Trade Routes

Automated intra-empire logistics and player-to-player trade contracts.

Automated Trade Routes

Trade routes automate resource transfers between two planets based on stockpile thresholds. No manual intervention needed once configured.

TradeRoute {
  id
  source_planet
  destination_planet
  resource_type
  min_threshold      // Dispatch if destination is below this
  max_threshold      // Dispatch if source is above this
  shipment_size
  transport_fleet_id
}

Trigger Logic (per tick)

if source.resource > max_threshold
AND destination.resource < min_threshold
AND transport_fleet is idle
→ dispatch shipment

Shipment Execution

  1. Remove shipment_size from source planet stockpile
  2. Create a transport mission on the fleet
  3. Fleet travels at its fleet speed
  4. Resource is added to destination on arrival

Player-to-Player Trade

Direct Trade Contract

TradeContract {
  sender
  receiver
  resource_sent
  resource_received
  delivery_time
  escrow_status
}

Trade contracts require a fleet to physically transport resources. There is no instantaneous teleportation of goods — delivery time is real and based on travel distance.

Logistics Pressure

Trade routes create strategic depth:

  • Each route consumes a fleet's capacity
  • More routes = more fleets needed
  • Fleets used for logistics cannot be used for combat
  • Overextending logistics leaves the empire vulnerable

This is the key mechanism behind the expand vs stabilize tension.

Combat System
Fully deterministic combat with no RNG. Initiative, damage formulas, counter tags, and battle reports.
Espionage
Deterministic spy missions to reveal enemy blueprint intelligence.