Resources

Categories and Economic Importance

In SnapCats, resources are divided into distinct categories that fuel the game’s economy and drive the production processes across various professions. These resources are the lifeblood of crafting, building, and trade, with each profession depending on them to create, maintain, and enhance equipment, structures, and consumables. The quality and availability of these resources fluctuate, influencing their value in the marketplace and the strength of the in-game economy.

Resource Categories

1. Minerals

Minerals are the most common type of resource extracted from the ground or gathered from planets. These are vital for crafting most technological and industrial items, from weapons and armor to building structures and machinery.

• Iron: Used in basic crafting and construction. Essential for creating durable items like weapons, tools, and building materials.
• Copper: A highly conductive mineral used in electronic components, energy weapon construction, and specialized machinery.
• Aluminum: Lightweight and versatile, used in crafting light armor and vehicle parts.
• Titanium: A rare, high-strength metal used in advanced armor and weapon systems.
• Silicon: Important in the production of electronics, computers, and other technological devices.
• Gold/Precious Metals: Used for crafting high-end gear, luxury items, and rare components in advanced machinery.

Impact on the Economy: Minerals are the backbone of industrial and crafting professions. Their demand is consistently high, especially for crafting high-level gear, construction projects, and machinery. Scarcity of rare minerals can lead to spikes in prices, making mining and surveying key professions in the economy.

Professions Needing Minerals:

• Weaponsmiths and Armorsmiths: Depend on iron, copper, and titanium for crafting durable and powerful gear.
• Architects: Use basic minerals for building structures and mechanical components.
• Droid Engineers and Technicians: Use minerals to create robots, electronic systems, and energy weapons.

2. Gases

Gases are collected from atmospheric or planetary sources and are used in various industrial and crafting processes, including the creation of energy cells, fuel, and cooling systems.

• Hydrogen: Used in the production of fuel cells, energy sources, and reactors for powering buildings and vehicles.
• Oxygen: Essential for life support systems, used in space travel, and some alchemical processes.
• Plasma Gas: A highly volatile gas used in advanced weapon crafting and fuel for high-energy weapons.
• Helium-3: Rare and valuable, used in energy production and as a fuel for advanced spacecraft.

Impact on the Economy: Gases are crucial for energy production and power systems. They directly affect how efficient energy-based weapons, vehicles, and even buildings operate. Gas scarcity can slow down technological and industrial advancements, raising prices across the board for any energy-dependent professions.

Professions Needing Gases:

• Engineers: Use gases to create power cores, energy weapons, and spacecraft fuel.
• Weaponsmiths: Require plasma gases and other volatile resources for creating high-energy weapons and explosives.
• Droid Engineers: Utilize gases for creating power units in robots and drones.

3. Chemical Compounds

Chemical resources come from both natural sources and industrial processes. These materials are used to create various consumables, armor enhancements, and advanced crafting components.

• Petroleum: Extracted from the ground and refined into fuel for vehicles, generators, and other industrial equipment.
• Polymers: Synthetic materials used for crafting light armor, advanced textiles, and protective gear.
• Acids: Used in crafting medical supplies, alchemical items, and refining processes.
• Reactive Agents: Rare chemicals used in creating high-end electronics, advanced robotics, and explosive components.

Impact on the Economy: Chemical compounds are essential in several professions, especially those related to alchemy, crafting high-tech gear, and medicine. The availability of certain chemicals directly impacts the production rate of consumables, technology, and crafting materials, making them key for long-term sustainability in crafting-focused professions.

Professions Needing Chemical Compounds:

• Chemists/Alchemists: Use acids and reactive agents to create potions, healing items, and other consumables.
• Armorsmiths: Use polymers for crafting lightweight but durable armors.
• Engineers: Require petroleum and reactive agents to power generators and build industrial-grade machines.

4. Organic Resources

These resources are gathered from living organisms and are critical for professions like bio-engineering, food production, and crafting natural products.

• Animal Hides: Used to craft leather and armor, as well as for producing furniture and bags.
• Fibers and Textiles: Natural fibers used for making clothing, armor, and various decorative items.
• Food Products: Vegetables, fruits, grains, and meats are gathered and used to produce consumable items, healing products, and in certain alchemical processes.
• Enzymes and Proteins: Extracted from animal or plant sources, these are key components for bio-engineering and crafting biological enhancements or organic technology.

Impact on the Economy: Organic resources are vital for crafting items that benefit character health and abilities, including consumables that provide healing or stat bonuses. The agriculture and bio-engineering professions rely heavily on these resources, and their availability can drive up demand for food items, animal products, and bio-tech crafting.

Professions Needing Organic Resources:

• Bio-Engineers: Use enzymes and proteins to craft biological enhancements, pets, and bio-tech gadgets.
• Chefs: Utilize food products to create consumable items that give stat boosts and heal players.
• Tailors and Armorsmiths: Use animal hides and fibers to craft armor, clothing, and other textile-based goods.

5. Energy Sources

Energy resources are extracted or generated from natural and artificial sources and are used to power buildings, vehicles, weapons, and crafting equipment.

• Solar Energy: Collected using solar arrays, it powers buildings and provides clean energy for crafting stations and machinery.
• Fusion Energy: Created using advanced reactors, this high-output energy source is used to power large structures, vehicles, and spacecraft.
• Fuel Cells: Portable energy storage units used to power droids, vehicles, and other mobile systems.
• Crystalline Energy: Rare crystals that provide immense energy output, often used in advanced weaponry or to power large-scale industrial machinery.

Impact on the Economy: Energy resources are essential for maintaining the operation of almost all mechanical and technological systems in the game. The availability of energy resources affects everything from mining operations to crafting advanced technology and vehicles. Scarcity or abundance of energy drives the market for power-related professions.

Professions Needing Energy Sources:

• Engineers and Technicians: Use fuel cells and fusion energy to power vehicles, droids, and buildings.
• Weaponsmiths: Require crystalline energy to craft advanced energy weapons and explosives.
• Architects: Use solar and fusion energy to keep buildings powered and operational.

How Resources Affect the Economy

In SnapCats, the availability and quality of resources determine the overall economic landscape. High-quality resources enable the creation of better items, which players can sell for higher prices. Conversely, when certain resources become scarce, prices rise, creating opportunities for those with stockpiles to profit. Each resource’s importance varies by profession, but all professions are interconnected in how they contribute to the game’s economy.

Resource Dependency Across Professions:

• Weaponsmiths and Armorsmiths rely on minerals, gases, and chemical compounds to create the most powerful and durable weapons and armor.
• Chefs and Alchemists need organic resources and chemical compounds to craft consumables, potions, and stat-boosting items.
• Engineers and Bio-Engineers need a mix of organic, chemical, and energy resources to create robots, vehicles, and bio-enhancements.
• Surveyors and Miners are critical for locating and gathering these resources, feeding the entire crafting economy and ensuring a steady supply.

In summary, the resource system in SnapCats is designed to be dynamic, with professions interlinked through their dependence on different resources. Efficient management of these resources ensures a thriving economy, while scarcity creates challenges that skilled players can overcome or exploit.