Economy Guide

# Economy Guide

> **Navigation**: [Docs](../README.md) > [Player Guides](./) > **Economy Guide**

Master resource management and build an economic powerhouse to fuel your
conquest of the stars.

## Economic Fundamentals

Your economy is the foundation of everything:

- **No economy = No ships**
- **No ships = No territory**
- **No territory = No victory**

**Golden Rule:** Economy first, military second. You can't sustain a fleet
without the income to support it.

## Understanding Your Economy Dashboard

Access via the **Economy** button (hotkey: `E`)

### Key Metrics

**Total Income:**

- Sum of all resource production per turn
- Shown as: +Credits/turn, +Minerals/turn, +Fuel/turn, +Research/turn

**Total Expenses:**

- Fleet maintenance costs
- Building upkeep
- Trade route overhead
- Shown as: -Credits/turn, etc.

**Net Income:**

- Income - Expenses
- **GREEN = Surplus** (economy growing)
- **YELLOW = Breaking even** (sustainable)
- **RED = Deficit** (burning reserves, unsustainable)

**Treasury Balance:**

- Current stockpile of each resource
- Buffer for emergencies and large purchases

**Income Breakdown:**

- See which planets produce what
- Identify bottlenecks
- Plan expansion priorities

## Resource Production Buildings

### Credits Production

**Tax Authority**

- **Cost:** 1,000 minerals, 500 credits
- **Production:** +100 credits/turn
- **Requirements:** Colony population >1,000
- **Best On:** High-population planets

**Trade Hub**

- **Cost:** 2,000 minerals, 1,000 credits
- **Production:** +200 credits/turn + trade route bonuses
- **Requirements:** Orbit of planet with trade routes
- **Best On:** Trade route junction planets

**Financial District** (Advanced)

- **Cost:** 5,000 minerals, 3,000 credits
- **Production:** +500 credits/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Advanced Economics, large population
- **Best On:** Developed core worlds

**Stock Exchange** (Late Game)

- **Cost:** 10,000 minerals, 5,000 credits
- **Production:** +1,000 credits/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Galactic Markets, multiple trade routes
- **Best On:** Economic capital world

### Minerals Production

**Mineral Extractor**

- **Cost:** 800 minerals, 300 credits
- **Production:** +50 minerals/turn
- **Requirements:** Planet has mineral deposits
- **Best On:** Rocky planets, high mineral rating

**Deep Core Mine**

- **Cost:** 2,500 minerals, 1,000 credits
- **Production:** +150 minerals/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Deep Mining
- **Best On:** Planets with "Rich Ore" trait

**Asteroid Mining Station**

- **Cost:** 3,000 minerals, 1,500 credits
- **Production:** +200 minerals/turn
- **Requirements:** Asteroid belt in system
- **Best On:** Systems with dense asteroid fields

**Automated Mining Complex** (Late Game)

- **Cost:** 8,000 minerals, 3,000 credits
- **Production:** +500 minerals/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Robotics, AI Management
- **Best On:** Dedicated mining worlds

### Fuel Production

**Fuel Refinery**

- **Cost:** 1,500 minerals, 800 credits
- **Production:** +100 fuel/turn
- **Requirements:** Planet with hydrocarbon deposits
- **Best On:** Planets near your fleets

**Gas Harvester**

- **Cost:** 4,000 minerals, 2,000 credits
- **Production:** +300 fuel/turn
- **Requirements:** Gas giant in system
- **Best On:** Gas giants (obviously)

**Fusion Reactor** (Advanced)

- **Cost:** 6,000 minerals, 3,000 credits
- **Production:** +500 fuel/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Fusion Power
- **Best On:** Industrial worlds

**Antimatter Plant** (Late Game)

- **Cost:** 15,000 minerals, 8,000 credits
- **Production:** +1,000 fuel/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Antimatter, rare elements
- **Best On:** Secure, developed systems

### Research Production

**Research Lab**

- **Cost:** 2,000 minerals, 1,500 credits
- **Production:** +20 research/turn
- **Requirements:** None
- **Best On:** Every developed world

