battle calculations

[togukawa810331]

Hi there,
in lack of a battle simulator, i kind of compiled one myself, but i don't really understand the relationship between the attack, structure and shield points.
i've seen the way the attacks occur - the attacker firing once and the the defender replying - but i didn't really get the gist of it. for example, if an IPM has 12000 points of attack, does that mean that it'll take 12000 points of defense (both shield and structure) of the defender, 'cause it sure took a lot more. I know it depends on the techonlogies researched by that didn't cover for the difference.
would some one help me with that?
and would you please press the admins to build a help file sooner. there are two months now since the begining of the game and no help has been compiled.
thnx, dudes posting.php?mode=post&f=3#

[Malbordeus]

most people with ipm's have weapons tech at a decent level, would that account for it?

[togukawa810331]

nope, it wasn't enough either. ?