                               Concept : Update

 The Empire update is where production occurs.  Interactively, the player  can
control  ships,  planes, movement of commodities, and the like, but production
occurs automatically at intervals specified  by  the  Deity.   The  number  of
Empire  Time  Units  spanned  by  each  update  is  specified  by the variable
etu_per_update.  Unlike in previous versions, updates may occur at any time of
the day specified by your deity.

The following series of actions is performed by the Empire  update  daemon  in
order each update:

Calculate the NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) for each  nation  based  on
current  world  levels  of sectors and their contents, planes, ships, and mis-
siles.

Make payments on all active loans if the borrower has sufficient cash on hand.
Remove all repaid loans.

Perform construction and repairs for each ship in the world.  Ships  are  only
built/repaired  if  the  owning nation has the required cash on hand.  Perform

                               Concept : Update

any production for ships that can produce.   Add  etu_per_update  mobility  to
each ship.

Perform construction and repairs for each plane in the world.  Planes are also
only  built/repaired  if  the owning nation has the required cash on hand, and
the plane is residing in an operational airbase.  Add etu_per_update  mobility
to each plane.

Perform construction and repairs for each missile in the world.  Missiles  are
only  built/repaired if the owning nation has sufficient cash, and the missile
is residing in an operational airbase.

Perform construction and repairs on each sector in  the  world.   Sectors  are
only  built/repaired if the owning nation has sufficient cash on hand.  Deter-
mine the number of workers and their happiness levels  in  the  given  sector;
execute  guerrilla  movement and combat as necessary.  Feed each of the people
(killing some of them off if they starve), and start or track the progress  of
plague.   Perform  sector production if the sector has required raw materials,
workers, and is operational.  After all production is done,  execute  standing
distribution and delivery orders.  Add etu_per_update mobility to each sector.

                               Concept : Update

Determine shortfalls and surpluses for each warehouse  in  the  world.   Using
individual  national  supply and demand values, determine aggregate demand and
supply.  Execute trades.

Using accumulated national level  production  (tech,  education,  etc),  apply
various  logarithmic limiting functions and add to existing national levels as
appropriate.  Determine money spent and made this update for each nation.

Age national military reserves and national levels.   Perform  technology  and
research leakage.

Send individual update telegrams to each nation reporting on production  prob-
lems and monetary gain/expenditure.

See also : units, levels, products, version.

