Unit Cost Equation

[sushiboat]

Here is the corrected version.

Cost = (2.7 * MagicRes) + (.6 * TacMove) + (.7 * RegLdr) +
(29.4 * FullRand) + (37.2 * ElemRand) + (26.9 * SorcRand) + (37.5 * Blood) +
(30.6 * Death) + (32.8 * Earth) + (33.2 * Fire) + (37.8 * Nature) +
(31.8 * Astral) + (33.2 * Water) + (16.3 * Holy) + (30.8 * Unholy) +
(2.5 * Att_Def) + (12.9 * Air_Prec) + (11.0 * HP_Str)

Att_Def = ((Att - 9.4) / 2.1) + ((Def - 9.5) / 3.2)

Air_Prec = ((Air - .3) / .7) + ((Prec - 10.6) / 1.9)

HP_Str = ((HP - 12.8) / 8.1) + ((Str - 10.5) / 3.2)


Here are the mismatch lists. The lists changed a little, so I also include the
ones that dropped off.

Code:

---

Mage            Real_Price   Formula



Starspawn            150     294

Sorceress            110     200

Centaur Hierophant    80     166

Asmeg Jarl           160     241

Troll King           150     229

Master 5 Elem        190     269

Witch Doctor          80     144

Sidhe Champion       140     203

Amber Clan Mage      160     220

Circle Master        100     160



Garnet Priestess     100     153

Theurg               150     210

*Sidhe Lord          280     274

Grand Master         270     317





Warrior Mage         200     142

Pan                  350     290

Hydromancer          180     117

Starspawn            280     216

Navigator            180     102

High Priest of Sun   390     306

Lizard King          280     179

Capricorn            350     247

Anathemant Dragon    360     232

Alchemist            300     122



*Arch Theurg         380     339

Niefel Jarl          500     443

*Hangadrott          400     361





* These had database errors earlier.

---

[Endoperez]

Since there is a Starspawn in both lists, maybe it would be better for you to make sure which one is which... I haven't played R'lyeh in a long time, and can't remember which one is cheaper. Also, which Sorceress is that on the upper list?

[sushiboat]

Endoperez, your hunch was right. The starspawns got switched somehow, so
the more expensive one matches well. Same problem with the sorceresses.
Oh, well, maybe next weekend.

[Endoperez]

Wow, I hadn't thought of THAT! I just didn't know which one was which. Well, it's nice to be of help, even when I don't realize I'm helping...

[BigDaddy]

Sushi!
Sorry about the errors in the database (hope I didn't cost you more time than I saved). Great work!

johan osterman said:
Some of the units that your formula report as overpriced are intentionally overpriced for thematic reasons, such as the Lizard King. . .

I agree, after Sushi's equation contains all the variables he's prepared to list, the next step is to remove those units whos cost is thematically altered. They aren't representative of the truest cost equation, because they are altered.

Kristoffer O said:
Sacred troops and priests have 1/2 upkeep and are generally given costs 25-50% higher. This might explain some of the worst buys.

The cost should be accounted for by the fact that they have holy magic (for the mages only).

Anyway ATTACHMENT

Attached is the updated costing spreadsheet. I'll make it cleaner whenever I know the equation is as complete as its going to get. . .

[Scott Hebert]

Kristoffer O said:
Sacred troops and priests have 1/2 upkeep and are generally given costs 25-50% higher. This might explain some of the worst buys.

As much as I hate to disagree with one of the game developers...

Using your own formulae, Sacred Commanders and Holy Priests have no extra gold cost.

Sidhe Lord and Sidhe Champ seems to be way overpriced with your formula. Why is the sidhe lord more expensive than the hangadrott? The hangadrott is better in every way except that he can't wear shoes IIRC.

At a guess, because the Sidhe Lord has Air and Nature magic. The IW formula assumes equal paths have equal costs. Sushi's doesn't.

As for my own thoughts, most of these have small path levels. If I read the formula correctly, the path costs do not follow IW's formula, which reduces multiple paths at low levels.

The Circle Master can be removed, as it is not an offender. He should cost about 160; in fact, at 100 he is the most under-costed mage in the game, on a percentage basis.

The Master of the 5 Elements is the most obvious mage that I base my comments on.

[Scott Hebert]

Again, Sushi, the issue that I'm seeing with your cost analysis is that higher path levels aren't being given their properly higher costs. According to IW, magic paths have progressively increasing costs, and you have a simpler 'cost-per-level' scale.

If you go by IW costing, 2 in a single path is worth almost twice that of 1 in 2 paths.

About the only other concern I have is: where does the High Seraph fall?

[BigDaddy]

The High Seraph comes out costing 210 with Sushi's equation. If you download the spreadsheet I posted you can check for yourself.

I agree, that ideally his equation would price the lvl 2 paths seperately from lvl 3 paths.

[Scott Hebert]

210? Nah, too low. As far as d/ling stuff goes, I'm not on my own computer right now, so it's not possible.

[johan osterman]

Scott Hebert said:
As much as I hate to disagree with one of the game developers...

Using your own formulae, Sacred Commanders and Holy Priests have no extra gold cost.

At a guess, because the Sidhe Lord has Air and Nature magic. The IW formula assumes equal paths have equal costs. Sushi's doesn't.

As for my own thoughts, most of these have small path levels. If I read the formula correctly, the path costs do not follow IW's formula, which reduces multiple paths at low levels. ...

There isn't an IW formula to speak of. If you are referring to the mod guidelines they are intended to be rough guidelines not a formula to follow slavishly. Kristoffer wrote both the guidelines and put the price tag on 90% of the units. Most units are priced according to 'what do comparable previously existing units cost' 'is there some specific thematic reason why their price should differ from X Y or Z' etc. Holy units are usually priced higher whether it is mentioned in the modding guidelines or not.