CHAPTER 19 - Chateau Frontenac
When we discovered the possibility of Arc being the best GB ever that could supply with an income never seen before, we started to research how could we invest FPs further to propagate this income. The rule of thumb is that average net cost of a FPs GB assuming having an arc with optimistic approach is about 333 FPs/ FP producing level. This is nothing specific but large rounded average of cape, Inno, Hagia, CDM, and others over many initial levels 0-80. That means on average it takes 333 days to pay of the initial investment just simply by running this FP GB. We usually convert it to %, and present it as 0.3% income per day. This is a good benchmark to comparing every other investment in the game. Any investment that gives back 0.3%/day or more is relatively good investment, and anything that gives back less than 0.3%/day is relatively poor investment (that includes sniping too A-ha!), and you should consider just leveling your FPs GBs instead.
The main question was: Does Chateau exceed 0.3%/day profit investment requirement?
For simplicity, I will use coins as a measure of ability to repeat quests, and ignore supplies. Supplies can be calculated the same method as shown here. The number of levels to sustain both resources must be met therefore required levels will be ***UNDERESTIMATED.
Image 1 Explanation:
Comparison of rewards vs. chance of a reward occurring over ages
Image 2 Explanation:
Graphed 90% net costs (see previous chapters for what net cost is)
Polynomial order 4 is used to estimate future net costs costs where y net level cost and x level
As a result the overall net cost is ****UNDERESTIMATED, as the total rewards follows linear pattern while the total FPs to level GB is an exponential function (1.025x next level). I have to use the estimate function as the linear pattern for rewards is unknown at this point (at least to me). By plugging X level you can predict Y net cost.
Image 3 Explanation:
This estimate will start with a simplification and assumption there is only Unbirthday Party (pay to win quest) but not Fnord (gather coins)
The "COST COINS 1 QUEST" column represents the cost of coins per 1 quest.
The "AVERAGE BASE REWARD COINS 1 QUEST" represents how much coins on average is gained form 1 quest
X = large coins * chance of large coins + small coins * chance of small coins
In order to sustain repetitive quests the coin profit from 1 quest must be equal with cost of 1 quest, this is represented in "CHATEAU COINS % REQ" and it is necessary Chateau % bonus
X (shown in %) = coin cost of quest / base coin reward
The "CHATEAU LEVEL" represents matching level to %
The "PREDICTED NET COST" is estimated based on previous polynomial function
The "FPs PER DAY" is estimated by 20sec/quest non-stop regiment 24/7, therefore FP income will be ****OVERESTIMATED as nobody can do quests 24/7 at 20s/quest unless that person is cheating. This is maximum theoretical value.
The "ROI DAYS" is the numbers of day required to pay off chateau by mined FPs.
The "ROI" is the return on investment % that was discussed initially.
Image 4 Explanation:
This is where correction for recurring coin quests Unbirthday Party (pay to win quest) and Fnord (gather coins) is included. I approach it in this way:
Cost of Unbirthday quest = Reward from Unbirthday quest with bonus and profit from Fnord quest where Reward/Fnord coin cost is the chance of it completing
In short
Unbirthday = Reward + Reward^2/Fnord
This is quadratic equation that has 2 solutions. We of course use the positive one.
This assumes all rewards will be used toward reward and ***UNDERESTIMATES necessary chateau level.
You can also notice ROI is corrected as well as because of more frequent because of Fnord quests there will be higher FP production.
I will base my conclusion on the corrected results (Image 4).
The Iron Age profits are extremely high ROI of 9%. However, this assumes 24/7 work so doing 6-8 hours of quests per day for many days will be the average in optimal conditions without cheating. Again, the Fnord corrections assumes that all coins are used up, which brings real ROI probably further down small amount. As the net function follows the levels 10-120, it is well represented. The iron age has the same coin/supply requirements for rewards and quests so supply will not affect ROI here. In the end, in most optimal conditions in IA you are looking at 2-3% (~500FPs/day) ROI. This amount is possibly smaller for an experienced low age Arc who snipes heavily. The latter is much less time consuming and much more fun.
The overoptimistic AF/OF/VF ROI are 0.17% / 0.02% / WTF with all the problems and further corrections listed above are probably more like 0.03% / 0.004% / OMFGWTF with VF being the worse of all ever. You can hear those that invested in Chateau screaming as their investment got worse by one orders of magnitude from being horrible in OF to terminal and completely hopeless in VF. They will never get their return back.
But what about goods? Could you sell them for extra FPs? You are unable reach the chateau to repetitive motion in ages where goods become valuable (AF/OF/VF). All other lower goods do not matter as they are produced by GBs in massive quantities, and are abundant on the market and they are usually sold cheap.
Medals and BPs are trash for an advanced player.
Due to these estimates, we decided against to invest heavily into Chateau. As 500 FPs/day income with 6-8 hours of quests was not the way to go for an experienced lazy non-cheating player who comes here for an hour or two a day to have fun.
Final recommendation:
- Consider building high Chateau if you already have Arc in Iron age and you have excessive amounts of time that you would like to use doing repetitive clicks between your snipes or if you are a cheater and you want to abuse the system with software risking ban. Assuming, you do the Arc and Chateau, that will allow about +1kFP income per day with effort that cannot be sustained for long time.
- Do not build Chateau beyond lvl102-122 if you are wealthy VF player with years of game play