Factorio Forums

TLDR
I would like a custom maths expression for how much the science durability value of each science pack changes, when the quality of the pack is increased.

Suggestion
Currently each level of quality adds +100% durability to the science pack. durability = 1 + (quality_level)
I would like a property for each science pack which allows us to change the mathematical expression for how it scales with quality.

Suggested: durability = science_quality_scaling with maths expression science_quality_scaling individual to each science pack.
Setting science_quality_scaling = 1 + quality_level would revert to default behaviour for the selected science pack.
Setting science_quality_scaling = 1 + quality_level + 2^quality_level would create linear + exponential scaling.

There is in theory no need to change the base durability, because it is already possible to increase or decrease the value of science packs by creating recipes such as:
ingredients = { {"utility-science-pack", 10}, {"production-science-pack", 1} }

There will be a need to make sure the full durability of a science pack with custom scaling is not less than or equal 0.

Why
Currently, the scaling is fixed, which makes aiming for quality science packs situational at best.
The change would enable us to balance individual science packs' scaling with quality.
Example: A mod, which adds a stronger scaling "Quality Science Pack" would fit the theme and incentivise building with quality earlier in the game.

The most relevant forum topic I found while searching suggestions was this viewtopic.php?p=628032

+1, even being able to set the durability scaling per-prototype instead of per-quality level would be nice.

Bumping this so I can roll my own quality science balance patch for custom drain multiplier per quality per science since 2.1 FFF’s don’t seem to address quality science being extremely underwhelming