Economic Model

The economic model governs the flow of materials in Gravity Well. This model describes how materials are manufactured, transported, and consumed. This process is completely automated in the game, requiring no user interaction. The relationships between the units are shown here only to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms in place.

Unit construction is an important role of the Tech Center/Base and Space Dock/Starbase complexes, and of the Freighter, which is the primary vehicle for colonization. The constructor unit must have enough finished materials available to construct the new unit. A new unit will only be constructed if no other unit of that type is present, either on the planet or in orbit, as appropriate. Thus, in the case of freighters, as soon as a freighter leaves orbit on a mission, a new one will be created if their are no other freighters present and materials are available.

Base

• Converts raw materials to finished materials.
• Repairs itself from its own stores of finished materials.
• Constructs Lab from finished materials.
• Constructs Comm Center from finished materials.

Colony

• Supplies the Base it accompanies with raw materials.
• Repairs from the Base it accompanies using finished materials.
• Supplies the Starbase in orbit with raw materials.
• Supplies orbiting freighters with raw materials.

Comm Center

• Repairs itself from the stores of the Base it accompanies, consuming finished materials.

Fighter

• Repairs from a Base if dirtside. Consumes finished materials
• Repairs from a Starbase if docked. Consumes finished materials.

Freighter

• Supplies Starbase with raw materials.
• Repairs from a Starbase it is orbiting with, using finished materials.
• Supplies Base it is orbiting with raw materials if no Colony is present.
• Loads raw materials from Colony it is orbiting.
• Repairs from a Base it is orbiting. Consumes finished materials.
• Constructs Base. The cargo holds must be full and construction consumes the freighter.
• Constructs Colony. The cargo holds must be full and construction consumes the freighter. Colonies can only be constructed on green planets.
• Constructs Starbase. The cargo holds must be full and construction consumes the freighter.
• Resupply outposts with no colonial facilities.
• Can be used for in-flight repairs and shield restoration. HIGHLY dangerous maneuver. Match heading and speed of freighter then slowly move through the freighter. If the freighter changes orders, the captain of the vessel may order a course change during in-flight repair. This usually causes the destruction of both vessels.

Starbase

• Converts raw materials to finished materials.
• Repairs itself from its own stores of finished materials.
• Constructs Space Dock using finished materials.
• Constructs Sensor Array using finished materials.

Tech Center

• Repairs from the stores of the Base it accompanies. Consumes finished materials.
• Constructs Fighter from finished materials of the Base it accompanies.
• Constructs Freighter from finished materials of the Base it accompanies.

Sensor Array

• Repairs from the Starbase it is attached to, consuming finished materials.

Space Dock

• Repairs from the Starbase it is attached to, consuming finished materials.
• Constructs Fighter from finished materials of the Starbase it accompanies.
• Constructs Freighter from finished materials of the Starbase it accompanies.