Neobear
They should try harder to combine their knowledge of physics to magic as it would reduce the mana cost by a lot. They also could have a reactive barrier that is semi-active and only activates in full in a small area when a projectile is detected. This could be done by having a detection magic area outside the shield that detects projectiles, then have computers predict the path of the projectile and discard irrelevant data. Then you will have a shield that is not only mana efficient but can also increase your shield strength by 8 times at minimum (8 times cause you only need to shield one quadrant on a sphere in the direction of the attack instead of all directions at once). The only problem with this shield type is that if a projectile is fast enough to bypass a magic detection field before it sends the signal that it detected something, then your shield will not be reinforced in the area so you are back into regular shield strength.
Fords right nothing is for sure, especially when Murphy comes to play. I wonder since the barrier is like small bubbles. Could the carrier use the bubbles like you would use super cavitation? Instead of a stationary bubble. Could we rotate it? This could give multiple advantages. One advantage is that the enemy will not be able focus its fire on one location. If they fire on one side of the ship. The force field will be spreading the damage over all the field. Which could save on over all power. Second just like super cavitation speed could increase. Third with the rotation of enemy fire. The rounds could be deflected like slope armor on tanks. Fourth instead of one bubble taking the full force. With them rotating. We could also have a counter rotating secondary field. Creating multiple fields that could take on the burden instead of one. Fifth possibility is that ships with this type of fields could come in handy for space. Especially with the lack of matter interacting. Man if the Super Carrier could go atmospheric. That would be awesome. Great chapter