ECO HUNTING: A10x Series Amps vs. Hotfoot Amps My research has brought damage amps to the forefront of eco hunting. Overall my take on amps is that they are supposed to make your hunting slightly more economical (if used properly - i.e. without over/under amp'ing), and have the opportunity to lower your eco by increasing the probability of overkill - forcing proper use of finisher weapons to utilize the amp. Disclaimer: The perspective of this analysis is from one who is willing to make an upfront investment for future payoff. Overall results are based on an investment standpoint, not short-term play. Statistical Information: *TIER 1* Hotfoot 5 Cost per use: .932 Damage: 4 D/PEC: 4.29 A101 Cost per use: .652 Damage: 3 D/PEC: 4.601 Hotfoot 5 with +25% avg. MU Cost per use: 1.165 Damage: 4 D/PEC: 3.433 *TIER 2* Hotfoot 10 Cost per use: 2.365 Damage: 10 D/PEC: 4.228 A102 Cost per use: 1.521 Damage: 7 D/PEC: 4.602 Hotfoot 10 with +35% avg. MU Cost per use: 3.193 Damage: 10 D/PEC: 3.132 The D/PEC relationship between tier value and ROI with Hotfoot is inverse. It costs more and becomes more costly to fire the same gun with the Hotfoot models. The Calypso-based A-Model of amps is converse to the Hotfoot model; It becomes slightly cheaper to fire a gun as you increase in tier value. [Tier Value = 5, 10, 15; 101, 102, 103 etc.] The relationship of costing more to fire the same gun (Hotfoot), or costing less to fire the same gun (A) only grows further apart as the tier value increases (in favor of [A]). Now, I will address the glaring discrepancy here. The A101 amp for example, has on average a TT+116 markup. The A102 has on average a TT+37 markup. Keep in mind that the disclaimer stated this was from an investment point-of-view and not short-term play. For the sake of making my point, this next series of numbers will cover the most expensive investment: The A101 Amp (+116MU vs +37 of the tier2 (A102) amp). The A101 Amp increases the Opalo's D/PEC by 3.95%. I am using the Opalo as an example here to address the largest audience possible. After spending 100 PED on ammo, and at a D/PEC rate of 1.0395; my PED efficiency rate is 103.95%, saving me 3.95 PED from a D/PEC perspetive. After spending 1000 PED on ammo, and at a D/PEC rate of 1.0395; my PED efficiency rate is 103.95%, saving me 39.5 PED from a D/PEC perspetive. After spending 2500 PED on ammo, and at a D/PEC rate of 1.0395; my PED efficiency rate is 103.95%, saving me 98.75 PED from a D/PEC perspetive. And finally, after spending 2937 PED on ammo, and at a D/PEC rate of 1.0395; my PED efficiency rate is 103.95%, saving me 116 PED from a D/PEC perspetive. After spending 2937 PED on ammo, I will have paid for the markup price attached to my A101. Keep in mind that the number to cover this expense would be even smaller when considering that the next tier of amp (A102) is cheaper than the A101 (+37 versus +116). The biggest thing to consider here is that I get to KEEP my A101 even after I have made full return on my investment, AND all future PED spent on ammo will essentially be a 3.95% SAVINGS/PROFIT! With the Hotfoot series, not only do I lose the amp after it breaks, but I must be inconvenienced by finding a seller or even potentially pay more than the average markup on the auction house, thereby creating an even larger gap in eco. Conclusion: Arkadian Damage Amplifiers are undertuned and offer a bad ROI in comparison to those found on Calypso. The Arkadian (L) Damage Amplifiers are a good alternative to the A series for new players that can not/will not spend 16 USD on a A101 before coming to conclusions on if they will stick with the game.
First of all, all a1xx and a2xx is old items no longer possible to loot(show me one looted the last 3-4years... (SGA editions obviously dropped)) or craft anywhere and yes they are really really eco which a lot of old school items are... To make a fair comparison you should use the (L) amps you can loot and craft on Caly today, Boom CCC (L) = Hotfoot 5 (L) and Boom ACC (L) = Hotfoot 10 (L) But you also need to check exactly which gun you use is on, but reading your post I guess you know that, some guns is perfect for 102 and some is perfect for hotfoot 10 PS. would love to see unlimited amps on Arkadia too, but I doubt MA would allow the A-team to make them as good as the A series sadly (please prove me wrong )
Yeah, I am aware that the A series no longer drop, but I didn't really factor that into the equation because without fail I've been able to find each variation 5+ in quantity for auction at all times, not to mention those that are for sale in shops within just the Port Atlantis Mall. What I was trying to get at is that it seems that even though they no longer drop, the supply isn't severely limited. So, if I can find them, and if I'm willing to pay for them, the A series are in most cases the most eco. edit: And to go even further in depth, if they aren't limited to the point where you can find them easily in auction, I can't imagine any harm in creating a Hotfoot 5 unlimited that has a TT cost of ~120, craftable only, average auction price @140 to match current A series prices.
