darozak
commented
2 years ago I updated the economy spreadsheet so that it contains import and export modules and protocols (https://github.com/Darwin-River/Ex-Machinis/commit/a3377986d7c52c5cc92fd9b3d629981c24f6496b).
After importing the tables into the database, I tested the import and export commands. Everything worked!
Import and export terminals will be resources that cannot be manufactured or purchased and are only available to NPC drones. The terminals will allow the drones to increment or decrement any resources for free by activating the terminal and specifying the desired resource.
Drones with import terminals will be programmed to use the terminals to maintain a baseline inventory of key items in their cargo holds. They will also maintain sell orders for each of these items so that players can purchase them when starting the game or otherwise needed.
These drones will also place buy orders for key materials that are intended to drive the economy by creating external demand for player manufactured resources. When these items are purchased from players, the resources will be exported by the drones with the the export terminal to make room for additional materials.
The game master will control all drones with import and export terminals and can control the in game economy by reprogramming the drones to maintain different quantities of key resources and adjusting the market orders for these resources.
With new players able to purchase whatever equipment they need from customs drones, we no longer need to give them starter kits when they begin the game. If necessary, they can even purchase jump engines from the local customs drones.
In taking this approach to managing the economy, we'll need to reprioritize our milestones so that drop stations (customs drones) and market tutorials are completed before manufacturing tutorials. This is because players will need to purchase equipment from the drop stations before starting to manufacture and sell their own resources.