Howdy everyone!
I’ve seen various threads on both the forums and Reddit concerning “stochastic rounding” and Abyssal modules and what they really actually yield compared to the numbers displayed in contracts and in the game client. In my Abyssal Mining Module Shopping thread I suggested “under’ modules might not be the wisest purchase. I’m not changing my opinion, but here I lay out a test I performed - so that you may make your own judgement:
TEST CONDITIONS
Finding a gas site without competition is no easy task, so I simplified by returning to my favorite game activity: Level 4 Mining Missions. The mission “Like Drones to a Cloud” was used. This mission requires huffing 4,250 m3 (or 425 units) of Gamboge Cytoserocin to complete.
Ship: Pioneer Consortium Issue
Ship Skills: Mining Destroyer V
Implant: “Alchemist” GH-805 (5% gas cycle duration reduction)
To perform the test, I used one “under” Abyssal Scoop to huff 100 cycles (or 200 units) of gas. I then repeated the test using an “over” scoop to huff 100 cycles (or 200 units). Results were tabulated, and mission completed. First 200 units were jet canned before second 200 were huffed to avoid overlap.
“UNDER” MODULE
I purchased this module because its rolled from a Syndicate scoop, has an AWESOME 2.8s duration reduction, and was priced with a couple million of an actual Syndicate scoop. However, I was leery of the module being less than the base 20m3 mining amount (“under”), so hence this test. Fitted to a PCI and with implant, the cycle time is 14.5 seconds.
“OVER” MODULE
This module has a “green” mining amount of 20.62, which the game shows as 21m3. As fitted to the PCI with implant, the cycle time is 14.8 seconds.
RESULTS
“Under” Module – 100 cycles
Times receiving 1 unit of gas: 5
Times receiving 2 unites of gas (default): 95
“Over” Module – 100 cycles
Times receiving 2 units of gas (default): 94
Times receiving 3 units of gas: 6
Conclusion:
”Over” modules can be pretty amazing, ESPECIALLY when paired with a deep green cycle bonus. While “under” modules are not terrible, they must be chosen carefully and/or paired with an “over”. As always cycle, cycle, cycle is what matters most.
Thanks for reading!
/msd