Key:
C = Character ATP
E = Equipment ATP
M = Modifiers to ATP, like PA modifier, buffs, elementals etc
D = Target DFP
n = Number of hits
X = ATP Difference between Newman and any other race, say Cast for example, so that we can factor out ATA since their ATAs are close.
So the basic damage formula (from PSUpedia) on PSU is:
But that's a bit too many brackets so I'll simplify it a little:
And the formula for Newman damage as a percentage of Cast damage is:
Code:
nM(C + E - X) - nD
--------------------------
nM(C + E) - nD
Taking X out of the bracket, we have:
Code:
nM(C + E) - nD - nMX
------------------------------
nM(C + E) - nD
And finally, simplifying that, we have:
Code:
nMX
1 - -------------------
nM(C + E) - nD
This means that as the second term tends to 0, the gap between Newman and Cast damage shrinks. Since it is a fractional polynomial, this happens if the numerator decreases or the denominator increases.
Now, note that n is a common factor in both the numerator and denominator, this means it can be cancelled out, i.e. the number of hits has no impact on the damage ratio of Newman vs Cast, which is true - whether a Newman does 1 hit at 80% the damage of a Cast, or 10 hits at 80% the damage of a Cast, it's still 80%.
Second, note that M also appears in both the numerator and the denominator. However, in the denominator it is only applied on the positive term. So as M increases, the denominator increases at a faster rate than the numerator. In practical terms, the higher the PA modifier, buff, etc, the lower the percentage gap between Newman damage and Cast damage.
Why is this so? Because of the one term that isn't affected by M, which is nD. If a Newman hits once, for 800 damage vs a Cast hitting for 1000 damage, and 100 damage per hit is lost due to enemy DFP, the Newman's damage ratio is 700/900 = 77.8% of a Cast's. If the same Newman used a PA that's half as strong and hits twice, for 400 + 400 damage vs a Cast hitting for 500 + 500 damage, 200 damage is lost due to DFP, so the ratio becomes 600/800 = 75% of a Cast's.
Third thing to note, as E increases, the denominator increases. This means better equipment, like higher ATP weapons will lower the percentage gap between a Newman and a Cast. Same logic applies here. If both the Newman and the Cast equipped a weapon that had 200 more ATP, the numerical damage they gain is the same, but since the Newman starts off "poorer" in damage, that 200 ATP means more to them =p
As for the other terms, D is kind of out of your control, since it's the target's DFP. You can use Zalure to lower it I suppose, and a fixed 40 damage gained means more to a Newman than a high ATP race, but it's still not that worth the cast time IMO. C and X are constant, since the OP mentioned the class i.e. FM.
So the conclusion is: while it is true that a higher PA modifier does result in a bigger numerical gap between Newman damage and Cast damage, it also creates a smaller percentage gap between the two races. So in the end, you should just stack uber gear, strong PAs and gogo big numbarz. Bet you didn't need algebra to know that! :O
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