A broker is able to send commodities to cities in other solar systems using shipments. Once setup, shipments are automatically fetched from the broker's city and sent to the destination city.
Scheduling a shipment is done in the sending city at the broker using the City (F10) window.
Shipments from brokers are packed into TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). There is 1360 cargo unit of storage in a TEU. Delivery fees for broker shipments are based on whole TEUs shipped. That is the only current effect of that measurement.
The shipment can be set to be repeated a specific amount of times, or be continuous.
The broker can have a total of shipments being processed equal to the number of building levels.
Scheduled Shipments
Waiting Shipments
Container icon. Will likely be used for a container commodity once player shipments are possible.
Brokers can now be configured to send shipments to cities in other solar systems. You will find the controls for this on the city window when you are at a broker.
You schedule a shipment of a certain commodity to a specific city. Minimum Q and TL can be applied.
The shipment may be filled a specified number of times or it may be a continuously recurring shipment.
A broker can process a number of shipments equal to the number of building levels.
Shipments are filled on the same six minute interval that brokers import stuff to the city.
When a shipment is full, it begins waiting for shipment.
Shipments awaiting transport are sent out hourly, if the broker can track more shipments. This interval is roughly one game-universe day.
Shipments are en route until they arrive at their destination, speed based on direct travel at 2X lightspeed.
A broker can track en route shipments up to the number of building levels. Once full, shipments awaiting transport will continue waiting until something gets delivered, thus stalling the order filling process.
When a shipment arrives at the destination, as much as possible is added to the city's stockpile. Excess is lost. Better stuff replaces worse stuff like when stuff is manufactured.
Players are intended to be able to pick up shipments awaiting transport but that part is not finished yet. This would enable you to move the materials more quickly and it lets the city fill the orders more frequently. As of this update, automated delivery is in place but you cannot help them.
Spacecraft encounters can be generated to coincide with these shipments. This will enable players to notice those trade activities more than they do now. It's very rare to cross paths with a trade ship. This aspect is also not finished; until then you will not see any visible spacecraft as a result of broker shipments.
