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214
Previous Years
Intergalactic News
Issue 33
Issue 32
The Dewiek Special
Issue 31
Issue 30
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Merchandising – everything you need to know

Merchandising – everything you need to know

Everything in Phoenix can eventually be traced back to stellars. The stellar is the currency underwritten by a group of intergalactic money brokers call the Extragalactic Economic Monopoly (EEM). The EEM exist everywhere and nowhere. They have offices in various urban sectors and even a base or two, generally as a legacy from their origins as part of humanity’s Stellar Empire, though they are now pan-species with investors and shareholders existing within both civilian and affiliation circles. With over a billion shareholders, some with hundreds of thousands of stellars worth of shares, their continued grip on the intergalactic economy is set to continue for the foreseeable future.

The EEM make their money through taxation of conversion of local currency to the Stellar Standard. They achieve this through monitoring global economies of planets where merchandising and planetary sales occur and establishing the planetary exchange rate.


GM Note – We understand that it is unrealistic to have a single faction responsible for all transactions and evaluating all planetary economies, especially considering that some of these worlds lie in secret corners of the universe. It is more realistic to presume that the stellar represents dozens of different localised economies and that there is an ongoing relative value of one economy against another with factions buying and selling each other’s currency. In theory this could be a game in its own right but we have not written share and economics game, we have written a strategy and resource space opera and as such the Stellar is a simplification of a lot of potential headaches. With this in mind, attempts to manipulate the economies of species, mass produce stellars or hack an EEM account to increase wealth will always fail. At best you could hold natives ransom for guilders and then ‘launder’ them for stellars.

Further, as pirates deal with stellars, it can be argued that the EEM are supporting piracy, slavers and a whole flotilla of illegal and immoral activities. In answer, we whistle and change the subject. Some cans are best not opened. In our defence, the vast majority of players really couldn’t be arsed with taking this area of the game to the nth degree and we doubt very much it will add anything to the game.


What is merchandising?
Merchandising is a means by which a starbase (not outposts) can tap into the civilian economy of a world and thereby earn some of the local currency. This is automatically achieved each maintenance day for the starbase. The in-game mechanism by which this occurs is highly complex, relating to the Extragalactic Economic Monopoly (EEM) rating of civilian economy and general levels of infrastructure. This local currency is converted into stellars and credited against the inter-galactic account of the political faction involved.

In this article I will concentrate on looking at the merchandising values of worlds and means by which they can be changed or will change.

Merchandising requires merchandising complexes. These perform a range of tasks including but not limited to evaluating quality of local merchandise, banking and exchange of local currency and the storage and preservation of merchandise. They are also trading houses and to some degree deal with freighting goods. All these services are charged for at rates based on what the planetary infrastructure can stand.

Merchandising is defined by five values:
Global Maximum
Global Drop
Local Maximum
Local Drop
Drop Step
The maximums represent the maximum amount of stellars that can be earned through merchandising per complex per week. A complex will collect the sum of these amounts, i.e. a world with a Global Max of 50 and Local Max of 150 will allow a starbase with a single complex to earn 200 stellars per week.

The Global and Local Drops are the amount by which the revenue generated per complex decreases. This comes into effect on each multiple of the Drop Step.
Example:
Global Maximum Global Drop Local Maximum Local Drop Drop Step
50 3 150 25 10


For 45 complexes:
2,000 stellars = 10 @ 200 stellars (50 + 150)
+1,720 stellars = 10 @ 172 stellars (125+47)
+1,440 stellars = 10 @ 144 stellars (100+44)
+1,160 stellars = 10@ 116 stellars (75+41)
+ 440 stellars = 5@ 88 stellars (50+38)
Total 6,760 stellars




How are the values determined?
For worlds that are being colonised, the stages of merchandising are relatively simple. Initially the Local Maximum quickly increases with population while the global trails behind. This is because the planetary population tends to gravitate towards a starbase. The reason for this is that wages are continuously being paid to personnel and some of this will be spent outside the base in the local community.

