Internal trade - i.e. moving food to where it's needed

[BMN]

In reality, most population centers only produce some food locally, and then import chunks from areas that specialize in growing food. This is most pronounced in urban areas that don't have space for their own food growth yet at the same time consume a lot, and thus import tonnes from extremely fertile rural areas.

I don't like having to waste valuable space on my core 'urbanized' planets on growing food. There should be mechanics to have food-rich rural planets trade their food to other planets that are more specialized in production/science/energy.

To keep it balanced, there could be an energy/material cost to keep the trade lanes up and running, plus the risks involved if one of the planets were to be cut off by blockade.

 

[TGK72]

110% this!
As it stands I find the lack of any trade or resource movement period irritating. I understand for simplicity sake and probably because they couldn't squeeze the feature in in time but seriously, if you are going to make your pops require food to survive then why isn't their a means to specialize farm world's then have the extra food exported to industrial/science/mixed worlds. It could be handled the same way MoO does if simplicity and development time is an issue, though (as I've mentioned in one of my own suggestion threads) being able to seem this movement of goods between world's besides it simply being a mathematical mechanic would be greatly appreciated too.

Sorry, I just have an unhealthy love of sitting back and being able to see my empire function visually. lol

Like in It tickled me in SoaSE when I built two trade stations and began seeing trade ships start flying between the two. Always adds to the enjoyablility of a game to me even if I end up playing the game at system or galactic level most of the time. Just knowing it's there and doing its business is nice.

 

[LemonMonk]

Totally agree. I think that being able to move resources (or a fraction of resources) is vital.

Maybe we'd be able to get some sort of Empire-run distribution ships (or just trade routes) which will forever do the routes you've chosen (collect at Food Planet, deliver at Mineral Planet). This unit could perhaps be targeting by Pirates also.

 

[Kasku]

Totally agree. I think that being able to move resources (or a fraction of resources) is vital.

Maybe we'd be able to get some sort of Empire-run distribution ships (or just trade routes) which will forever do the routes you've chosen (collect at Food Planet, deliver at Mineral Planet). This unit could perhaps be targeting by Pirates also.

I think it's great idea, I kinda assumed from start that it worked like in Rome2:TW. I wish it did.

It could be made tech/government based.
For example a totalitaristic government could use centralized food distribution system. You need tech and space station to do it. Stations have limited range like warp FTL so player need to maintain few of them in order to distribute food to all planets. This would need option to exclude planet from system if you want to boost population there or even starve a planet on purpose.
Pros: management, high efficiency (no food lost)
Cons: High upkeep, stations can be destroyed

While a more democratic gov. can build food markets o each planet that would allow planet to join food supply chain. It would offer no management options. If one planet is starving you can't grow other planets. Taking one slot on planet can be a huge thing, maybe give it some food production too.
Pros: low efficiency (some food lost during transport, for example to deliver 1 food you need to have 1,2 surplus)
Cons: low upkeep, safe

 

[barny]

Food needs to be "local", otherwise the whole growing mechanic doesn't work. Hendrik explained it a bit more during the launch stream, so don't expect this aspect to change anytime soon (and I don't think it should either).

 

[Kasku]

Food needs to be "local", otherwise the whole growing mechanic doesn't work. Hendrik explained it a bit more during the launch stream, so don't expect this aspect to change anytime soon (and I don't think it should either).

Have you played Rome2:TW (or Atilla IIRC)? It has similar growing mechanism. There is local (province) and global food. Provinces only grow if you have local surplus food, but "hunger" doesn't come into play as long as whole empire is food positive. It's quite simple, but woks really neat.

 

[barny]

I'm not sure anything works neat in the strategy part of Rome 2.

 

[BrokenSky]

I really hope this is part of the trade expansion.