[wavehawk]

Originally Posted by demino_hellsin

Hmm... Who would be a fitting pilot to use an IS with a crapload of physical shields?

- Someone with Ichika's density but none of his combat sense. EG someone who just charges straight into battle--wait, doesn't this sound like the Delphine from Break Blade?

Originally Posted by Detective-san

During the latter part of the Universal Century, Mobile Suits became much smaller because physical armour was often treated as paper in the face of beam weaponry. Therein lies what you seek.

- Not only smaller, suits had twice as much power output and mobilty than their equivalents. Since beam weaponry could penetrate most machines, speed became more important than armor. You still need the armor to protect the machinery from small arms and most ground vehicles, though.

Originally Posted by demino_hellsin

It's paradoxical since at that stage, all they needed was something that carried physical rounds and beam shields wouldn't mean jack.

- NOT quite. (Evil grin, looks to the Crossbone Gundam and other MS of that era that used physical weaponry)