Fewer production upgrades [NEW POLL]
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alienkid10
- Trained
- Posts: 71
- Joined: 07 Apr 2009, 22:38
Re: Fewer production upgrades [NEW POLL]
How many are there now 3 and at what % each? If the number is 3 at %30 ea. then how about 3 at %60 ea. or 6 at %33 ea.?
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Rhamphoryncus
- New user
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 29 Apr 2009, 06:58
Re: Fewer production upgrades [NEW POLL]
IMO, the problem here is that the linear progression actually means decreasing returns. Going from 130% to 160% may sound like a 30% increase, but it's really only 23%. 160% to 190% is really only 19%. This continues all the way up, until 340% to 370% gives you a measly 9%. Considering that 9% costs you $450, it's hard to justify compared to the original 30%'s $75.
What we actually want is exponential. Multiply the steps together. If the first step is 116%, then 2 steps is 135%, and 5 steps would give you 210%.
A psychological tweak is to invert the description. Rather than 210% build speed you have a build time of only 48%. Eventually you get it down to 26%.
You still need to pick a balanced end value and set of costs, but now each individual step is worth taking.
As an aside, weapon damage has the same decreasing return, but there's a lot more motivation to squeezing everything you can out of them.
What we actually want is exponential. Multiply the steps together. If the first step is 116%, then 2 steps is 135%, and 5 steps would give you 210%.
A psychological tweak is to invert the description. Rather than 210% build speed you have a build time of only 48%. Eventually you get it down to 26%.
You still need to pick a balanced end value and set of costs, but now each individual step is worth taking.
As an aside, weapon damage has the same decreasing return, but there's a lot more motivation to squeezing everything you can out of them.
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3drts
- Trained
- Posts: 379
- Joined: 01 Aug 2007, 03:50
Re: Fewer production upgrades [NEW POLL]
Indeed, I was aware of the "diminishing returns" (by percent) as well - with weapon upgrades, you are constantly trying to stay ahead of armor upgrades, which suffer from the same diminishing returns by %.
It (sort of) means the lower tier upgrades are more valuable than the higher tier upgrades.
If I had some (hypothetical) line of armor upgrades, at a bonus of 30% of base HP/armor per level.... I could (hypothetically) have a 3,000% multiplier - while an opponent with 10 more upgrades has a 3,300% modifier. 10 Upgrades later and they only have 10% more armor/HP.
If I instead put those 10 upgrades into (cheaper and faster I might add) weapon upgrades (assume 30% per level as well)- thats a 300% weapon damage boost - my Tanks will kick the sh*t out of the tanks that went for the more expensive and longer armor upgrades....
It is this reasoning that I conclude it is may be better to spread out your upgrades on low tier upgrades.
Of course you have 5 research facilities, and having 1 or two upgraded weapon lines is better than a large mix of weapon lines with an mk1 upgrade levels - and proceeding along an upgrade line is needed to unlock better weapons - where new research really will give you a 30% increase *over the previous weapon damage*
Its a fixed benefit- if the body has 100 HP, each 30% HP upgrade adds 30 hp - but you end up paying more and more for that same 30 hp, and waiting longer and longer for it, even after your body has an HP of over 100.
It (sort of) means the lower tier upgrades are more valuable than the higher tier upgrades.
If I had some (hypothetical) line of armor upgrades, at a bonus of 30% of base HP/armor per level.... I could (hypothetically) have a 3,000% multiplier - while an opponent with 10 more upgrades has a 3,300% modifier. 10 Upgrades later and they only have 10% more armor/HP.
If I instead put those 10 upgrades into (cheaper and faster I might add) weapon upgrades (assume 30% per level as well)- thats a 300% weapon damage boost - my Tanks will kick the sh*t out of the tanks that went for the more expensive and longer armor upgrades....
It is this reasoning that I conclude it is may be better to spread out your upgrades on low tier upgrades.
Of course you have 5 research facilities, and having 1 or two upgraded weapon lines is better than a large mix of weapon lines with an mk1 upgrade levels - and proceeding along an upgrade line is needed to unlock better weapons - where new research really will give you a 30% increase *over the previous weapon damage*
Its a fixed benefit- if the body has 100 HP, each 30% HP upgrade adds 30 hp - but you end up paying more and more for that same 30 hp, and waiting longer and longer for it, even after your body has an HP of over 100.