Well, it's about time that something was done about this
sorely neglected tree. But, as my further analysis is setting out to
prove, the changes are nowhere near enough.
Basic Info:
Level 50 Character
Maxed Data Siphon and Locate Data Node. Nothing else from that tree other than those two abilities.
This
analysis will be done on info rather than XP, because the level 50 is
at Max XP and hence any other XP earned does not show. However in
general Datanode XP payout is 1/5th as much again as info.
The Locations:
Area | Level | Info Received
Uriah: Level 1: Average: 50 info
Eshean Projects: Level 14: Average: 750 info
Shinjuku: Level 21: Average: 1,000 info
Bathary Row: Level 26: Average: 1,400 info
Morell: Level 36: Average: 1,800 info
Stratford Campus/Creston Heights: Level Highest I could Think of: Average: 2,100 info
The Comparisons:
Killing Lt. Morales and Co. Approx 300k info over 4 minutes (240 seconds)
An optimal level 50 Assasination Mission; 2 'kill a 3 chev level 51' stages over 6 minutes (320 seconds) (615k)
The time to perform a single tap is being taken as 15 seconds, to account for transit time and possible failed attemps.
2,100 info * 2 = 8,400 info per 15 seconds.
300,000/8,400 = 35.7 = 36
240/15 = 16
In
order to equal the info output of killing Lt. Morales, you would need
to perform 36 taps. This, however, would take 540 seconds. As it is,
you can only get 16 taps, or 134,400 info in this time.
175 + 2*220 = 615,000
615,000 / 8,400 = 73.2
320 / 15 = 21.33..r
This
is even worse. To equal the mission payout, you'd need 73 taps in the
same amount of time. However it is only actually possible to do 21. And
that's assuming that a mission takes the full 6 minutes, which at level
50 it normally doesn't.
As for Pandora's box GPS mission ... I'm not even going to start.
Conclusion:
So, what do we have so far? Even WITH
the proposed changes, Data Miner will still suck. Big time. Not to
mention that 3/4 of the abilities under that branch no longer do
anything. Going all the way back to beta, maybe the 'advanced data
goggles' ability meant something. But when the system was changed just
before live, they became useless. And remain so to this day. All I need
to load my advanced data goggles is Siphon Data Node, not the specific
ability which is supposed to control them.
Solution?
As
I've stated before, we need at least an 8-10 times boost in the info
output of Data Miner for it to become a viable tree again. Plus,
obviously the abilities themselves need a revamp. Hopefully this'll
make some interesting reading for a certain Dev who's thinking about
working on the abilities
sorely neglected tree. But, as my further analysis is setting out to
prove, the changes are nowhere near enough.
Basic Info:
Level 50 Character
Maxed Data Siphon and Locate Data Node. Nothing else from that tree other than those two abilities.
This
analysis will be done on info rather than XP, because the level 50 is
at Max XP and hence any other XP earned does not show. However in
general Datanode XP payout is 1/5th as much again as info.
The Locations:
Area | Level | Info Received
Uriah: Level 1: Average: 50 info
Eshean Projects: Level 14: Average: 750 info
Shinjuku: Level 21: Average: 1,000 info
Bathary Row: Level 26: Average: 1,400 info
Morell: Level 36: Average: 1,800 info
Stratford Campus/Creston Heights: Level Highest I could Think of: Average: 2,100 info
The Comparisons:
Killing Lt. Morales and Co. Approx 300k info over 4 minutes (240 seconds)
An optimal level 50 Assasination Mission; 2 'kill a 3 chev level 51' stages over 6 minutes (320 seconds) (615k)
The time to perform a single tap is being taken as 15 seconds, to account for transit time and possible failed attemps.
2,100 info * 2 = 8,400 info per 15 seconds.
300,000/8,400 = 35.7 = 36
240/15 = 16
In
order to equal the info output of killing Lt. Morales, you would need
to perform 36 taps. This, however, would take 540 seconds. As it is,
you can only get 16 taps, or 134,400 info in this time.
175 + 2*220 = 615,000
615,000 / 8,400 = 73.2
320 / 15 = 21.33..r
This
is even worse. To equal the mission payout, you'd need 73 taps in the
same amount of time. However it is only actually possible to do 21. And
that's assuming that a mission takes the full 6 minutes, which at level
50 it normally doesn't.
As for Pandora's box GPS mission ... I'm not even going to start.
Conclusion:
So, what do we have so far? Even WITH
the proposed changes, Data Miner will still suck. Big time. Not to
mention that 3/4 of the abilities under that branch no longer do
anything. Going all the way back to beta, maybe the 'advanced data
goggles' ability meant something. But when the system was changed just
before live, they became useless. And remain so to this day. All I need
to load my advanced data goggles is Siphon Data Node, not the specific
ability which is supposed to control them.
Solution?
As
I've stated before, we need at least an 8-10 times boost in the info
output of Data Miner for it to become a viable tree again. Plus,
obviously the abilities themselves need a revamp. Hopefully this'll
make some interesting reading for a certain Dev who's thinking about
working on the abilities