I gave you numbers, but if I must break it down to the simplest level possible, I will. Let's again use my first example.
Defender has 1,700,000 Metal, 100,000 Crystal and 50,000 Deuterium.
Our current loot system (in most cases, because it is very erratic at times) splits available cargo space into three sections, one for each resource. The way we can calculate how many LC we need to send to get maximum loot, is we take the highest amount (here Metal), divide it by 2 (850,000), then multiply that by 3 (2,550,000), then divide that amount by 25,000 to get the required amount of LC for optimum loot on that raid. In this example, it is
102. Our system may work slightly differently in certain situations, but that is the general basis.
Now let's employ the Plunder Algorithm for the same raid and see how many LC will be needed for the total possible capture. I got my math wrong in the last one and forgot to calculate the final partition. Too lazy to do that now but I know the amount needed with the Plunder Algorithm is around 60, so let's say we are using 60 LC using the Plunder Algorithm for the same raid.
- Battle is resolved.
- 50% of resources are set aside for the loot pool. (850,000 Metal, 50,000 Crystal and 25,000 Deuterium)
- Attacker space calculated. (1,500,000)
- Fill Metal to one third cap (500,000 Metal picked up, 350,000 still remain in possible loot pool)
- Fill Crystal to half remaining cap (50,000 Crystal picked up, 0 remain in possible loot pool)
- Fill Deuterium in remaining cap (25,000 Deuterium picked up, 0 remain in possible loot pool)
- Is there remaining capacity? (Yes 925,000 units remain)
- Is there remaining loot? (Yes 350,000 units of Metal are still in the loot pool)
- Fill Metal to half remaining cap (350,000 units of metal are picked up, 0 remain in loot pool)
- Fill all remaining capacity with Crystal (0 units of Crystal available, non picked up)
- Attacking fleet returns home.
Now, a few less than 60 can be used for same results I think, but yes, as you can see, much less needed than our current pick up system. If you sent 60 LC at that target with our current loot rules, you would pick up 500,000 Metal, 50,000 Crystal and 25,000 Deuterium, then return home leaving a possible 350,000 Metal unlooted.
Really hope this now makes you understand. D:
EDIT: Failed at my math again, please disregard my faggotry. However, the system still shows it's much better effectiveness.
EDIT: Again for more math fail, I need to sleep.
EDIT: You're going to hate yourself (and me probably), but I fixed another number error. You had the wrong deut amount for the defender. ~KM