- Yes, I would.
- Yes, I would, but it needs adjusting.
- No, I would not.
Efficient research is a good way to reward players for sticking to a certain aircraft and tech line, as there is a clear incentive to go through the different areas of each tree for maximum efficiency. Currently, however, I feel like the way efficient research works in regards to foldered vehicles is rather disappointing. Consider (just as an example, this is not a unique problem to Israel) the Israeli Super Mysteres:
Image
Within the folder, the second Super Mystere (the Sa’ar) has an efficient research bonus from the first. For using the aircraft directly before it, you gain more RP towards your new plane. This makes perfect sense. But take a look at the next aircraft in the tree, the Mirage IIICJ (Shahak):
Image
The disappointing part of this situation is that, besides for completionists or in rare cases where a foldered vehicle has dramatically different capabilities (for example, the Sa’ar has dramatically improved ground attack capability to the Sambad), there is no tangible incentive for actually researching vehicles in folders. Not only is it a less efficient use of your research points, there is not a single case where researching a foldered vehicle is required to advance to the next vehicle or rank. To top it off, foldered vehicle require more RP to spade than the vehicle at the top of the folder, so if you intend to spade the vehicle you are playing more for less gain. This is in spite of foldered aircraft having slightly better economic modifiers, which I freely acknowledge but believe is not enough.
What I propose is that vehicles in folders be given an efficient research multiplier toward the vehicle following their folder. The multiplier should be increased but not by a staggering amount.
Some math for an example:
Click here
I will be using the Super Mysteres and Mirage IIICJ for this example. Assuming every single point of RP goes into the next aircraft only (and ignoring tier bonuses), currently the most efficient research would go like this:
- 260,000 RP (Shahak research price) / 1.10 (Sambad research bonus) = ~236,400 RP gained on Sambad
If you were to research the Sa’ar and play it out to get the Shahak, it would be woefully inefficient as seen here.
- 100,000 RP (Sa’ar research price) / 1.10 (Sambad research bonus) = ~91,000 RP gained on Sambad
- 260,000 RP (Shahak research price) / 1 (no research bonus) = 260,000 RP gained on Sa’ar
- ~91,000 RP + 260,000 RP = 351,000 RP total
If we were to add a research multiplier to the Sa’ar, the equation could look something like this:
- 100,000 RP (Sa’ar research price) / 1.10 (Sambad research bonus) = ~91,000 RP gained on Sambad
- 260,000 RP (Shahak research price) / 1.50 (potential new Sa’ar research bonus) = ~173,000 RP gained on Sa’ar
- ~91,000 RP + ~173,000 RP = ~264,000 RP total
Taking into account the slightly better economic modifiers for the Sa’ar, this would near the same level of efficiency. I think this would be a happy compromise between keeping the time of research similar while making foldered vehicles not a complete waste.
An efficient research bonus of 150% toward the next aircraft makes foldered aircraft range from slightly more efficient at lower tiers (see T18 folder to SK60) to slightly less efficient at higher tiers (see Sambad folder to Shahak). This number could be adjusted on a case by case basis, but I think 150% is a good baseline. In game it could look something like this:
One other note is that since I made this post, the display of efficient research has been updated on live, so the numbers here would be 10% and 50% respectively.
Should the research bonus be higher? Lower? Let me know what you think.