Engineer's multi-buddy perks

[Prometheus]

The first is a 10% net damage gain and a 50% net gain of drone health. This is a decent perk but I think a little bit weak. Still at least its a positive gain overall.

The second depending on how the math works out is either a 14% loss of damage or a 50% loss of damage with a 33% gain of health (as calculated from the 3 of the first perk). If I am actively twisting my mental process to be charitable I might be willing to grudgingly call this a side grade. At the cost of a level up perk. Unless I am misunderstanding something here this perk is bad.

For reference this is my math:
Baseline - 2 drones at damage value 1 (total 2)
First perk - 3 drones at damage value .7 (total 2.1)
Second perk - 4 drones at damage value .4 (total 1.6) if penalty is additive
or
Second perk - 4 drones at damage value .49 (total 1.96) if penalty is multiplicative

[dontnormally]

Huh. I never thought about it this way. That seems really bad for my favourite class.

[Prometheus]

I'm also wary of the splitting scrap beam perks.

[LittleNinja]

Originally posted by Promethian:

I'm also wary of the splitting scrap beam perks.

Is this a bad perk, too?

[Frosty the Pyro]

whlle have not tried this tallent, one thing to note is that the buddies are not just dps, but are decoys as well, so synergy with mocking buddies. In addition the geared buddies secondary attacks are another consideration (mark everything).

[Pandamonium(You Died)]

You also get attack speed bonus, due to an extra bot.
Let's say each bot deals 1 unit of damage w/ speed of 1.
With 2 bots, you deal 1 damage * 2 attack speed = 2 damage units
If you get 3 bots, each bot deals .7 damage * 3 attack speed = 2.1 units
4 bots you deal 0.49 damage * 4 attack speed = 1.96 units
So yes, in terms of pure damage, its less, but 4 bots also attack more targets, aggro more fire to themselves, apply more markings/criticals (if you pick the perks, criticals can skew that damage much higher), and overall should be more helpful if you got the perks that enchance the drones.