Some thoughts on interrogation percentages (v23)
Will re-link the same screen from another thread
1) Numbers on our side not always adding upSam above got -15 somewhere. Often happens either during interrogation (eg. recalling questioning a lieutenant where Sam starts with sum = total but later -15 kicks in) or has it already at the start. Think before MindCracker he was also having some +5 bonus. Elena too. There could be some hidden effect am unaware (other leader perks?), just that it's confusing.
2) Scaling up versus static bonusesInterrogation decisions deal with static numbers, next to that are adjustments that change across ranks as well as over time (eg. lvl bonus). Which means the total itself isn't static. Seems that the formula for % can be [50 x AllyTotal / EnemyTotal] (in case wrong the following is probably wrong too). Then how well [de-]buffs work depends on the current enemy's total number.
Don't worry won't post any graphs, but let's use an arbitrary example:
Sam: lvl 25 (75p) + Presence 85 = 160
Emeny1: lvl 15 (45p) + Presence 55 = 100 -> chance is 80%
Enemy2: lvl 20 (60p) + Presence 110 + Lieutenant 30 = 200 -> chance is 40%
2a) Adjustments on our side: MindCracker buff
So now Sam takes MindCracker perk and it should upp his total to 180:
Emeny1 (100): 90% -> +10%
Emeny2 (200): 45% -> +5%
As a perk MC seems underwhelming right now. The most it helps with enemies with low total number, but then as an interrogator you will have a good chance there already. Gets weaker over time as enemies lvl up (no matter our total).
2b) Adjustments on our side: Enemy's gang debuff
The same for debuffs. When asking about the same gang it decreases Sam's total to 150:
Emeny1 (100): 75% -> -5%
Emeny2 (200): 38% -> -2%
This is a kind of strange, it means the higher the enemy's [rank | presence | level] the less unwilling to spill beans about his own gang...
2c) Adjustments on enemy side: Sodium Thiopental
Let's use Sam (160) and apply ST on enemies:
Emeny1 (85): 94% -> +14%
Emeny2 (185): 43% -> +3%
Again, the lower the enemy's total to begin with, the higher impact of ST. In fact in case of Enemy1 it's stronger than Mincracker.
Btw. things that debuff enemy's tot makes all the other adjustments against them stronger. Eg, ST + MindCracker -> +9% against Enemy2.
The game tells us ST also gets much less effective over time and more so when climbing ranks. We are talking chemical, about the drug resistancy. How well can they train it?
3) Presence skill and level scalingSam is interrogator, we maxed Library and upped his Presence several times (Leadership 10+). Could do more, but no way I could reach similar numbers as enemies. I understand that they have a bit different rules and some also function as leaders so need a good radius and cth buff, but together with level adjustments, feels like they are trying to keep up with our lvl by Presence. See above how this hoarding of numbers influences other things.
If Sam of lvl 25 has Presence 25 (so his total is 100 now)
Emeny1(100): 50% -> -30% in comparison to interrogator
Enemy2(200): 25% -> -15% in comparison to interrogator