Let's do a bit of math, in that case. I won't claim to know the current costs of the lifeforms, and although it might not be fair to do so, I'm just going to go with NS1 values for now, rounding up, since it'll give us an idea how it would affect out current resource model.
I think whatever cost is attached to changing upgrades should be non-existent for the first fifteen seconds after a lifeform's first upgrades are acquired. Basically, the first swap is free if its done quickly.
Mis-clicking sucks. Getting an upgrade which is not only useless but also detrimental sucks even worse.
Does everyone agree with the underlying meaning of my first sentence, if not the specifications?
Yes, that's a good idea to leave about 10 seconds of "mistake" time. Maybe have an audio cue, like the sound of skin "hardening" to indicate when the upgrade fully takes.
Thanks Heyman, that helps with visualization, here are some gestation times based on the <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/Natural_Selection_Manual.html" target="_blank">3.0 manual</a>: <i>(with the skulk gest time defined, the equation can now be simplified to: <!--coloro:violet--><span style="color:violet"><!--/coloro-->y% lifeform gestation time<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->)</i>
<i><!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->* The manual has these values swapped, but I'm fairly certain it's a typo, and that fades gestate longer than lerks.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></i>
Both seem about right for a decent trade-off between time and upgrades. I believe gestation times will be slightly reduced and res cost roughly cut in half for NS2 (but no info to back this up, just a guess on the res model).
Comments
I won't claim to know the current costs of the lifeforms, and although it might not be fair to do so, I'm just going to go with NS1 values for now, rounding up, since it'll give us an idea how it would affect out current resource model.
<!--coloro:#008080--><span style="color:#008080"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><u>Resource Cost:</u><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
<!--coloro:#4169E1--><span style="color:#4169E1"><!--/coloro--><b>Assuming 5% cost</b><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Skulk: .05 x 0 = <b><i>0 res</i></b>
Gorge .05 x 10 = 0.5 -> <b><i>1 Res</i></b>
Lerk : .05 x 30 = 1.5 -> <b><i>2 Res</i></b>
Fade: .05 x 50 = 2.5 -> <b><i>3 Res</i></b>
Onos: .05 x 75 = 3.75 -> <b><i>4 Res</i></b>
<!--coloro:#4169E1--><span style="color:#4169E1"><!--/coloro--><b>Assuming 10% cost</b><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Skulk: .1 x 0 = <b><i>0 Res</i></b>
Gorge: .1 x 10 = <b><i>1 Res</i></b>
Lerk: .1 x 30 = <b><i>3 Res</i></b>
Fade: .1 x 50 = <b><i>5 Res</i></b>
Onos: .1 x 75 = 7.5 -> <b><i>8 Res</i></b>
I don't have the gestation values, so if anybody could find those that would be appreciated.
Mis-clicking sucks. Getting an upgrade which is not only useless but also detrimental sucks even worse.
Does everyone agree with the underlying meaning of my first sentence, if not the specifications?
Thanks Heyman, that helps with visualization, here are some gestation times based on the <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/Natural_Selection_Manual.html" target="_blank">3.0 manual</a>:
<i>(with the skulk gest time defined, the equation can now be simplified to: <!--coloro:violet--><span style="color:violet"><!--/coloro-->y% lifeform gestation time<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->)</i>
<!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:teal--><span style="color:teal"><!--/coloro--><u>Gestation Time:</u><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<b><!--coloro:#4169E1--><span style="color:#4169E1"><!--/coloro-->Assuming 40% time<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>
Skulk : .4 x 7 = 2.8 s
Gorge: .4 x 17 = 6.8 s
Lerk* : .4 x 23 = 9.2 s
Fade* : .4 x 28 = 11.2 s
Onos : .4 x 38 = 15.2 s
<b><!--coloro:#4169E1--><span style="color:#4169E1"><!--/coloro-->Assuming 50% time<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>
Skulk : .5 x 7 = 3.5 s
Gorge: .5 x 17 = 8.5 s
Lerk* : .5 x 23 = 11.5 s
Fade* : .5 x 28 = 14 s
Onos : .5 x 38 = 19 s
<i><!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->* The manual has these values swapped, but I'm fairly certain it's a typo, and that fades gestate longer than lerks.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></i>
Both seem about right for a decent trade-off between time and upgrades.
I believe gestation times will be slightly reduced and res cost roughly cut in half for NS2 (but no info to back this up, just a guess on the res model).