Tech Progression Formula?

[Stone Mill]

OK... I've been playing for a while, but I'm embarassed to say this question eludes me...

When trading tech with human players, you often exchange for even value (research points). However, I have a hard time (maybe I'm too lazy) figuring out the Tech Progression Formula for tech cost.

In the research queue, your current level is displayed, along with the cost to reach next level. But the cost researched to get to those levels are not displayed.

For example, if I were to trade 4 levels of ship construction, could I calculate how much value (research points) I have already spent, based on the cost displayed to reach the next level?

Or is there a spreadsheet available that shows the costs? As always, I appreciate any advice!

[Andrés]

LC level cost
L level you want to research

Low tech cost - LC*L
Mid tech cost - LC*(L^2)/2
High tech cost - LC*(L^2)

[geoschmo]

Andrés, you can display the square symbol. Instead of "L^2" you can have it print as L². The command is Alt+0178.

Geoschmo

[Ed Kolis]

Note that on medium tech cost the first level is still L instead of L/2, though...

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Ed Kolis:
Note that on medium tech cost the first level is still L instead of L/2, though...

True, perhaps the formula for mid tech should be:
Mid tech cost - LC*int[(L²)/2] , or something to that effect.

Geo

[Stone Mill]

Thanks for the help.

I tried to run through an example to apply the formulas.
I presume LC = The cost to get to level 1.

Mid-Tech(Medium) Cost

Repair (LC = 10,000)

Level 1: 10,000 * (1 * 1) = 10,000
Level 2: 10,000 * (2 * 2)/2 = 20,000
Level 3: 10,000 * (3 * 3)/2 = 45,000

High-Tech Cost

Repair (LC = 10,000)

Level 1: 10,000 * (1 * 1) = 10,000
Level 2: 10,000 * (2 * 2) = 40,000
Level 3: 10,000 * (3 * 3) = 90,000

Sound ok?

[ July 22, 2002, 18:34: Message edited by: Stone Mill ]

[geoschmo]

No Stone Mill, not 3 times 3, 3 to the power of 2. Is exponential, not multipled. And the exponent is always 2, that doesn't go up with the level. Only the base goes up with the level.

EDIT: Oh, crud. ROFL! I guess 3 * 3 is 3². Sorry Stone Mill. I guess you do have it right afterall.

Geo

[ July 22, 2002, 19:29: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[DavidG]

Well thanks for confusing the heck out of me!! I just added a feature to my modding program that tells you the total tech cost for an item but I had a different formula. After half an hour of head scratching I realized they gave the same results. Just to confuse you back here is what I used

Low cost - each level adds Cost x 1.
(5000, 10000, 15000, 20000, ...)

Medium cost
level 2 cost twice level 1, then each level thereafter adds (Level - 0.5) x Cost.
(5000, 10000, 22500, 40000, ...)

High cost
each level adds (Level - 0.5) x Cost x 2.
'(5000, 20000, 45000, 80000, ...)

[ July 22, 2002, 23:05: Message edited by: DavidG ]

[Baron Munchausen]

Those formulas were posted by PvK, and he was just describing what he saw without thinking very much about the underlying math. I don't think PvK is a mathematician or even a programmer. I think the new formulas posted in this thread are cleaner and probably closer to the truth of what's going on in the game code. Just goes to show you that there are many ways to describe the same thing.

[jimbob]

Alright, even more basic question:
If I want to trade with someone, say level 6 propulsion for level 2 sensors, what do I enter in the trade fields? Here's what I think I should do...

Give
propulsion
propulsion
propulsion
propulsion
propulsion
propulsion

Want
sensors
sensors

Is that what I offer?