*sighs*....no, the 16:4:1 is actually not correct, which is something that has been discussed many times.
If you think it is correct, I'll be VERY glad to show you sometime, by trading all my tier3 stuff from 1 factory to your tier1 goods for a week or 2, and we'll see who is getting the best of that deal.
Spells are not relevant here.
And we're not talking about goods bought by the wholesaler either, so you keep bringing in points that don't have anything to do with the crosstiertrading.
I'm not opposed to people posting crosstiertrades, I just generally don't take them, since the ratio deemed as 'fair' by the game isnt
What it costs me to produce anything is irrelevant to what it costs you to produce anything. I have yet to ask another player how much their production cost before taking a trade. The value of your goods to me is what it would cost for me to produce them.
This is what my costs would be right now.
Tier 1 LVL 23 (boosted) 700% Relic Bonus = cost per unit 2.5 coins
Tier 2 LVL 19 (boosted) 700% Relic Bonus = cost per unit 10 coins
Tier 3 LVL 19 (boosted) 700% Relic Bonus = cost per unit 40 coins
Tier 1 LVL 23 (non-boosted) 0% Relic Bonus = cost per unit 20 coins
Tier 2 LVL 19 (non-boosted) 0% Relic Bonus = cost per unit 80 coins
Tier 3 LVL 19 (non-boosted) 0% Relic Bonus = cost per unit 320 coins
This is what A Cross Tier Trade would cost me:
Cross Trade Boosted VS Non Boosted (Pay VS Cost to Produce)
16 T1 Boosted traded for 1 T3 Non Boosted = Costs 40 VS 320 (also 2.5 VS 20)
4 T1 Boosted traded for 1 T2 Non Boosted = Costs 10 VS 80
4 T2 Boosted traded for 1 T3 Non Boosted = Costs 40 VS 320
And this is for Same Tier Trading.
"Normal" Trade Boosted VS Non Boosted (Pay VS Cost to Produce)
1 T1 Boosted traded for 1 T1 Non Boosted =Costs 2.5 VS 20
1 T2 Boosted traded for 1 T2 Non Boosted = Costs 10 VS 80
1 T3 Boosted traded for 1 T3 Non Boosted = Costs 40 VS 320
So you can see there is actually no difference between Within Tier and Across Tier Trades.
**Please Note**
Boosted per piece costs are affected by level of Manufactory and Relic Boost however Non-Boosted Manufactory is affected by neither.
Cost to produce a Non Boosted will always be greater than a Boosted.
Anytime a trade of Boosted for a Non-Boosted no matter what tier is a gain.
Anytime a trade of a Non-Boosted for a Non-Boosted no matter what tier is a breakeven.
Anytime you trade a Non-Boosted for a Boosted no matter what tier is a breakeven. (your non-produced non-boosted become valued at boosted cost after trading).
Sooo Yes the 16:4:1 is always correct.