As the population grows and infrastructure in the form of modules and tech are rolled out, the local and global max increase up to a point. As the infrastructure improves, the population are less dependent on the starbase. Instead of using starbase merchandising complexes for purposes such as brokering deals and holding goods, they construct their own and start their own internal marketing. This results in a drop in local merchandising though under most circumstances the global market continues to increase on the back of the starbase’s superior transport system and deals with virtual transactions.

The table indicates typical values at key stages of colonisation.
Global Max Local Max Drop Step

Population Global Maximum Local Maximum Drop Step
100,000 40 150 10
1,000,000 120 350 10
5,000,000 150 450 10
25,00,000 170 350 12


For merchandising purposes, the optimum population for maximising stellar return for multiple starbases is 5 Million. At this population Global Max stands at 150 stellars and Local Max 450 (give or take environmental issues). As the population grows beyond this and presuming that infrastructure also expands as necessary, local will start to drop though both Global Max and Drop Step increase. Normally, for each 10 the Global Max increases, the Local Max will drop by 50. The Drop Step however also increases by 1.

So while a single starbase on a 5 million population world with 150/450/10 will have a cap of 81,000 stellars, on a world with 25 million and 160/400/11, the cap has increased to 85,217 stellars, though the quantity of complexes required to collect this has also increased (building the extra complexes may still be worth it due to trade demand if the world is a garden world with both large life and trade demands).

What this equates to is that as the infrastructure of the world increases the population can as easily be served by a single merchandising starport as they can by a local starport. This means that while the overall stellars potentially available to a single starbase increases, multiple starbases are in increasing competition with each other.

Global Revenue
Unlike the local element of merchandising, global is shared between all the starbases on the world. The amount each gets is proportional to the quantity of complexes belonging to the starbase compared with the total. It is worked out by adding up all the active merchandising complexes on the world and determining the total amount of stellars this generates from global merchandising. If for example one starbase has 50 merchandising and another has 100, then the total number of complexes is 150. This can result in excess complexes for the potential amount of stellars. For example, a world with Global of 30, a drop of 3 and a drop step of 10 has a potential global stellar revenue of 1650 stellars (=30/3 x 10 x (30+3/2)). Even though both starbases have more than the required 30 complexes, as one has twice as many complexes as the other, it collects 1100 stellars while the other collects 550 stellars.

The following tool is very handy for determining what you should get and working out optimum quantity of complexes.

Merchandising Utility

Local Drop
While global drop tends to remain at 3 as this is related to the technology level which if a starbase is involved, is considered contemporary level, local drop is largely dependent on the local infrastructure of the hinterland surrounding the starbase and the settlements of the civilians. On an uncolonised world this invariably starts around 50, though will quickly decrease to 35. 35 is considered the typical starting threshold for a population of 100,000 where basic colonisation support tech has been rolled out.

Decreasing this further is largely achieved through the establishment of a cultivated and or urban sector. If a world is particularly unsuitable for colonisation or there is already a large established population, then it may be the case that more effort is required to bring the local drop step down.

Where all requirements are being met, the local drop step will generally decrease down to 25.



Atypical Worlds
The above details represent worlds that have been found to be suitable for colonisation with no significant terraforming requirements and no existing civilisation. Where terraforming has been conducted or is currently being undertaken and where a population (even natives) exists or the population has existed for a long time, the merchandising values can become skewed. Wars, slavery, uprisings, disasters both natural and induced can affect the population and thereby modify merchandising. An impoverished though huge population will have their merchandising maximums reduced though have a lower drop, while a planet of slaves may have inflated maximums but very high drops representing rich elite.

Restrictions
Where there is antipathy between the population and a starbase the starbase may have its merchandising complexes closed (by the GM). There will also be a block on either the opening or building of merchandising complexes. This represents an embargo on the starbase. It is quite rare that the entire population is at odds with the starbase. More often there will be a partial block, i.e. the starbase may be limited to 50 open merchandising complexes. The 50 complexes are likely to represent loyalists or black marketers depending on circumstances.




