Hello.

I started playing this game recently. I don't play to show off and don't upload videos but optimizing problems with a better solution is a big aspect of the game.

That's where I'm lost. What is a good solution? Let's take imaginary numbers.

Let's say the majority (top of pyramid in the score graphic) has 300 cycles and 30 symbols. Obviously 200 cycles and 20 symbols is better. But, the more optimized it is, the harder it is to improve. I mean, it would be easy to go from 300 to 200 but almost impossible from 200 to 100.

I'm new and maybe I'll learn better later but, it seems that at a point, you can only trade cycles for symbols or the opposite. So, to take my imaginary example, instead of 200 cycles and 20 symbols, I would get a solution with 190 cycles and 22 symbols, 0r 250 cycles and 17 symbols (random numbers).

I'm not an engineer but I'm almost certain that in life, the complexity (cost, heat, etc...) matters. So I would consider a solution with 150 cycles and 40 symbols a bad one (or 400 cycles and 15 symbols). Usually I aim to for a low end average on both.

But the graphic is... weird? It shows the lowest numbers, but they can be on different runs. In my example, let's say the lowest part of the graph would be 100 cycles and 10 symbols, but it doesn't mean it was on the same run, it could be one with 100 cycles (and high symbols) and another with high cycles (and low symbols).

So I ask again, what is a good solution? Is it worth sacrificing cycles or symbols, for the other? Would 150 cycles and 30 symbols be considered better than 200 and 20? Are less cycles better no matter what? Is there an objective reference or is it personal preference?

It's hard to look for better solutions, when you don't even know what you're supposed to aim for :)
I suppose I'm not the only one wondering about this?

Anyway, thanks in advance and have a nice day

Regards

Good or bad solution is very subjective.
In general I would consider a good solution with below standards.
In any given SINGLE solution,
1. Cycles used on or better than average;
2. Reactors used on or better than average;
3. Symbols used on or better than average

Surely you can optimized yours on different areas, say getting the fewest symbols as you can while sacrificing others.
Since the graphs only mark your “best result in a specified criteria (BEST)” and “current result of your newly made solution (LAST)”, you can come up with many solution to get the “best” scores on all areas.

I think most people just move to the next puzzle when getting advance, "better than average is a good one" is pretty appropriate.

Hello.

Thanks for your reply and sorry for my late answer, I don't use forums often. I'm not good with this. Yes that's pretty much what I was saying and doing, but that's why I am asking. I was wondering if there was a different approach or what was standard with the community. Thank you too for your answer. Well I guess that makes the average too, but you got a post from the creator so I guess it counts as the official answer, so I'll tag it.

I spend 10x more time optimizing than just doing it, but maybe that's me. Still curious about what other people do. If someone has different approaches they want to share or something related with that, post it here.

Have a nice day
Best regards
edited: english