[GI] Are pet fuel protocols worth it?

Ever since the increase of the pet fuel protocol level 1 from 1% to a 'huge' 3%, I am seriously considering buying a ton of them to reduce my pet fuel cost. Especially since the level 2 and level 3 fuel protocols barely grant a bonus for their increased price (3.5% and 4% respective).

The question is however how the fuel cost reduction is applied. I have a couple of example below. First with, and then without the fuel protocols.


Base fuel consumption with 10 level 1 fuel protocols

The formula for the fuel consumption of the PET is:
1 + ( [PET Level] * 2 ) + ( [Ai Protocols equipped] * 2 ) + ( [Gears equipped] * 4)

For the sake of example, I am going to assume the following:

Our pet is level 15
We have 10 fuel protocols equipped (and nothing else)
We have 1 gear equipped

With this in mind the calculation would be as follows:

1 + ( 15 * 2 ) + ( 10 * 2 ) + ( 1 * 4 ) = 55 fuel per minute


Fuel consumption with 10 level 1 fuel protocols

This is where the tricky part starts, there are 2 options:

1. All of the protocols are added on top of each other and then removed from the total fuel consumption:

3% + 3% + 3% ... = 30%
-->
0.7 x 55 = 38.5 fuel consumption with 10 level 1 fuel protocols

OR

2. All of the protocols are multiplied by each other and then the fuel consumption

0.97 for the first protocol
0.97 for the next and so on
0.97 x 0.97 x 0.97... x 55 = roughly 41

Obviously not a huge difference, the real question is however if this is worth it, considering that without the protocols we would have used less fuel in the first place. So now let's have a look at that:


Fuel consumption with no protocols

1 + ( 15 * 2 ) + ( 0 * 2 ) + ( 1 * 4 ) = 35

That's funny, we spend over 35K to buy the 10 protocols, then another (roughly) 75K uridium to unlock the protocol slots and we are still not saving any uridium. In fact we are wasting it. This can't be correct, can it?

PET fuel cost calculation source
http://www.bigpoint.com/darkorbit/board/threads/pet-10-faq.1228/

 

The fuel Protocols are 3, 3.5, and 4 and do stack together.

The PET is a Uridium Eater. During the Special Event boxes they sometimes include PET Fuel but otherwise it is expensive to run him. With the exception of the Fuel Economy they are worth it for the play style you desire. Here are my choices for the different types all level 3 unless otherwise specified;

PvE Player
Gears
Enemy Locator
Auto-looter
Kamikaze
Cargo Trader
Protocols
2 level 2 Fuel Economy (7%)
3 Radar (cover more of the map)
3 Cargo (36% increased Cargo space)
2 Salvage (6% - 20% bonus for anything PET collects)

Boxing/Pally
HP Upgrades so enemy has to waste ammo killing him
Gears
Auto-looter
Resource Collector
Protocols
2 level 2 Fuel Economy (7%)
3 Radar (cover more of the map)
3 Cargo (36% increased Cargo space)
2 Salvage (6% - 20% bonus for anything PET collects)

PvP Player
HP Upgrades so enemy has to waste ammo killing him
Gears
Kamikaze
PET Repairer
Combo Repairer
Sacrificial Flame (if group hunter)
Protocols
2 level 2 Fuel Economy (7%)
2 Evasion
2 Targeting
2 Laser Management
2 Shield Management

But then these are dependent on personal playing styles and preferences. As far as worth it depends on how you want to determine the value. They pay for themselves during the PvE and Boxing and helps guarantee the win in a tight fight during PvP but then is the winning the only thing you care about? No matter how you look at it the PET is a wallets worst friend but the fuel expense is minimal compared to the ammo expense of this game.


BTW go by the FAQ on the Mines.

 

Thx, I almost invested my studypoints in them. The red mines visual sucks, as they make mine spotting much easier.

Anyway, back to the question, I guess I should not invest in the economy protocols?

 

Not level 3 anyway you can buy 3 level 2 and still not spend as much as one level 3 and be 10.5% or 4%.