Like most I was shocked by the enormous costs of upgrades but then I remembered playing Space Empires IV many years ago. One of the biggest PITA's was upgrading and retrofitting. It took forever and cost a bunch. So I was wondering if the cost in Stellaris is truly out of line or we have just been spoiled.
Here is what I did:
A fairly straight forward Corvette
Original
Interceptor 27.00
Cold Fusion 15.30
Hyper Drive I 4.50
Ion Thrusters 5.40
Subspace Sensors 5.40
Combat Computer (Swarm) 4.50
Small Mass Driver (x3) 27.00
Small Shield (x2) 16.20
Small Deflector 4.50
Regenerative Hull Tissue 18.00
127.80 In game indicated cost 120 due to modifiers
Upgraded
same 27.00
Antimatter 19.80
Hyper Drive II 9.00
same 5.40
same 5.40
same 4.50
Small Coil Gun (x3) 35.10
same 16.20
Small Plasteel Armor 15.30
same 18.00
155.70 In game indicated cost 147 due to modifiers
Difference 27.90
Remove:
Cold Fusion 15.30
Hyper Drive I 4.50
Small Mass Driver (x3) 27.00
Small Deflector 4.50
51.30
Add:
Antimatter 19.80
Hyper Drive II 9.00
Small Coil Gun (x3) 35.10
Small Plasteel Armor 15.30
79.20
Expected Upgrade Cost between 27.90 and 79.20
Actual In Game Upgrade Cost 61.26
It takes 40 days to build the original ship and 20 days to do the upgrade.
As you can see, the cost is not out of line. You may argue the rebate on the old parts is too small and you may be right. I have no expertise in this area. The time frame is definitely argueable. Having done RL upgrades myself, I know how much more time consuming they are compared to building from scratch so I think the time frame is reasonable, though on the high side.
Guys and gals, we have been spoiled and we better get used to upgrading less often, not whenever the mood strikes us.
Here is what I did:
A fairly straight forward Corvette
Original
Interceptor 27.00
Cold Fusion 15.30
Hyper Drive I 4.50
Ion Thrusters 5.40
Subspace Sensors 5.40
Combat Computer (Swarm) 4.50
Small Mass Driver (x3) 27.00
Small Shield (x2) 16.20
Small Deflector 4.50
Regenerative Hull Tissue 18.00
127.80 In game indicated cost 120 due to modifiers
Upgraded
same 27.00
Antimatter 19.80
Hyper Drive II 9.00
same 5.40
same 5.40
same 4.50
Small Coil Gun (x3) 35.10
same 16.20
Small Plasteel Armor 15.30
same 18.00
155.70 In game indicated cost 147 due to modifiers
Difference 27.90
Remove:
Cold Fusion 15.30
Hyper Drive I 4.50
Small Mass Driver (x3) 27.00
Small Deflector 4.50
51.30
Add:
Antimatter 19.80
Hyper Drive II 9.00
Small Coil Gun (x3) 35.10
Small Plasteel Armor 15.30
79.20
Expected Upgrade Cost between 27.90 and 79.20
Actual In Game Upgrade Cost 61.26
It takes 40 days to build the original ship and 20 days to do the upgrade.
As you can see, the cost is not out of line. You may argue the rebate on the old parts is too small and you may be right. I have no expertise in this area. The time frame is definitely argueable. Having done RL upgrades myself, I know how much more time consuming they are compared to building from scratch so I think the time frame is reasonable, though on the high side.
Guys and gals, we have been spoiled and we better get used to upgrading less often, not whenever the mood strikes us.