Research Technical Details - Revision history

Magic9mushroom: /* Total Research Time */ the 576 is included in the 6,498

2020-09-20T08:14:34Z

Total Research Time: the 576 is included in the 6,498

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:14, 20 September 2020
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	== Total Research Time ==		== Total Research Time ==

	The total average time needed to complete all research topics is 27,713 days. This includes the ~~576~~ to research [[Research_Basics#The_Minimum_Three\|The Minimum Three]], ~~plus 6,498 to~~ add every alien [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Species\|species]], [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Ships\|ship type]], and [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Missions\|mission type]] entry to the [[UFOpaedia]] (a [[Live_Alien_Research#Minimum_Alien_Research\|minimum of 35 aliens]], dead or alive).		The total average time needed to complete all research topics is 27,713 days. This includes the 6,498 to research [[Research_Basics#The_Minimum_Three\|The Minimum Three]], and add every alien [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Species\|species]], [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Ships\|ship type]], and [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Missions\|mission type]] entry to the [[UFOpaedia]] (a [[Live_Alien_Research#Minimum_Alien_Research\|minimum of 35 aliens]], dead or alive).

	The 82 projects have an average length of 338 days. There are 51 unique projects; ones that need repeating are for terrorists (4), corpses (11), and live aliens (19, not counting the Sectoid Commander, which is its own unique project).		The 82 projects have an average length of 338 days. There are 51 unique projects; ones that need repeating are for terrorists (4), corpses (11), and live aliens (19, not counting the Sectoid Commander, which is its own unique project).
	*It's easy to have excess aliens in [[Alien Containment]] that will not result in any new findings. As long as you haven't finished ''all'' topics they can contribute to, you will capture them. They will then still appear as something for you to research - but there will be no result. Excess aliens like these have not been included in this total.		*It's easy to have excess aliens in [[Alien Containment]] that will not result in any new findings. As long as you haven't finished ''all'' topics they can contribute to, you will capture them. They will then still appear as something for you to research - but there will be no result. Excess aliens like these have not been included in this total.
	*There is a least one topic that can be hacked to be made available, but only normal topics are included in the total here.		*There is at least one topic that can be hacked to be made available, but only normal topics are included in the total here.
	*This total is only a total of the ''average'' project time. Actual time will vary.		*This total is only a total of the ''average'' project time. Actual time will vary.

SupSuper at 21:41, 2 February 2015

2015-02-02T21:41:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:41, 2 February 2015
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	== Research Time ==		== Research Time ==
	For a basic version of this table, see [[Research ~~Hours~~]].		For a basic version of this table, see [[Research Times]].

	{\| {{StdCenterTable}} class="sortable" cellpadding=5		{\| {{StdCenterTable}} class="sortable" cellpadding=5

Tlist: /* Research Progress */

2014-06-02T15:52:20Z

Research Progress

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 **Poor progress can drastically increase the time needed, for only tiny efficiency gains.
 **With Excellent progress, you might not finish it any faster no matter how many scientists you pile on - but you will become more and more inefficient.
 == Total Research Time ==

Hobbes: categorizing

2013-07-23T03:32:29Z

categorizing

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:32, 23 July 2013
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	[[Category:Data tables]]		[[Category:Data tables]]
	[[Category:Research (EU)]]		[[Category:Research (EU)]]
			[[Category:Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense]]

