Some consumables should scale with level ?

Most speedup consumables apply a fixed speedup and this feels normal.

However, I believe some of them (especially science consumables) should scale a bit more with kingdom level. I am aware that boosting science is not to be taken slightly, as maybe it could favor too much some people, but let me take this example :

Paper research 95% finished. 3H51 minutes left. It is 1am. I'm definitely not going to wait that long, I want to go to sleep...

Oh right ! I have this wonderful science speedup consumable ! A nice Microscope !

*using microscope*

3H50 mins left

...

Really ?

No need to swear it is not tolerated. There are better research speedups. There is a sextant and an Arithmometer. You just have not found them yet.

You also used the power up at the worst possible time.  If you hover over the microscope it says that it will add 10000 science points, or 50% of the total points needed.  If you were already at 95% of paper research, you only had a few thousand science points left to gain.  Using the microscope at this time would result in not getting the full 10000 points added to your total.  So, it really is a waste to use these power ups when you are so close to finishing research.

You also used the power up at the worst possible time.  If you hover over the microscope it says that it will add 10000 science points, or 50% of the total points needed.  If you were already at 95% of paper research, you only had a few thousand science points left to gain.  Using the microscope at this time would result in not getting the full 10000 points added to your total.  So, it really is a waste to use these power ups when you are so close to finishing research.

I dont understand,let me make an example: (let's suppose i have 0 science income to make it simple)

I have a 1 million point research,and i have an item that adds 1 million points to current research,so i end up with that research having 1/2 million points, as it can only add up to 1/2 of the total.

I have a 1 million research with already 1/2 done (500 000 points) and i use that powerup. Will i instantly end that research (half of the TOTAL point where added, 500 000 +[1 000 000/2]=1 000 000) or will i end up with 3/4 of it? (half of the points NEEDED where added, 500 000+{[1 000 000 -500 000]/2}=750 000)

If you are too lazy to read or if it's easier to understand, do powerups add up to half TOTAL, or NEEDED points to a research?

More experienced players can correct me if i'm wrong, but i'm pretty sure you will end up with 3/4 of the science points.  This is how all of the speed ups of this type works (ambrosia, nectar, figurine of teaching, etc).  It gives you 50% of the total time 'remaining'.  I am also pretty sure that a warning will pop up if you aren't getting the full benefit of the power up.  In your example, it would say something like 'You will only be adding 250,000 points, do you still wish to proceed?'.  So, to answer your question, it is half the points needed, not half points total.

To be honest, I didn't do any calculation before applying this item. I just "hoped" it would reduce my research time so I would be there to start the next research before going to bed (I had hoped >= 30min speedup).

Now If I actually think about it and do the math, the conclusion will still make my point.

In my case, the research I was doing was 16M research points, so 1% of the research is 160K research points, I had 5% left so 800K left. And, I used a 10K research object. So 1/80 of the remaining research time. I think I had 4Hours left so 240 mins left, 240/80 = 4mins.

I used a research object which made me win 4 minutes out of the 4H of my 5% remaining time, or 0.0625% of the total research time.

What is the point of such an item once you hit medieval age ? Up to stone/classical age it remains a powerful item, but then it's just total krap. On the contrary, the smallest building speedup item (15mins) can still be used in medieval age, I can still insta upgrade/build one of the new buildings I just unlocked, or noticeably reduce the building time. Even if the building takes 4H to build, the 15min speedup represents 6.4% of the build time. For 1 day of construction, the 15min speedup still corresponds to more than 1.0%.

I know there are more powerful research items that can aff 100K or maybe even 1M, but the fact is that they still drop and they are just completely useless.

This is wrong.

To clarify things, and to have a real awnser, science speedups can give up to 50% of TOTAL points on a research?

Sorry, everyone, for getting it all wrong.

The original post here posed the question about consumables scaling with level. Did this thread get off-topic? I would like to clarify & remind that as a hero gains experience and level, he/she IS able to find larger resource items, speedups with higher capacity, stronger armor and weapons, and items that are capable of destroying larger obstacles. However, at the same time, the smaller capacity items will also still be available to find.

Therefore, although you did only have a microscope to assist with your tech learning speed, other items were available to find .. depending on your hero level. ..

The original post here posed the question about consumables scaling with level. Did this thread get off-topic? I would like to clarify & remind that as a hero gains experience and level, he/she IS able to find larger resource items, speedups with higher capacity, stronger armor and weapons, and items that are capable of destroying larger obstacles. However, at the same time, the smaller capacity items will also still be available to find.

Therefore, although you did only have a microscope to assist with your tech learning speed, other items were available to find .. depending on your hero level. ..

The smaller capacity items still remain useful in most cases. I highlighted in a previous reply how the 15minutes speedup item could be of use, even for building which require a lot of time. And even though as you increase your tech and the buildings take more and more time to construct, I am still able to enjoy the benefits of the 15mins speedup. The 15 minutes will remain a 15 minute speedup.

However in the case of research, the smallest research speedups become totally worthless. Think of it as a Great Person like in Civilization. If the amount of tech points didn't scale with Tech level, it would become worthless to spend a Great Scientist to research a tech.

In the current state, this weakest science item can speedup up to 50% for a low-tier tech. I don't remember exactly, but that probably amounts to several hours for a classic age tech, to less than 3 minutes once you reach medieval era. My point is that this gap remains a bit too big.

My Suggestion

...would be to keep the original effect, but add a minimum threshold of maybe 5% tech points of the current tech you are researching. So you are guaranteed that this item can still be used by players. Of course, this threshold would be higher for rarer science items. What do you think of it ?

In my towns buildings can take up to 72 hours. the 15 minute speedup seems worthless but I still use it.

Same with a microscope. I just don't look gift horses in the mouth.

In my towns buildings can take up to 72 hours. the 15 minute speedup seems worthless but I still use it.

Same with a microscope. I just don't look gift horses in the mouth.

I agree. I remain glad to get a speed-up. I will accept it whatever it is - and I will find a good use for it.