Seems that no matter how much I dump into defenses, fleets keep overpowering them.

Maybe I'm not choosing the right combination of defenses.

What combination of defenses have been known to work best for any of you?

Off topic. If you want something added to the game, post in Game Suggestions, not help. Warning issued-DR

Sorry, meant to respond earlier but must have forgotten. The best way to build a shell is called layering. You start off with a certain mix of defenses, and once you have that, you repeat the process and stack another layer, then another and another. I cannot remember the numbers off the top of my head, however I will ask my old mentor if she still has them. I can tell you that the basic guideline to use is the rapid fire mechanic.

If you start now creating a shell (in an already developed universe), try getting the shell planet away from big opponents and make sure that you will not provide a profit. A good way to do so is to keep small storages. Keep throwing resources into defence and avoid satellites. I won't go into pattern details; it has to do mostly with what is attacking you and what top players got in abundance.

It would be hard and it will take a long time.

Currently, the universe that favours shells most of all is Massacre.

If you run into dead end, throw us a whistle.

Nice. Would anyone care to post screenshots demonstrating these tactics, shells and such?

what he means is
50 RL
100 LL
25 HL
10 Gauss
15 Ion
5 PC

build 1 layer of that and repeat.

Some of the more lazy ones will just keep building one type of defense that is cheap and fast to build. The most common choice foe this "spam" style is Light Lasers, as Rocket Launchers have too much against them in terms of enemy fleet advantages.

Rocket Launchers can actually decimate a fleet if you spam them. and Zorg, the whole point of a shell is to be unprofitable

True, however, we've all seen the terrifying Rapid Fire values against Rocket Launchers.

Lmao, i have seen Rocket Launchers stop a RIP dead in its tracks

That's interesting. Must've been one gargantuan shield of Rocket Launchers.