[Ragnarok-X]

Total counts. If a ship costs 2000 minerals 500 organics and 1000 radioactives, it is summed to a total of 3500 resources. When retrofitting, the new design is allowed to have a maximum TOTAL cost of 3500 * 150% = 5250 resources. Another retroseries is allowed to have 5250 * 150% then.

This can be even further exploited when adding components which only minorly increase mineral cost, but more organic oder radioactive cost. For example, the first design (which you construct and not retrofit) should hold alot of plague bombs. Those cost of lot of organics, but few minerals. That way, your TOTAL cost will majorly increase (and therefor the next 150% are more as well) while the total buildtime will not increase since you are only using more organics. Get me ?