Are impact drivers better?

[Shockwave]

Do they get better stuff out of a loot source (like a steel pick does better than an iron pick)

and is there a level difference (is a level 2 impact driver better than a level 3 wrench). They didn't explain much about the mechanics of the new tools.

[Shurenai]

Iron Pickaxe < Steel Pickaxe < Auger
Iron, Steel, Electric.
Wrench, Ratchet, Impact Driver
Iron, Steel, Electric.

So in summary, yes, it should be generally better than a wrench. That said, in any case, the reward from dismantling is the same no matter what- just a question of how much stamina it uses, how fast it can be used, and how many hits it takes to dismantle, etc.

Same with pickaxes actually- The block will only give <X>+(+Y% from Motherlode) material no matter what- so it's a question of how many hits and how much time it takes to break the block, steel pick being faster than the iron one, and auger being faster than the steel pick.

[Shockwave]

Really? I always thought a level 6 wrench used on a car seemed to give better batteries (higher tier) than a tier 1 wrench. I assumed the chance of battery or engine, batter quality etc were increased with an increased tier tool.

[jswilliams]

I've been curious about this Shurenai. Thank you.

[Shurenai]

Originally posted by Shockwave:

Really? I always thought a level 6 wrench used on a car seemed to give better batteries (higher tier) than a tier 1 wrench. I assumed the chance of battery or engine, batter quality etc were increased with an increased tier tool.

Yap. RNG, Gamestage and the Salvage Operations skill play into it- but not the tool tier or quality level.

[Brevan]

In a test game, I salvaged 35 cars with a ratchet and impact driver, each with the same mods and maxed Salvage perk. I know 35 cars each won't be enough for some, but it seemed like there were some salvaging differences but only for some things, about 50%
E.G:
Ratchet vs ImpactDriver
32k Gas vs 22k
280 Pipe+Spring vs 170
360 Mech Parts vs 230
270 Plastic vs 180
58 Oil vs 34
18 Engine+Battery vs 16
40 Headlights vs 38
70 ElecParts vs 60
25 Leather vs 35
16 Radiators vs 25

If it's just RNG, then it's an interesting type of random. Even after 35 coin flips I wouldn't expect a 50% difference in Heads vs Tails, but sure it's possible.

[xerxius]

Originally posted by Brevan:

In a test game, I salvaged 35 cars with a ratchet and impact driver, each with the same mods and maxed Salvage perk. I know 35 cars each won't be enough for some, but it seemed like there were some salvaging differences but only for some things, about 50%
E.G:
Ratchet vs ImpactDriver
32k Gas vs 22k
280 Pipe+Spring vs 170
360 Mech Parts vs 230
270 Plastic vs 180
58 Oil vs 34
18 Engine+Battery vs 16
40 Headlights vs 38
70 ElecParts vs 60
25 Leather vs 35
16 Radiators vs 25

If it's just RNG, then it's an interesting type of random. Even after 35 coin flips I wouldn't expect a 50% difference in Heads vs Tails, but sure it's possible.

If gamestage is playing a part in this then the result would be off unless you started a new game when doing the second tool.

[Brevan]

In my test, I placed two rows of 5 cars, at the end of each row was a box. I'd salvage a row with one tool, place the results in the row-box (along with a Duke to count the number of times I'd done rows with that tool), then turn around and do the same with the other row, other tool, and other box. When both rows were done I'd replace the cars and do it again. I had the patience to do this 7 times, but at some point I wouldn't mind doing it all over with a wrench (I'm pretty sure it'll be the same as the Ratchet, since I notice the same amount of gas per car in my normal non-test playing, but maybe some of the item types will be different counts).

[xerxius]

Originally posted by Brevan:

In my test, I placed two rows of 5 cars, at the end of each row was a box. I'd salvage a row with one tool, place the results in the row-box (along with a Duke to count the number of times I'd done rows with that tool), then turn around and do the same with the other row, other tool, and other box. When both rows were done I'd replace the cars and do it again. I had the patience to do this 7 times, but at some point I wouldn't mind doing it all over with a wrench (I'm pretty sure it'll be the same as the Ratchet, since I notice the same amount of gas per car in my normal non-test playing, but maybe some of the item types will be different counts).

Ok, then it probobly wouldnt affect gamestage that much (not enough to explain 50% difference anyway). Thought you did 35 cars with one tool then another 35 with the other.

[Brevan]

Also keep in mind that the 50% difference wasn't entirely in favour of the ratchet. If you wanted Brass Radiators or Leather, then the Impact Driver got about 50% more of those. For some categories (Engines or Batteries, Electric Parts, or Headlights), there wasn't much difference between the tools at all.

I don't recall the character leveling during the test. He's on Gamestage 42. Other folks are welcome to repeat test if they're interested in collecting more data, it would be neat to see if they found a more efficient test setup, since mine took about an hour (including leveling the new character (cemented a large raised platform with 300%EXP in effect, reduced to 100% for testing) in a new game).

[Brevan]

I ran the test with Wrench salvaging (max Salvage perk (+100% Salvage bonus), 33 lootable (empty) cars salvaged at game stage 43, 2 salvaged at game stage 44 (character gained a level)). I suppose the oddly large number of Engines and Batteries and the low Leather count are the main oddities. I guess 7DtD just has a very interesting RNG.

33k Gas
256 Pipe+Spring
350 Mech Parts
255 Plastic
49 Oil
32 Engine+Battery
22 Headlights
93 ElecParts
5 Leather
31 Radiators

[Sergeant Savvy]

i just got an impact driver on my playthrough of 1.0 and i swear i am suddenly getting way less than with my wrench.

[Real Mofo]

Yes it wont use stamina, in case you get surprised by a zoid, you can get out of there...

With a wrench, you use stamina, and if ♥♥♥♥ hits the fan....you dont have stamina to get away, and btw, crouche while you are getting stuff, it makes less noise ! ;)
Less noise, less curious zoids...comin your way ;)