I've been toying around X3TC (3.2) but i am now stuck in my understanding of how factories and SPPs work inside.
I am actually trying to implement new wares and custom factories to use and produce them. At the moment, i'm working on creating a new energy cell production method that would not use crystals, but i cannot seem to be able to make them profitable. They basically consume more resources (in credit value) than they produce. I've been testing them in-game with cycrow's cheats (adding-removing products and resources)
Example:
A standard SPP XL produces 5530 e-cells from 40 crystals, for a return to investment ratio of 1.31
A modified SPP XL produces 2400 e-cells from 3 microchips (TECH) for a ratio of 0.949
A modified SPP XL produces 7680 e-cells from 10 nividium (mineral), with a ratio of 0.76 (losing money. a lot.)
A modified ARGON CATTLE RANCH made to produce e-cells from nividium (mineral) will also create the same ratio; 0.76
I have tried with different wares from different classes, with similar and dissimilar relvalues (only similar playermand global relvals though), it is always the same...
So, anyone knows either how the game calculates the production cycles from the ware stats OR how the crystal-to-energy cycle can be so efficient. It does not seem to be linked to the ware class as microchips and crystals create very different ratios, and it doesnt seem to be linked to the factory itself since the SPP and the modified cattle ranch had the same ratios (both with crystal and nividium))
Any help in understanding how this all works would be appreciated. My searches on the forums and in the various guides have not helped me as of now
