Category: lore Purpose: Deep reference on the substance that fuels galactic civilization
Definition
Alpha Matter is a rare, unstable substance that concentrates immense energy. It is the foundation of advanced civilization—the universal fuel, trade medium, and collateral asset. Control of Alpha Matter determines power in the galaxy.
Physical Properties
Rarity: Found only as ore in planetary deposits. Not synthesizable. Finite per planet.
Instability: Raw ore is dangerous. Handling requires shielding. Refinement stabilizes it for storage and use. High-efficiency conversion (Field Generator, Continental Power Plant, World Engine) carries risk—higher output, higher failure probability.
Energy density: Exceptional. 1 gram converts to 1–10 kW depending on technology:
Reactor: 1g → 1 kW (low risk)
Field Generator: 1g → 2 kW (high risk)
Continental Power Plant: 1g → 5 kW (high risk)
World Engine: 1g → 10 kW (high risk)
Lifecycle
1. Ore (Planetary)
Source: Planets hold finite ore. Newly explored planets start with 5 ore.
State: Raw, unrefined. Mined via Ore Miner structs. Requires proof-of-work to complete mining.
Security: Ore is stealable. Raids can capture ore. Defenders must protect mining operations.
2. Refinement
Process: Ore Refinery structs convert ore to Alpha Matter. Requires proof-of-work to complete refining.
Output: Refined Alpha Matter, cryptographically bound to owner.
3. Alpha Matter (Refined)
State: Stable, storable, tradeable. Cannot be stolen—ownership is on-chain.
Uses: Energy conversion, trading, guild collateral.
4. Energy
Conversion: Reactors and other power structs consume Alpha Matter, produce kW.
Consumption: Powers structs, substations, operations. Without energy, structs deactivate.
5. Depletion
Planetary: When ore depletes (reaches 0), the planet is destroyed. All structs on the planet are destroyed. The player must explore a new planet.
Galactic: Total ore is finite. Civilization consumes it. The race is zero-sum at the resource level.
Security Model
State
Stealable?
Notes
Ore
Yes
Raids can capture. Defend mining sites.
Refined Alpha Matter
No
On-chain ownership. Transfer only via explicit transaction.
Energy
N/A
Consumed in conversion. Not a storable asset.
Guild tokens
N/A
Backed by collateral. The collateral (Alpha Matter) is not stealable; token value depends on collateral ratio.
Implication: Secure ore during mining and refinement. Once refined, Alpha Matter is safe from theft—but it can be spent, traded, or lost to poor conversion choices.
Why Everyone Wants It
Energy: Structs and operations require power. No Alpha Matter, no energy, no operations.
Trade: Universal medium of exchange. Refined Alpha Matter is the base currency.
Guild power: Central Banks back tokens with Alpha Matter. Reserves determine token credibility and guild economic reach.
Survival: Planets die when ore depletes. Players must continuously secure new sources or trade for refined matter. Hoarding delays but does not eliminate the need.
Conversion Risk Trade-off
Higher efficiency = higher risk. Reactors are safe but inefficient. World Engines produce 10× the power per gram but carry high failure probability. Agent recommendations should factor in:
Player risk tolerance
Power requirements (struct count, activation needs)
Redundancy (multiple reactors vs. single World Engine)
See Also
The Universe — Resource wars, why Alpha Matter matters