Why do Borg vessels lack shields?

[MetalHead]

While I can see how it COULD be a conformal shield, I would reckon its some kind of superconductive coating on the hull, that spreads the damage. However, I cannot properly say anything else about that so I'll put it to rest.

That phaser strike with the Akira seems to be penetrating deeper into the hull...

[Tiberius]

But shields work no matter what the frequency. They just work better once modified.

Then why don't the shields on the Drones work that way?

[Teaos]

Dramatic effect.

[Tiberius]

That's a fine excuse for the real world, but in the Star trek world, that doesn't work so well. :p

[Sionnach Glic]

It seems the ship shields and the drones shields work different ways. It could be a side effect of having to scale down the technology.

[MetalHead]

Or its possible that the Borg are unable to reproduce the technology on a large scale. If they developed personal shielding first (which is likely, given that they probablly had drones planet side dealing with particle weapons long before they attained mass-space travel) then that could explain it - perhaps the efficeny of the power systems on Cubes, spheres, etc were not able to produce shields to the point where it would be beneficial in combat?

[Sionnach Glic]

Actually, I'd consider it likely they developed starship scale shields first. The power source for those things must be pretty powerfull, and it seems likely earlier models would be bulky and need larger generators. After a while, when they got more technologicaly advanced, they could scale down the technology. Possibly with the problems we see.

[MetalHead]

Actually, I'd consider it likely they developed starship scale shields first. The power source for those things must be pretty powerfull, and it seems likely earlier models would be bulky and need larger generators. After a while, when they got more technologicaly advanced, they could scale down the technology. Possibly with the problems we see.

Ok, interesting theory but how does that explain the almost constant lack of ship-based shield generators?

[Tiberius]

Or its possible that the Borg are unable to reproduce the technology on a large scale. If they developed personal shielding first (which is likely, given that they probablly had drones planet side dealing with particle weapons long before they attained mass-space travel) then that could explain it - perhaps the efficeny of the power systems on Cubes, spheres, etc were not able to produce shields to the point where it would be beneficial in combat?

or perhaps they could use larger scale versions of the drone-type shields for their vessels, but they've simply found a more efficient way of shielding their vessels. And they don't use that type of shield for the drones because the power requirements would be too high - a ship can easily generate that kind of power, but a drone couldn't.

[robjkay]

I cannot think of one episode where a Borg space vessel has shielding. Their drones carry adaptive shielding, how does it work for the Borg vessels?

Normally, I would assume that the structural integrity field (??) is adapted but in Q Who? and First Contact, and almost any episode involving Borg ships recieving weapons fire, impacts hit directly on the hull (and usually with gorgeous looking explosions).

So why would Borg starships not require shielding? I know they can regenerate damage, but does it not make sense for the collective to PREVENT such damage in the name of efficency>

Well I thought they did have some sort of shielding technology being alot of times the Borg adapted to the phaser and torpedoes to where they did not do any damage. That is why starfleet came up with phasers that continually changes modulation frequencies to where the Borg shields cannot adapt to them very easly and is why when the Borg attacked Earth in First Contact Starfleet had better success damaging the Borg Cube.

[Sionnach Glic]

Ok, interesting theory but how does that explain the almost constant lack of ship-based shield generators?

I suggested earlier on that the shield may not be the 'bubble' type used by other races. If the shield has the exact same shape of the ship and is only a couple of metres (or less) from the hull, there may be no obvious effects unless we get a close up view. This would explain the lack of visual effects along with the fact they can adapt to weapons.

[Teaos]

If they can't scale up their shields why would they build such big ships then? Just build one as big as possible with out lossing shields. Shields seem to be rather important.

[robjkay]

If they can't scale up their shields why would they build such big ships then? Just build one as big as possible with out lossing shields. Shields seem to be rather important.

Yeah but why? What shields they do have work just fine and if there not working the ship can regenerate. I think the way the Borg look at shields are that they are not really important.

[Sionnach Glic]

Thats not a very smart way of doing things.
Sure, you may be able to repair damage. But it takes up resources and it is far better to simply prevent damage and crew casualties being caused in the first place.

[Mikey]

But the tech MUST be available to them - to actuate space travel, the must at least have a form of navigational deflector. I would guess that what they DO use - either a material-based tech or directly conformal shields - has been found to work better than "shields" of our own common definition.