MikeTheRed: /* Total Research Time */

2012-10-02T14:04:53Z

Total Research Time

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:04, 2 October 2012
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	*Be aware of the [[Known_Bugs#Overcrowded_Engineers_And_Scientists\|256-scientist problem]]. If you don't want to deal with it, the practical limit for scientists is 250 (per base).		*Be aware of the [[Known_Bugs#Overcrowded_Engineers_And_Scientists\|256-scientist problem]]. If you don't want to deal with it, the practical limit for scientists is 250 (per base).
	*Going from 4 labs to 5 labs only saves you about a month — which is about how long it takes to set up the lab!		*Going from 4 labs to 5 labs only saves you about a month — which is about how long it takes to set up the lab!
	*If you want to use the [[Known_Bugs#Research_Rollover\|Research Rollover bug/exploit]], you might need considerably less scientists. ~~Or more precisely, a lot~~ of scientists ~~for a short time~~ can make quick work of a lot of research, particularly all the [[Live_Alien_Research#Minimum_Alien_Research\|live (and dead) alien research]].		*If you want to use the [[Known_Bugs#Research_Rollover\|Research Rollover bug/exploit]], you might need considerably less scientists. A high number of scientists can make quick work of a lot of research, particularly all the [[Live_Alien_Research#Minimum_Alien_Research\|live (and dead) alien research]].

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

MikeTheRed: /* Total Research Time */ Revision. The old concept of "truncated research" and its efficiency doesn't seem to hold water any more

2012-10-01T23:46:00Z

Total Research Time: Revision. The old concept of "truncated research" and its efficiency doesn't seem to hold water any more

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 1 October 2012
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	== Total Research Time ==		== Total Research Time ==

	The total time needed to research ~~all technologies~~ is 21,~~215~~ days~~, plus another~~ 576 to research [[Research_Basics#The_Minimum_Three\|The Minimum Three]], plus ~~another~~ 6,~~500 or so~~ to add every alien [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Species\|species]], [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Ships\|ship type]], and [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Missions\|mission type]] entry to the [[UFOpaedia]] (~~about 28~~,~~300 days total~~).		The total average time needed to complete all research topics is 27,713 days. This includes the 576 to research [[Research_Basics#The_Minimum_Three\|The Minimum Three]], plus 6,498 to add every alien [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Species\|species]], [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Ships\|ship type]], and [[Live_Alien_Research#Alien_Missions\|mission type]] entry to the [[UFOpaedia]] (a [[Live_Alien_Research#Minimum_Alien_Research\|minimum of 35 aliens]], dead or alive).

	~~This can be compared against the total time needed~~ for ~~1 Scientist~~, ~~50 Scientists~~ (~~1 lab~~), ~~100~~ (~~2 labs~~), ~~and so on~~. ~~Numbers were composed by taking~~ the ~~average~~ of the ~~integer-truncated min and max for each~~ project~~, then summing these together for all projects:~~		The 82 projects have an average length of 338 days. There are 51 unique projects; ones that need repeating are for terrorists (4), corpses (11), and live aliens (19, not counting the Sectoid Commander, which is its own unique project).
			*It's easy to have excess aliens in [[Alien Containment]] that will not result in any new findings. As long as you haven't finished ''all'' topics they can contribute to, you will capture them. They will then still appear as something for you to research - but there will be no result. Excess aliens like these have not been included in this total.
			*There is a least one topic that can be hacked to be made available, but only normal topics are included in the total here.
			*This total is only a total of the ''average'' project time. Actual time will vary.

	~~'''Note: the following figures are based on an earlier (incomplete) list~~ of research topics. ~~The specific numbers are no longer correct, although the~~ "~~efficiency~~" ~~figures are likely to be similar~~.~~'''~~		In terms of game time to research all topics:
			{\| {{StdCenterTable}} cellpadding=10
			\|- {{StdDescTable_Heading}} valign = "bottom"
			! Scientists \|\| 1 \|\| 50 \|\| 100 \|\| 150 \|\| 200 \|\| 250 \|\| 300 \|\| 350 \|\| 400 \|\| 450 \|\| 500
			\|-
			\| Days \|\| 27713 \|\| 554 \|\| 277 \|\| 185 \|\| 139 \|\| 111 \|\| 92.4 \|\| 79.2 \|\| 69.3 \|\| 61.6 \|\| 55.4
			\|-
			\| Months \|\| 909 \|\| 18.2 \|\| 9.09 \|\| 6.06 \|\| 4.54 \|\| 3.63 \|\| 3.03 \|\| 2.60 \|\| 2.27 \|\| 2.02 \|\| 1.82
			\|}

