Shipment Gear Math

"ARCTrooperFives;701649" wrote:
@EventineElessedil
I rounded a bit which could change something. But what I am talking about is strictly buying refreshes vs. strictly buying from shipments. The free energy shouldn't be a factor because you don't have to buy it, and if you combine farming and shipments it will be more efficient. Even if the refreshes might be a bit cheaper, they are subject to terrible RNG which might cost in a bunch more. Buying from shipments is safer, as it results in a reasonable drop rate that is guaranteed.

http://i.imgur.com/oO9W6sS.gif
Everyone has their own acceptable risk levels. I happen to trust in RNGesus, and know that, in the long run (and this game is a very, very long run), statistics will prevail, making it more crystal-efficient to buy energy refreshes at 50 crystals each for gear farming than it is to buy the full gear from shipments. I will use my 120 free energy to supplement the gear farm to ensure this.
And the bonus energies? They can go to hard node farming for shards. I earn enough to concentrate on one character at a time.
The extra little stuff (gear, credits, droids, etc.) is delicious gravy that makes the gear farm even less expensive. You can add extra flavor to the gravy by choosing nodes that give little gear you also need, when possible. The credits are important during early game, but become mostly garnish at L80.
No way in hell am I including the cost of that stuff in the equations, too complicated.