at the highest level, rather than green. In ''Halo 3'', the overshield only raises your [[Energy Shields|shield]] level by one level, showing green as fully charged.
+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 (Equipment)|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.
 ==Tactics==
 ===Advantages===
-[[File:Over.jpg|thumb|190px|Overshield in ''[[Halo 3]]''.]]
+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]].
-Overshields effectively triple the strength of the [[MJOLNIR]] and [[Elite]] armor's [[shields]] in ''Halo 2'' and double in ''Halo 3''. The [[shields]] can now protect the person from heavy weapons such as [[Rocket Launchers]], [[Fuel Rod Cannons]], [[Sniper Rifles]], [[Fragmentation Grenades]], and even [[Plasma Grenades]]. Also, while the [[shields]] are charging, you are immune to conventional damage, but will still be vulnerable to [[assassination]], [[Guardians]], and falling to your death.
+During the three seconds of charging directly after picking up the Overshield, users are granted a brief moment of invincibility.
 ===Disadvantages===
-Due to the bright glow of the overshields, the wearer is made more visible to other players, often drawing unwanted attention. In Multiplayer, the overshield slowly loses its strength over prolonged periods of time, unless the game's settings allow an overshield. An overshield  can be fully depleted by an overcharged [[Plasma Pistol]] shot. Also, many players place traps near/on the Overshield, such as throwing [[Fragmentation Grenades]] or placing [[Trip Mines]] near it.
+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]].
-Note: The glow does not appear in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', and therefore has no disadvantages. The glow was probably added in the later games to balance the powerup.
+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.
-If, in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', Overshields and [[Active Camo]] are used both at the same time, it renders the [[Active Camo]] useless due to the glow that the Overshields give off, making the player visible.
 ==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'''s campaign.
+*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.
 *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.
-*The only game in which the Overshield appears in the Campaign portion of the game is ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
-*In ''Halo 3'' Multiplayer the Overshield only provides one extra shield, compared to the two in the previous games.
 *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.
-*In all the [[Halo]] games, a charged bolt from a [[Plasma Pistol]] will take an overshield down instantly.
 *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==
+<gallery widths="160">
+File:Overshield.jpg|An Overshield in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
+File:Overshield.png|thumb|An Overshield in ''Halo 2''.
+File:Over.jpg|An Overshield in ''Halo 3''.
+</gallery>
 ==Sources==
 <references/>
-==Related Pages==
+==See also==
 *[[Active Camouflage]]
 *[[Energy Shields]]
-*[[Elite Personal Energy Shield]]
+*[[Sangheili Personal Energy Shield]]
-*[[Jackal Point Defense Gauntlet]]
+*[[Kig-yar Point Defense Gauntlet]]
 *[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
 [[Category:Covenant technology]]
+[[Category:Technology]]