	''~~Scientists~~		:''"Months" are defined here as 30.5 days long''
	~~<u>1</u> <u>50</u> <u>100</u> <u>150</u> <u>200</u> <u>250</u> <u>300</u> <u>350</u> <u>400</u> <u>450</u> <u>500</u>~~
	~~Days 20215 391 190 125 94 75 67 58 56 52 49~~
	Months ~~663 12~~.~~82 6.23 4.10 3.08 2.46 2.20 1.89 1.84 1.69 1.61~~
	~~Efficiency -- +3% +6% +8% +8% +8% +1% +0% -10% -13% -17%~~

	~~"Months"~~ are ~~considered~~ to be 30.~~5 days long~~.		Because only a fraction of research topics are critical, and because it takes a while to be able to support multiple labs, most players only make 3 or 4 labs. If you're thinking of having lots of labs:
			*Be aware of the [[Known_Bugs#Overcrowded_Engineers_And_Scientists\|256-scientist problem]]. If you don't want to deal with it, the practical limit for scientists is 250 (per base).
	'~~''Efficiency''' shows how much time~~ is ~~gained or lost versus a pure case with absolutely no integer truncation or 1-day minima~~ (~~see Notes~~). ~~As can be seen, it is maximal around 3-5 labs, then starts dropping and keeps dropping.~~		*Going from 4 labs to 5 labs only saves you about a month — which is about how long it takes to set up the lab!
			*If you want to use the [[Known_Bugs#Research_Rollover\|Research Rollover bug/exploit]], you might need considerably less scientists. Or more precisely, a lot of scientists for a short time can make quick work of a lot of research, particularly all the [[Live_Alien_Research#Minimum_Alien_Research\|live (and dead) alien research]].
	~~Note that going~~ from 3 labs to 4 only saves you about a month -- which is about how long it takes to set up the lab! ~~In practice~~, ~~2-3 labs are quite sufficient to acquire~~ all alien ~~technologies in a reasonable time frame~~.

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

MikeTheRed: /* Insights into Research Progress */

2012-09-08T17:43:08Z

Insights into Research Progress

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:43, 8 September 2012
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	===Insights into Research Progress===		===Insights into Research Progress===

	[[File:ResearchProgressRateVersusEfficiency.gif\|250px\|thumb\|right\|Scientists Assigned versus Time To Completion and Efficiency]]Although the research system allows for some insights, ultimately they're not very practical; you can't readily use them to become much more efficient.		[[File:ResearchProgressRateVersusEfficiency.gif\|250px\|thumb\|right\|Scientists Assigned versus Time To Completion and Efficiency]]Although the research system allows for some insights, ultimately [[Talk:Research_Technical_Details#Addendum_on_Project_Timeline_Milestones\|they're not very practical]]; you can't readily use them to become much more efficient.
	*If you closely track scientist days, you can compute the maximum number of research days left. If the project approaches this max, you can use the info to avoid a lot of waste right toward the end. (If you know there's only 10 days left at most, don't keep 50 assigned.) However, you'd have to track every project even though it'd only wind up being useful for the small number that last real long.		*If you closely track scientist days, you can compute the maximum number of research days left. If the project approaches this max, you can use the info to avoid a lot of waste right toward the end. (If you know there's only 10 days left at most, don't keep 50 assigned.) However, you'd have to track every project even though it'd only wind up being useful for the small number that last real long.
	Perhaps, then, the only real insights are simple and fairly obvious:		Perhaps, then, the only real insights are simple and fairly obvious:

MikeTheRed: I hope folks find this helpful. I will also add some other observations to the Talk page soon.

2012-09-05T16:16:37Z

I hope folks find this helpful. I will also add some other observations to the Talk page soon.

Show changes

MikeTheRed: /* Research Time Notes */ This section has a lot of repetition at this point... Edited for clarity; removed reference to the "One Lab" column.

