Mass Replicator Alterations

[WhyteDragon]

A thought occured to me regarding the mass replicator. I remember noticing that Siretu mentioned he disliked the concept of purchasable consoles throughout the game. Mass Replicator ended up being 'the one exception.'

The current metagame I find for mass replicator is to fill in for the lack of a particular resource type, since it becomes far too expensive to use as an entirem ethod of proudcing resources. More often than not, the over abundance of a single type of resource can be overcome with the addition of just one more. That is how I see it, anyways.

So a thought occured to me for the scenario in which we decided that we would prefer that mass replicator was not in fact a purchasable console. Keep it on the ship at all times and instead make 'mass replicator upgrades.'

Research Veldite Synthesis - 60 Veldite, 10 Chalchorium, 10 Pyromanite, 5 Kermiculite (10 Second Research Time)
Enables the creation of Veldite at the mass replicator.

Research Chalchorium Synthesis - 10 Veldite, 60 Chalchorium, 10 Pyromanite, 5 Kermiculite (15 Second Research Time)
Enables the creation of Chalchorium at the mass replicator.

Research Pyromanite Synthesis - 10 Veldite, 10 Chalchorium, 60 Pyromanite, 5 Kermiculite (15 Second Research Time)
Enables the creation of Pyromanite at the mass replicator.

Research Kermiculite Synthesis - 10 Veldite, 10 Chalchorium, 10 Pyromanite, 15 Kermiculite (25 Second Research Time)
Enables the creation of Kermiculite at the mass replicator.

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The main reasoning I find behind this concept is that when you find yourslef in an excess of a particular resource type, they won't heavily impact your reasoning behind the purchase of a mass replicator. The main, limiting factor will typically be the resource in question -- hence the hefty cost in that field by comparison to others.

Even if this concept is abused heavily in the early game, it makes a team extremely vulnerable to a rushing tactic as they're limiting their own energy supply. With the proper scouting of energy it becomes exceedingly obvious if a team early game has begun blowing a large degree of energy on the reproduction of a resource type -- and even if they haven't, the minimum energy that would have to be expended in order to recompensate for the cost of the mass replicating option would typically be at least 10k+, even ignoring the other types of resources and research time that was utilized -- not to mention the time that was spent travelling to the mass replicator in the first place.

In no way would I necessarily call this a 'superior option,' however. This is simply an alternative option that would allow the mass replicator to not be considered a purchaseable console. It also opens up the option to tech quickly into an economy build on BC, and it can be countered through the proper scouting of the enemy. Those are my thoughts on it.

[Caladbolg]

I like the idea except... i'd change the price of making mineral for 1.5x its current value.
Basically, while it will allows to get a cheap replicator, the drawback would come from the energy required

[Red-Rocket]

energy...yes yes, could always have wep upgrades that will make them cost less energy to fire, or a larger energy cap. thing with mass replicator is that no one really wants to use so much energy, this is a good step forward, i wasnt aware that siretu was against buying consoles

[WhyteDragon]

energy...yes yes, could always have wep upgrades that will make them cost less energy to fire, or a larger energy cap. thing with mass replicator is that no one really wants to use so much energy, this is a good step forward, i wasnt aware that siretu was against buying consoles

That is a dirty lie! I use the mass replicator all the time ever since the reduction in cost. It's a wondeful way to overcome a resource shortage in a certain field.

[Caladbolg]

energy...yes yes, could always have wep upgrades that will make them cost less energy to fire, or a larger energy cap. thing with mass replicator is that no one really wants to use so much energy, this is a good step forward, i wasnt aware that siretu was against buying consoles

That is a dirty lie! I use the mass replicator all the time ever since the reduction in cost. It's a wondeful way to overcome a resource shortage in a certain field.

Exactly, now it would become a must. it needs to cost a little more energy to balance the fact it is much more affordable now.

[WhyteDragon]

energy...yes yes, could always have wep upgrades that will make them cost less energy to fire, or a larger energy cap. thing with mass replicator is that no one really wants to use so much energy, this is a good step forward, i wasnt aware that siretu was against buying consoles

That is a dirty lie! I use the mass replicator all the time ever since the reduction in cost. It's a wondeful way to overcome a resource shortage in a certain field.

Exactly, now it would become a must. it needs to cost a little more energy to balance the fact it is much more affordable now.

While I understand where you're coming from, I also don't necessarily agree.

The whole point of this setup is that this only compensates under two circumstances:

1) You happen to find a sufficient ammount of the resource you are having trouble obtaining in the first place in order to purchase the mass replicator.

2) You must have sufficient energy to replicate or are under a situation where you do not believe you will need that energy for defense, I.E. will not be rushed or attacked.

Moreover, this will only compensate for you as long as you are shortage of that resource. Soon enough, you may find that the issue lies in another type of resource.

Frankly, during normal games I would never even consider getting a mass replicator before about half way between the first and second kermiculite spawn. More often than not, there simply isn't enough energy to justify it and it costs too many resources. It's often better to rely on miners due to the risk to the battlecruiser. I think in making it cheap and keeping it the current price, it becomes a trap that draws people into using it too early and getting rushed. After all, a difference of even 10k energy will often make or break a battlecruiser fight. Considering Veldite, the cheapest, takes 24,000 energy to get a net benefit of 100 Veldite is an ammount of energy that could very easily cost the team the game if they aren't careful about it.

In short; I don't think energy is going to be the 'big issue' in this suggestion.

[Caladbolg]

I swear this map is gonna look more and more like cat N mouse...

but I might be wrong... who knows.

[Siretu]

I like this idea. I really do. Easy to implement and it changes the game in a direction I want to go.

[Corinthian]

You do not need my agreement, but you have it. I think the implementation of WhyteDragon's suggestion would be balanced, and beneficial, for more advanced strategies.

Until someone does some more calculation on EROI (energy return on investment), a change in energy cost is premature.