**University Complex**

- **Cost:** 5,000 minerals, 3,000 credits
- **Production:** +50 research/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Advanced Education
- **Best On:** Core worlds with large populations

**Science Academy**

- **Cost:** 10,000 minerals, 5,000 credits
- **Production:** +100 research/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Scientific Method, existing research labs
- **Best On:** Dedicated research worlds

**Quantum Research Facility** (Late Game)

- **Cost:** 20,000 minerals, 10,000 credits
- **Production:** +250 research/turn
- **Requirements:** Tech: Quantum Physics
- **Best On:** Your most secure, developed planet

## Colony Management

### Planet Types and Bonuses

**Terran (Earth-like)**

- **Bonus:** +25% population growth
- **Best For:** Credits production (population-based buildings)
- **Strategy:** Build tax authorities, financial districts

**Rocky/Barren**

- **Bonus:** +25% mineral production
- **Best For:** Mining operations
- **Strategy:** Build mineral extractors, deep core mines

**Gas Giant**

- **Bonus:** +50% fuel production
- **Best For:** Fuel harvesting
- **Strategy:** Build gas harvesters only

**Ice World**

- **Bonus:** +15% research
- **Best For:** Research facilities
- **Strategy:** Build research labs, universities

**Desert**

- **Bonus:** +10% all production
- **Best For:** Balanced development
- **Strategy:** Mix of all building types

### Colony Development Stages

**Stage 1: Founding (Turns 1-5)**

- Build basic infrastructure
- 1 mineral extractor
- 1 fuel refinery
- 1 research lab
- **Goal:** Self-sufficiency

**Stage 2: Growth (Turns 6-15)**

- Add specialized buildings based on planet type
- Build defenses (1 orbital defense platform)
- Establish trade route
- **Goal:** Net positive income

**Stage 3: Mature (Turns 16-30)**

- Maximize production buildings
- Advanced buildings (universities, deep mines)
- Strong defenses
- **Goal:** Major contributor to empire

**Stage 4: Optimized (Turns 31+)**

- Late-game buildings (quantum facilities, antimatter)
- Fully defended
- Maximum efficiency
- **Goal:** Economic powerhouse

### Population Management

**Population Growth:**

- Grows naturally each turn
- Affected by planet type and buildings
- Higher population = more tax revenue
- Required for some buildings

**Population Happiness:**

- **Happy (>75%):** +20% production
- **Content (50-75%):** Normal production
- **Unhappy (25-50%):** -20% production
- **Rebellious (<25%):** -50% production, risk of revolt

**Increasing Happiness:**

- Build entertainment districts
- Lower taxes (reduces credit income)
- Station defensive fleet (security bonus)
- Win battles (morale boost)
- Trade routes (goods flow)

### Building Priorities by Game Stage

**Early Game (Turns 1-20):**

1. Mineral extractors (build everything else)
2. Fuel refineries (move fleets)
3. Research labs (tech advantage)
4. Tax authorities (sustain economy)

**Mid Game (Turns 21-50):**

1. Specialized buildings (based on planet type)
2. Trade hubs (connect economies)
3. Universities (accelerate research)
4. Deep mines (ramp up minerals)

**Late Game (Turns 51+):**

1. Advanced production buildings
2. Quantum research facilities
3. Antimatter plants
4. Stock exchanges

## Trade Routes

Trade routes multiply your economic output.

### Establishing Trade Routes

**Requirements:**

- Two friendly colonies
- Clear path (no enemy-controlled systems between)
- Trade hub on at least one planet

**Creating Route:**

1. Click planet with trade hub
2. Select **"Establish Trade Route"**
3. Choose destination planet
4. Route appears as dotted line

**Benefits:**

- +50 credits/turn per route
- +10% production bonus to both planets
- Share resources between planets
- Visibility along route path

### Trade Route Protection

**Threats:**

- Enemy raiders
- Pirates (random event)
- Blockades

**Protection Methods:**

- Station patrol fleets along route
- Build defensive platforms in route systems
- Research "Convoy Protection" tech
- Insurance (costs credits, compensates losses)

### Trade Route Optimization

**Hub and Spoke:**

- One central trade hub planet
- Multiple routes radiate outward
- Maximizes bonuses to hub world
- Vulnerable to hub loss

