Changes

Void shields can be used to provide personal protection, although these are often reserved for special uses such as elite [[Enforcer]] squads on certain assignments. They are also frequently used to protect openings such as windows or doors.{{Fn|2}} Besides giving off a distinct ozone smell, void shields protecting these openings create a barrier as solid as any wall. Anyone or anything caught within one of these openings when the shield is engaged will be sliced in two, both halves falling apart and the area intersected by the shield turned into a boiling fog of blood and atomised metal.{{Fn|33a}}{{Fn|3b}} These voids are also capable of keeping an atmosphere contained, a vital aspect when dealing with contaminated air.{{Fn|4}}

Void shields serve as the main line of defense for [[Imperial Titans]], with multiple generators creating overlapping shields for maximum effect. Each shield will absorb damage until it is overloaded, upon which safety features cut in and force the generator to shut down and bleed off excess energy before it is restarted again and made operable. In theory then a Titan will have some of its shields protecting it at all times, though in cases of emergency the Titan's [[Princeps]] can override the cut-off and force the generator to remain active; this has the added risk of damaging the generator and turning it into a useless pool of molten slag as it is overwhelmed by enemy fire.{{Fn|10a}} Only war engines with three or more void shield generators are capable of this functionality.{{Fn|10c}}

Void shields on Titans are projected at some distance from the war engine itself; for example the void shields on a Warhound extend out to ten meters surrounding the war engine,{{Fn|12}} while those on larger Titans extend out to thirty or more.{{Fn|15}} This means it is theoretically possible for armored vehicles and infantry to assault a Titan bypass the shields and cause direct damage to ita Titan, although in practice actually accomplishing this feat is much harder. In one extraordinary example the 3rd Armored Company of the 124th Cadian regiment managed to disable a [[Chaos]] [[Battle Titan]] by slipping through it's void shields and targeting it's weakened knee, causing it to collapse, although nearly the entire company was wiped out except for a lone survivor.{{Fn|16}} When Titans engage in close combat with each other not only do they get within the minimum range of their void shields, but their shields actually merge together. This same technique can be used by friendly Titans as a type of defensive tactic as well.{{Fn|10b}}{{Fn|10c}} Titan shields which merge together send colourful flares of lightning discharge into the air as their titanic energies push against each other,{{Fn|17a}} and when they collapse under enemy fire they tend to unleash a damaging blast wave of overpressure.{{Fn|17b}}

Titan void shields can be bypassed through [[teleportation]] such as in the case of [[Terminator Titanhammer Squad]]s or special [[Warp Missile]]s which travel through the Warp.{{Fn|10d}} They can however be configured to create a solid wall which allows nothing to pass, not even transdimensional travel such as that used by the [[Necrons]], however but this requires increasing the power intensity to critical levels which threaten to cause catastrophic overload.{{Fn|18}} It is also possible to bypass a Titan's void shields if you have access to their technical specifications which detail any mild shield defects. Such defects are atomically small but, if known, would allow an enemy Titan to target that precise location and overload the shields with less firepower than would normally be required.{{Fn|14c}}

In addition, since many of these void shields are geared towards defending against high-velocity kinetic and energy attacks, slow-marching infantry and vehicles are able to penetrate through the protective cover.{{Fn|22}} Others, geared as they are to protecting against bombardment, will even allow aircraft such as [[Valkyrie]]s to pass through their envelope, the energies of their passage arcing off the fuselage and creating an electric tinge in the air.{{Fn|23b}} There is tremendous risk involved in this strategy though, as weapon impacts against the void shield create incandescently bright energy flares. Even at a distance of over one hundred and fifty meters these flares present a hazard to the encroaching forces, and are so bright they require the use of photoflash goggles to avoid blindness.{{Fn|20b}} As is often the case for these void shields they are usually connected to a curtain wall which provides a more solid barrier against entry, although here it is possible if the enemy gets close enough to try and find a gap between shield and wall and exploit it with weapons fire.{{Fn|24a24b}} Void shields on this scale have a tremendous impact on the surrounding atmosphere, producing an insulation effect which will keep the ambient temperature inside the shield warmer than the surrounding environment and stop precipitation from getting in.{{Fn|24e}} This effect is used to retain a breathable atmosphere in cases where the environment would not normally allow it,{{Fn|8a}} although sometimes the air inside can become clammy, almost oppressive, when the shield is activated.{{Fn|21}} This same ability to retain an atmosphere can sometimes result in rather violent aftereffects when the void shields collapse under enemy fire, producing a powerful wave of overpressure to scour across the battlefield and pull the oxygen from soldier's lungs, blind them or explode their eardrums if not fully protected.{{Fn|23a}}

Void shields on this scale have a tremendous impact on the surrounding atmosphere, producing an insulation effect which will keep the ambient temperature warmer inside the Particularly large void shield than outside and stop precipitation from getting in.{{Fn|24d}} This effect is generators can be used to retain hide a portion of a breathable atmosphere planet's surface from orbital scans in cases where order to mask troop movements from the environment would not normally allow it,{{Fn|8a}} although sometimes the air inside can become clammy, almost oppressive, when the shield is activatedenemy.{{Fn|21}} This same ability to retain an atmosphere can sometimes result in rather violent aftereffects when the void shields collapse under enemy fire, producing in a powerful wave A by-product of overpressure to scour across the battlefield and pull the oxygen from soldier's lungsthis effect is that weather patterns are significantly disrupted, blind them or explode their eardrums if not fully protectedcreating freak storms which can cover large areas.{{Fn|23a14d}}

Void shields are found on both civilian and military starships so that they may survive the hazards of space travel. Forming a teardrop of invisible energy around the ship, they are able to absorb and deflect stellar radiation and meteor showers, even weapons fire in the case of military vessels. Ships are protected by multiple layers of void shields, each one able to absorb a limited amount of energy before it collapses and the generator temporarily shuts down to bleed off energy.{{Fn|25a}}{{Fn|26}} Active void shields also prevent the use of [[Teleportationteleportation]], forcing enemy ships to bring down their target's defenses before they can initiate boarding actions.{{Fn|25c}} It is also possible for a ship to shift power between different facings of their void shields to better deflect attack.{{Fn|27}}

*{{Endn|'''3}}''': [[Guns of Tanith (Novel)]] by [[Dan Abnett]], **{{Endn|3a}}: p. 85-86, **{{Endn|3b}}: p. 92-93**{{Endn|3c}}: p. 122

**{{Endn|10c}}: p. 33-34**{{Endn|10d}}: p. 37

**{{Endn|24a}} : p. 30-31**{{Endn|24b}}: p. 106**{{Endn|24b24c}} : p. 131**{{Endn|24c24d}} : p. 142**{{Endn|24d24e}} : p. 213