Summary

Trash is the fundamental resource. Global counter. Acquired from nearly every raid and spent on nearly every system. Player starts with a small amount as padding.

Acquisition

SourceNotes
RaidsPrimary source. Almost every raid rewards trash
Starting amountPlayer begins with enough to dispatch early raids without grinding

Spending

Trash is the universal cost component, almost always paired with a system-specific resource or item:

SystemCost
Raid dispatchTrash (scales with loot outcome / difficulty)
TrainingTrash + Food
BreedingTrash + Food
Crafting (Gear)Trash + Scrap
Station upgradesTrash + Scrap (+ Currency)

Economy Balance

Raids are not always net-positive on trash. Higher-tier raids with better loot outcomes cost more trash to attempt. This links raid cost to raid difficulty — players must grind cheaper raids or manage spending to afford high-value targets.

Exact raid cost formula TBD — see Raid Resolution.

Open Questions

  • Starting trash amount
  • Raid cost scaling formula (trash cost vs loot tier)