**Network:**

- Every planet connects to 2-3 others
- Redundant paths
- Resilient to disruption
- Harder to manage

**Trunk Line:**

- Main trade artery connects core worlds
- Branch lines to periphery
- Balanced efficiency and resilience
- Easier to defend

## Resource Management Strategies

### The Reserve Strategy

**Principle:** Always maintain reserves for emergencies

**Reserve Targets:**

- **Credits:** 5,000 minimum (10,000 mid-game, 25,000 late-game)
- **Minerals:** Enough for 5 cruisers
- **Fuel:** Enough to move all fleets once
- **Research:** N/A (spend immediately)

**When to Spend Reserves:**

- Emergency ship construction
- Critical technology research
- Defending against invasion
- Opportunity for decisive victory

### The Investment Strategy

**Principle:** Spend early to grow faster

**Application:**

- Spend all minerals on economy buildings early
- Accept temporary deficit
- Economy snowballs faster
- Risky if attacked early

**When to Use:**

- Single-player games
- Peaceful starts
- Economic victory goal
- Confident in defense

### The Balanced Strategy

**Principle:** Maintain positive income while growing

**Application:**

- Build economy buildings when income is positive
- Build military when threatened
- Keep small reserve (2,000 credits)
- Slower growth, more stable

**When to Use:**

- Multiplayer games
- Aggressive opponents
- Learning the game
- General purpose

### The Deficit Strategy (Advanced)

**Principle:** Run intentional deficit for short-term gain

**Application:**

- Burn reserves to build faster than opponent
- Must win or recoup before reserves empty
- High risk, high reward
- Requires excellent timing

**When to Use:**

- Decisive moment (major battle coming)
- Racing to key technology
- Defending against imminent attack
- Experienced players only

## Fleet Maintenance Costs

Every ship costs resources to maintain:

### Maintenance Costs by Ship Type

- **Scout:** 10 credits/turn
- **Fighter:** 20 credits/turn, 5 fuel/turn
- **Corvette:** 40 credits/turn, 10 fuel/turn
- **Destroyer:** 80 credits/turn, 20 fuel/turn
- **Cruiser:** 150 credits/turn, 40 fuel/turn
- **Battleship:** 300 credits/turn, 80 fuel/turn
- **Carrier:** 250 credits/turn, 60 fuel/turn

### Managing Maintenance

**Cost Reduction:**

- Research "Efficient Logistics" (-15% maintenance)
- Build "Fleet Support Yards" on planets (-10% for orbiting fleets)
- Decommission obsolete ships

**When to Decommission:**

- Economy in deficit
- Ships are obsolete (3+ tech levels behind)
- Too many ships for no active wars
- Scrapping provides 25% of build cost back

**Fleet Size Limits:**

- Early game: 30-40 ships
- Mid game: 60-80 ships
- Late game: 100+ ships
- Depends on economy strength

## Economic Victory Path

To win via economy, you need massive wealth:

### Requirements (Reminder)

- 1,000,000 credits in treasury
- Control 50% of trade routes
- Maintain 10 profitable colonies
- Hold for 5 consecutive turns

### Strategy Timeline

**Turns 1-20: Foundation**

- Expand to 10 planets quickly
- Build economy on all (1-2 buildings each)
- Establish 5-8 trade routes
- Research economic techs
- Minimal military (defense only)

**Turns 21-40: Acceleration**

- Upgrade all colonies (3-4 buildings each)
- Expand trade network (15+ routes)
- Build financial districts on core worlds
- Research advanced economics
- Moderate military (protection)

**Turns 41-60: Maximization**

- All colonies fully developed (5+ buildings)
- Trade hub on every colony
- Stock exchanges on developed worlds
- Control 50%+ of trade routes (block competitors)
- Strong defensive fleets

**Turns 61+: Victory Push**

- Accumulate 1,000,000 credits
- Maintain all requirements for 5 turns
- Defend against desperate enemy attacks
- Claim economic victory