Yeah as far as I'm aware there is no amps that can compete with A series in terms of eco so if you have a gun that they are perfect for then get one, simple as that
I was very very tempted to purchase a A101 to use with a LAW-101, it gave me very good numbers if I remember correctly. But being an starter level amp that ludicrous markup killed it for me. I prefer cycling those 100+ peds. Good thread.
I think the A101 is well worth the investment as you will be using it forever but on the otherhand, Get Yer Hotfoot 5 (L)s from Celeste Quarry Booth 2!!!!
Lots of good information here. I'm not going to argue the points for/against the A101 except to say that I don't personally feel like it gives a big enough boost to be worth the PED spent on it. No amount of data and number crunching proving eco will change that (I've already seen it all). So I will never recommend it to anyone. Good thread, Synial!
I haven't actually done the research, but perhaps the E-Amp range of craftable UL amplifiers ought to be mentioned. They have very low MU and of course the repair bills don't have any; however, the economy isn't as good as the A series. IMHO another consideration with amps is how closely they match the maximum damage of the weapon. Another consideration when using amps is that they save MU on the weapon itself, because less shots are needed for a given amount of damage. Of course, killing mobs faster saves decay on armour (and possibly fap) as well. Some thoughts from me on eco hunting: Use an appropriate weapon; IMHO one that will kill the proposed target in something like 5-10 shots is ideal. Why? Because the mob is healing while you're shooting, and also taking chunks out of you and your armour at the same time. Too easy a kill (1-2 shots) is also a waste, because of overkill; also, using a gun that big will waste criticals. Use an amp as near as possible to the magic 50% of weapon damage. Use armour good enough for the job, but not too good. Continual 1.0 hits are bad, but so are continual big hits that require lots of fapping. If you can get away with it, no armour at all may be the best way. Consider weapon enhancers. My favourites are accuracy enhancers; there is no downside to these except the occasional breakage, and over time they improve DPS. The bigger the weapon, the better these things get. I wouldn't use enhancers at all on beginner equipment, because the benefit is outweighed by the cost of use.
Normally i don't try to involve myself in discussions like this because people have their mind set up and are usually very stubborn. I would really like newcomers to get the best advice and be as eco as possible (i can get so tired of the bad return posts on pcf). If you are a newcomer and are looking to do more damage and to lose fewer peds the way to do it is by using a10x laser amplifiers. If you use a very good and eco gun you will do a maximum of 4 damage per pec spend. The a10x laser amplifiers will do 4.6 damage per pec spend. So using an amplifier increase your efficiency. If you take the LAW-101 it does a maximum of 12 damage and a cost of 2.94 pec (290 ammo and 0.04 gun decay) If you take the LAW-101 with an a101 laser amplifier it does a maximum of 15 damage for a cost of 3.592 pec (290 ammo , 0.04 gun decay, 0,688 amp decay) If you do the maths you'll see that with using an amp you will be 2.3% cheaper per damage done. 2.3% is a huge difference for a game where even very uneco players claim a 90% tt return. now let's see how many shoots it will take to make it worthwhile to buy an a101. The cost of one shot with law-101 is 2.94 pec, using an a101 was 2.3% more eco so you save 0.06 pec per shot. Let's say you want to do the Oro missions as a newcomer which is doable unarmored with law-101+a101. Let's assume it takes 5 shots to kill one Oro and you want to kill all 18470 oro. Using the amp will save you 5*18470*0.06=5541 pec. So just by doing the oro missions you'll have earned back half the costs of the amp already. Ofc if you want to upgrade weapons sooner you could go for an a103 which is cheaper in purchase price. But all a10x amps are significantly better then using no amps, e-amps or limited amps.
For full amp potential; these requirements must be met: A101: Max Damage >= 6 A102: Max Damage >= 14 A103: Max Damage >= 24 A104: Max Damage >= 28 A105: Max Damage >= 32 A106: Max Damage >= 36 The Law101 is max damage 12, so the 102 will be an overamp. I picked up a Law101 Desert (max dmg 24) from Kikki Jikki for a good price and put a 103 on it. Perfect fit
Hi, one more thing to consider when looking at the MU of the unlimited A*-Amps: They don't seem to drop anymore, so there's a limited number in game. This number will slowly go down due to players leaving without selling them. And this means that the price of them will stay constant, or even rise. Regarding this they can be seen as a quite good "investment", especially because it's not that they would cost an arm and a leg - the smaller ones (up to A104) are even "pocket money compatible", right? One warning though: It isn't impossible that other amps will be released once, that have even better values and availability. In this case the price will go down, for sure. Such things have happened, and might happen again. But besides this, they are a blessing for the eco orientated hunter. They have the best values possible, can be repaired at any outpost, and will never ever break. In my opinion they are a "must-have" for anybody that has decided to play this game for longer. Disclaimer: No, I'm not writing this to rise the MU. I have some of them, but the day I'll sell them will be the very day I sell anything else, including all my skills. Actually I'm scanning the auction regularly, might be that some day I find a cheap one to complete my collection? Have a good time!
