Inter-Region Layer

The inter-region layer is where the planet stops being a map with multiple factories and becomes a single distributed economy.

Primary purpose

This layer is about coordination rather than direct placement. The player is no longer asking only, “How do I make this machine run?” They are asking:

which region should produce this
what should this region import instead of making itself
how much redundancy is worth the bandwidth cost
which shortages are local and which are planetary

What belongs in this layer

Typical systems:

regional specialization tags
long-distance transfer links
throughput budgeting
import and export ledgers
macro alerts for shortages and surpluses
photonic logistics infrastructure
mind control towers and semi-autonomous sectors

Desired feel

This layer should feel:

strategic
systemic
comparative
accountable

The player should feel that they are managing economic circulation rather than manually pushing items.

A region should not produce everything. The player should be rewarded for deciding that one region becomes a heavy smelting basin, another becomes electronics-focused, and another becomes a logistics or defense hub.

Redundancy versus efficiency

Highly optimized planetary networks are powerful but brittle. Redundant networks are safer but more expensive.

The player should constantly choose between:

centralization for efficiency
duplication for resilience

Macro triage

Not every shortage should be solved immediately. Some shortages are symptoms, some are causes, and some are acceptable temporary sacrifices while the player prepares for orbital growth.

Information the player needs

This layer rises or falls on visibility. The player should be able to answer:

which regions are net importers or exporters
what each region is short on
which transport links are saturated
where strategic reserve stockpiles are located
which deficit is blocking orbital or frontier progress

Photonic network as a planetary milestone

The photonic network is the technological signature of this layer. It should feel like the moment a planet becomes one coordinated machine.

Its purpose is not to replace all local logistics. Its purpose is to provide a high-level transport and allocation fabric for large-scale inter-region flow.

That distinction matters:

local play remains about physical layout
inter-region play becomes about economic structure

Relationship to later scopes

The inter-region layer is what funds orbit.

If the player cannot already manage planetary surplus, then launch, station construction, and long-haul supply should feel impossible or fragile. This layer is therefore the bridge between local factory craftsmanship and true macro-industrial planning.

astrocraft