### Key Economic Technologies

1. **Advanced Mining** (Early): +25% mineral production
2. **Efficient Logistics** (Early): -15% fleet maintenance
3. **Trade Networks** (Mid): +50% trade route income
4. **Advanced Economics** (Mid): Unlocks financial districts
5. **Galactic Markets** (Late): Unlocks stock exchanges
6. **Automated Production** (Late): +30% all production

## Common Economic Mistakes

**Mistake: Building Too Much Military Early**

- **Problem:** Maintenance kills economy
- **Fix:** 70% economy, 30% military in early game

**Mistake: Ignoring Trade Routes**

- **Problem:** Miss out on huge bonuses
- **Fix:** Build trade hubs by turn 15

**Mistake: Not Checking Net Income**

- **Problem:** Running deficit without knowing
- **Fix:** Check economy dashboard every 3-5 turns

**Mistake: Neglecting Research**

- **Problem:** Fall behind technologically
- **Fix:** Build research labs on every colony

**Mistake: Overexpanding**

- **Problem:** Can't develop all colonies
- **Fix:** Only expand if you can develop new colony

**Mistake: Hoarding Resources**

- **Problem:** Resources not working for you
- **Fix:** Invest in buildings - they multiply over time

## Advanced Economic Concepts

### The Economic Multiplier Effect

Buildings pay for themselves over time:

**Example: Mineral Extractor**

- Cost: 800 minerals
- Production: +50 minerals/turn
- **Payback time:** 16 turns
- **After 30 turns:** Net +700 minerals
- **Build ASAP for maximum return**

### Resource Conversion

Convert abundant resources to needed ones:

**Market Trading:**

- Sell excess fuel for credits
- Buy minerals when needed
- Prices fluctuate based on supply/demand
- Use strategically, not as primary source

**Building Priorities:**

- If mineral-rich: Build extractors, sell excess
- If fuel-rich: Build refineries, support large fleets
- If credit-rich: Rush construction with instant builds

### Opportunity Cost

Every choice has alternatives:

**Example:**

- 3,000 minerals can build:
  - 1 cruiser (immediate military power)
  - OR 3 mineral extractors (+150 minerals/turn)

- **Short term:** Cruiser is better (protection)
- **Long term:** Extractors pay off after 20 turns
- **Decision:** Depends on threat level

## Economic Tips & Tricks

1. **Build Economy Buildings First:** First 10 turns, 80% economy, 20% military
2. **Prioritize Minerals:** Minerals build everything else
3. **Trade Routes ASAP:** Huge bonuses, build trade hubs early
4. **Check Efficiency:** Buildings on wrong planet types waste potential
5. **Research Economic Techs:** Each tier multiplies output
6. **Don't Hoard:** Invest resources into buildings immediately
7. **Monitor Maintenance:** Decommission obsolete ships
8. **Protect Trade:** One raider can cost thousands of credits
9. **Specialize Planets:** Focus each planet on its strength
10. **Plan Ahead:** Build economy for your desired fleet size

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**Next Steps:**

- Apply economic power in [Fleet Command](./fleet-command.md)
- Research priorities in [Technology Guide](./technology-guide.md)
- Overall strategy in [Tips & Strategies](./tips-and-strategies.md)

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## See Also

### Related Documentation

- **[Technology Guide](./technology-guide.md)** - Research economic technologies
  and advanced buildings
- **[Fleet Command Guide](./fleet-command.md)** - Spend your resources on
  military power
- **[Combat Tactics Guide](../player-guides/combat-tactics.md)** - Economic
  warfare and resource management in battle
- **[Tips and Strategies](../player-guides/tips-and-strategies.md)** - Advanced
  economic strategies and victory paths
- **[Keyboard Shortcuts Reference](../player-guides/keyboard-shortcuts.md)** -
  Access economy screen (E) and trade routes (T) quickly

### For More Information

- **[Game Systems - Economy](../concepts/game-systems.md)** - Technical details
  of economy processing and balancing
- **[Operations Runbook](../operator-guides/operations.md)** - Production
  deployment considerations for large-scale economies
- **[API Integration Guide](../operator-guides/api-integration.md)** - Display
  economic data in your custom interfaces
- **[Player Guides Index](../player-guides/index.md)** - Complete collection of
  gameplay guides

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Last updated: 2026-02-27