FIELD NOTE 01

Classify the constraint first

An upgrade can improve cleaning, collection, capacity, movement, refinery throughput or progression utility. Start by naming the system, because a strong gain in an idle system may have little immediate value.

Use the same unit for the current and upgraded rate. If the screen does not give comparable values, describe the benefit instead of manufacturing a percentage.

The official Sludgineers upgrade tree with connected colored branches.
Official Sludgineers press-kit media · documented in the site manifest

FIELD NOTE 02

Calculate transparent return

Absolute gain is upgraded rate minus current rate. Percentage gain divides that difference by the current rate. Gain per cost and payback are valid only with positive cost and a positive improvement.

A zero current rate makes percentage gain undefined, but absolute gain and payback can still be shown. The calculator handles that state without displaying infinity or crashing.

  • Gain = upgraded rate − current rate
  • Gain % = gain ÷ current rate
  • Gain per cost = gain ÷ cost
  • Payback = cost ÷ gain

FIELD NOTE 03

Know when math is incomplete

Utility, unlock access and convenience may be valuable without a clean rate. A movement or navigation benefit can change the route you can use rather than a single production number.

Label those judgments. A mathematical leader is only the leader among valid rows entered with comparable assumptions.

A compact official upgrade-tree view with active branches.
Official Sludgineers press-kit media · documented in the site manifest

FIELD NOTE 04

Current evidence boundary

Current achievements confirm purchasing all upgrades and fully upgrading the vacuum, jackhammer and air filter. Historical developer updates confirm upgrade-tree navigation, economy balancing and a Demo-era Multi-barrel example; they do not publish the full live tree, costs, caps or prerequisites.

Manual current-build comparison is more useful and more honest than a copied Demo table. Completion targets prove the set exists, not the shape or best order of every node.

FIELD NOTE 05

Magnet, Multi-barrel and current verification

The current achievement list confirms the Magnet through Attractive Investment. Multi-barrel remains supported only by historical Demo-era developer wording, so it is not promoted as a current full-release entity.

The prepared Best Upgrades page holds upgrade-order intent in one place and stays noindex until the complete tree supports defensible choices. There is deliberately no duplicate /upgrade-order route.

EVIDENCE LOG

Sources