

Once the trade value reaches the empire's capital, the capital system must contain a starbase of higher than Outpost level in order for the trade value to be converted into tangible resources.Ĭreating and expanding trade routes īy default, each normal empire that is not a Gestalt Consciousness will start the game with a starbase in its home (capital) system that has a trade hub module constructed on it.Įach trade hub module will extend a starbase's trade value extraction range by one hyperlane jump, up to a maximum of 6 hyperlane jumps for a max-level starbase with nothing but trade hub modules on it. If the trade route of a given starbase leads to another starbase, the receiving starbase will send both its own collected trade value and the trade value received from the other starbase further "downstream" towards the capital system.

Each upgraded starbase has one outgoing trade route, which by default is connected directly to the capital, but can be manually re-routed to any other starbase (select the base in trade route mapmode, then right-click on the target base to cancel or switch route). The trade value of an empire can be increased by the following:Ī trade route is a path that serves to connect a starbase collecting trade value to the capital system and is required for the trade value to be exploited. Trade value exploited by branch offices is converted entirely into energy credits regardless of the trade policy. For Criminal Heritage branch offices the percentage will instead vary from 25% with 0 crime to 75% with 100 crime. The capital starbase must be above outpost level to be included in trade network (as any other trade hub).Ĭorporate Branch offices exploit 50% of a planet's trade value without reducing the planet owner's profits. On the other hand, if the collecting starbase is not located within the capital system, it must be connected to the starbase in the capital system by a trade route. If the collecting starbase is located within the capital system, all trade value within its collection range will be instantly exploited. Once extracted, the trade value must successfully reach the starbase in the capital system of the empire.If the starbase is disabled it will not export trade value until the hostile fleet is removed. A planet that is within range of a collecting starbase will automatically have its trade value collected by the starbase. The extraction range can be increased by building trade hub modules and a hyperlane registrar building up to a maximum collection range of 7 hyperlane jumps from the starbase. By default, every starbase will only extract trade value from the system in which it is located. There must be an owned starbase within range of the system and it must be of higher than outpost level in order to extract trade value from the system.In order to successfully exploit trade value, two conditions must be met: Additionally, small amounts of trade value can be found as deposits in space, representing various resources that do not have industrial applications, but nevertheless are desirable to the population.Įach unit of trade value exploited is converted into energy credits and, depending on the trade policy, additional consumer goods, unity or both. The trade value of a planet is affected by its stability, with 100 stability giving +30% trade value and 0 stability −50%. All pops generate a small amount of trade value based on their living standards, with higher living standard pops generating more trade value, and trade value also being produced by a number of different jobs such as clerks and merchants. Trade value is an in-game numerical value that represents the civilian and private-sector economy of an empire as well as the total value of all goods being traded. Corporate empires on the other hand are highly dependent on it while Merchant Guilds empires who are not dependent on it, can still benefit from generating trade value by gaining more unity from merchants. By default starbases will only exploit trade value inside the system they are built, but their collection range can be extended by 1 hyperlane jump for each trade hub module or hyperlane registrar building constructed on the starbase.Ĭivilian trade is not available to Gestalt Consciousness empires. Trade value is collected and exploited by starbases above outpost level. 1.2.1 Creating and expanding trade routes.
