Talk:Ion Power Cell/@comment-82.34.218.21-20170703122645/@comment-28851543-20171227163405

The issue isn't the Cyclops or the low storage of the cells - you're using the Cyclops wrong. You appear to be using it as a Seamoth, which it is not. If you pilot your Cyclops correctly, you should never need shields - they're just for emergencies.

The seamoth is indeed to be piloted in a way so you out-maneuver enemies and zap off agile predators. The PRAWN is indeed to be piloted in a way so you out-gun predators.

The Cyclops, however, is to be piloted strategically and stealthily. It has no weapons - don't try out-gunning. It is not maneuverable - don't try out-maneuvering. Instead, at the helm you have a plethora of controls. You have 3 speeds - slow, standard and flank, higher speeds using more energy and producing more noise. Normal cruising should be done at standard speed, sneaking past threats at slow and escaping threats at flank. Finally, you can shut off the engine to be entirely invisible to threats. This tool alone means you will rarely need shields. If you need to go REALLY close to a threat but still move, try silent running. At the cost of a bit of energy, you can be very stealthy, even at flank speed, and at slow speed you're pretty much only going to be noticed by things you're running into. No extras needed for these - no decoys, no upgrades and you're pretty much set for all threats.

Now I'll talk about upgrades and decoys. Sonar, while it requires a lot of juice, is good for dark caves. Shields are OK if you're under attack. Decoys are amazing for concealing your escape.