2012-08-15T13:42:34Z

Research Time Notes: This section has a lot of repetition at this point... Edited for clarity; removed reference to the "One Lab" column.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:42, 15 August 2012
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	== Research Time Notes ==		== Research Time Notes ==

	*'''One Lab''' is the number of Days divided by 50. This shows how quickly one lab full of 50 scientists needs to complete the Project, on average. Two labs full of scientists would need half this time on average, etc.		*The numbers shown in the table are '''averages'''. In actuality, the time may differ by ± 50%. Laser Weapons may take 25 to 75 research days, but on average it's 50. The time it will take is determined when the project is started.
	*This single check per day also means they will take a minimum of one day, except in special circumstances. Decimals are still shown for the '''One Lab''' column, however, so you can project to multiple labs and/or see where time is lost or gained by truncation (read on).		* Projects only progress and check completion '''at midnight''', so what scientists are doing the rest of the day – traveling between bases, on different projects, or sitting in the coffee room unassigned – is irrelevant. All that matters is what (if any) projects they are on at midnight. This single check also means projects take a minimum of one day.
	*The numbers shown in the ~~tables~~ are '''averages'''. In actuality, the time may differ by +- 50%. Laser Weapons may take ~~anything from~~ 25 to 75 ~~man~~ days, on average it's 50.		* Each midnight, the game subtracts the number of research days according to how many scientists you have assigned to that project; the project is done when the counter reaches zero. If a project will require 31 man days and you have 10 scientists assigned, it will take four days to complete (and you have wasted nine). You could assign a lot of scientists until you reach the point where it might be completed, and gradually taper them. But [[PROJECT.DAT\|without cheating]], there's no way of telling just how long it will take.
	* Projects only progress and check completion '''at midnight''', so what scientists are doing – ~~whether~~ traveling between bases, on different projects or sitting in the coffee room unassigned – ~~during the entire rest of the day~~ is irrelevant. All that matters is what (if any) projects they are on at midnight.		* The efficiency increases as the number of scientists on a project decreases. If you run several projects in parallel, you'll waste fewer man days overall. In the extreme case, you'd assign only one scientist on every project and would be sure that not a single man day will be lost, but it would take months or years to get anything done. You decide.
	* Each midnight, the game subtracts the number of ~~man~~ days according to how many ~~men~~ you have assigned to that project; the project is done when the counter reaches zero. If a project will require 31 man days and you have 10 scientists assigned, it will take four days to complete~~. By then~~ you have ~~spent (10 Scientists * 4 days = 40 man days) and effectively~~ wasted nine. ~~On the last day, you~~ could ~~withdraw nine~~ scientists ~~from~~ the ~~project; or you could have started~~ it ~~with only eight to begin with~~ and ~~still have researched it in four days~~. ~~However~~, as there is no way of ~~knowing~~ how ~~much time a project will really need,~~ it~~'s inevitable that a few man days~~ will ~~be wasted on every project~~.
	* The efficiency increases as the number of scientists on a project decreases. If you run several projects in parallel, you'll waste fewer man days overall. In the extreme case, you'd assign only one scientist on every project and would be sure that not a single man day will be lost~~; however~~, it would ~~also~~ take months or ~~even~~ years to get anything done. You decide.
	* Actually, all that matters is the last day; so you could at first assign many scientists and, once you feel that the project approaches conclusion, remove most of them. But without cheating, there's no way of telling.
	* Even if you do "waste" scientist-days on the last day of a project, you may well get the opportunity to regain much more time than was wasted, due to the [[Known Bugs#Research Rollover\|Research Rollover bug]].		* Even if you do "waste" scientist-days on the last day of a project, you may well get the opportunity to regain much more time than was wasted, due to the [[Known Bugs#Research Rollover\|Research Rollover bug]].

NKF: /* Research Time */

2012-08-06T05:49:14Z

Research Time

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Research Time ==
-The following is a list of all research topics in the game. Values taken from [[RESEARCH.DAT]].
+{{:Research Hours}}
-{| {{StdCenterTable}} width="50%"  class ="sortable"
+== Research Time Notes ==
 *'''One Lab''' is the number of Days divided by 50. This shows how quickly one lab full of 50 scientists needs to complete the Project, on average. Two labs full of scientists would need half this time on average, etc.