Site Searching Statistics Questions

[Jazzepi]

I believe that the sites are all rolled up randomly by the generation mechanism for each map. When it is created all the sites are already distributed. That being said, let me try to give some insight as best I can. I'm not good with probability, Ich is, so hopefully he'll respond.

1) AFAIK, sites are only related to one particular magical type. A sight that produces both earth, water, fire, and astral gems will only be a site of one type. This means that searching all the nature sites to level 4 will not reduce the chances of finding an astral site that also produces nature gems.

2) It's useful to look at the # of sites in a distribution along the levels. There are more level 1 sites then level 2 so on and so forth with their being more level 2 sites then level 3 and more level 3 than level 4. Literally 95% of sites are level 1-3 which is why I always advocate that rainbow site searching mages take level 3, not 4, of a given magic path if all you care about is finding sites. You'd have to actually bring up Edi's open office spread sheet with every site in it, organize it by a given type, and then count the # of sites of a particular level to figure out the probabilities.

Suffice it to say, I don't consider a province fully searched until I've done so up to at least level 3. I would never site search, unless I was desperate, with a level 1 path mage. I would site search with a level 2 in multiple paths like EA Ten'Chi's flying capital only mages, or with a mage in 3-4 in a single path.

Hope that helps.

Jazzepi

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

From what I recall, barring special maps... Though what I recall is quite limited, and hardly the entire deal...

Terrain has certain modifiers on probability, and sites that can be generated. We'll assume 40%, however.

When the game is started, each province (capitals excepted) gets four separate rolls for sites. For each site that is found, it rolls for what kind of site is there. If that roll produces a rare site, then it rerolls to see if it keeps that site. If it produces a unique site, and that site is already taken, it selects another.

Wastelands have a higher chance of having sites, while farmlands have a lower chance. Once its figured out whether a province contains a site, the probability of a province containing a site of a particular path is determined by the number of possible sites. That is, you'll never find blood underwater, death is unlikely, and water common, simply because of available selection.

A site can only be of one path. It can generate gems of more than one path, but it still belongs to only one path. There are water sites that produce fire gems, and fire gems only. You can get a clue by looking at the icon, or loading up Edi's database and sorting the sites sheet by type.

[sector24]

Very helpful stuff, thanks. I'm actually more of an "Acashic Record" everything type of player, but I'm trying to be more practical.