 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

Solo claim swings back and forth

The situation in Solo appears to be getting even more heated. First the NHS dropped 600,000 troops to contest the system and then the DTR answered with enough troops of their own to trump the NHS claim. The NHS found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim up to 750,000 and once again the DTR answered, bringing Solo back under DTR control. Now the NHS have had a look down the back of the sofa and found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim to a massive 900,000 trained troops. We wait to see if the DTR have an answer to this. We can only guess where all these troops are coming from, but what is clear is that the established affiliations clearly have far larger armies than many thought.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

NHS attempt to claim Solo away from DTR

In a shock move the NHS have contested the Solo claim with a huge garrison of 600,000 trained troops. In a move that nobody saw coming, especially as it was unknown the NHS had such a large force of troops to draw upon, the NHS seem to be provoking a response from the DTR. Currently there has been no word from the DTR in how they are going to deal with this claim jumping, although rumours are that they are pretending the Solo claim doesn't really matter to them and so action is unlikely. However this may be a smokescreen and we may yet see the DTR's powerful fleet cause havoc in the system of Solo, which has for a long time been an important junction and fought over by many different factions.

DNA Chairman TonTon resigns

The following communication has been leaked from the DNA to the GTT's PD.

Greetings CEO Fox.
It regrets me to have to inform to you that the DNA nation state will be renouncing its claim on Aladdin system following a ceremony planet side, shortly.
However, it gives me great pleasure to have to inform you that these ceremonies are being planned by Vladimir Tavikovitch, the South Road Traffic Coordinator. He is also responsible for all DNA and .ore. assets in the Outer Naplian (Capellan) periphery so if there are any further issues, please take it up with him.
For any and all other matters, please forward your request directly to the DNA directorate services at NexusID: DNA people.
The Foreign Ministry objects one last time to your illegal claim jump of Aladdin, but we realise it is time to de-escalate.
Normally i would sign off with Naambta, but doing so would be hypocritical. Let me say good riddance instead.
I hereby resign in protest!

Chairman TonTon,
Foreign Minister, DNA
cc: Directorate Services personnel coordinator - !urgent resignation!


DTR threaten WMB with fines for multiple breaches of DTR Law

Lady Sylvansight of the DTR has issued a fine of 1,000,000 stellars to the Wimbles for multiple breaches of DTR Penal and Territorial Law. This seems a very brave move of the DTR to risk upsetting the huge and warlike WMB when they also have the rival NHS Solo system claim to deal with. No word has been recieved yet that the Wimbles are going to pay, but if the formidable WMB warfleet is seen heading for the DTR home systems we will know what their thought are on the matter. The DTR and WMB fleets going head to head would be a sight to behold.

*** Affiliations ***

AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien
FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan
FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
KRL Krell (30) - Namica
KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz

* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.

NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
Inactive: ANT, COD, BHD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,

*** Submissions ***

By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

DNA and GTT clash over Aladdin system claim while Pirates look on.

The GTT have this week launched an attack on the DNA outpost in Aladdin, in what appears to be little more than a turkey shoot. Around 100,000 GTT Naplian Startroopers attacked the DNA position to remove the rival system claim. Reports indicate the DNA garrison were taken by surprise and lost control of the base in the first few hours of the fighting. The base has since been reflagged from [Free Naplian Capital] Peaceful Protest to [Loyal Naplian Capital] DNA claim Ended so it's fair to say there was a clear message being sent by the GTT. We have been waiting for the DNA leadership to comment but so far they have been unusually silent. No doubt when they have crawled out from under their desks they will have something to say on the matter.

While this attack was going on several pirate ships were also seen in Aladdin, according to the GTT in what may be true or may be a diversion, with reports of a pirate GP and scout being destroyed while a 150HH pirate warship slipped away and escaped from incoming anti-pirate patrols.

Secret meeting of the EEM

A recent communication intercepted by one of our top reporters today made us aware of a meeting of the EEM. This is underway in a top secret location called Black Pool, which sounds suspiciously like the lair of a pirate band. After pulling in many favours, we were able to identify some of the attending members. On the bases that they won't be named we were able to find out some slight information of the subjects to be discussed at the meeting and one thing is for certain, there could be huge impacts to the lives of everybody living in the galaxy. Details to follow. When the shadowy figures of the EEM come together with the top political players in a pirate base the possibilities are endless!


You are never more than 6 systems from a RAT 🐀

A new saying has arisen in the bars and spaceport of starbases throughout the many peripheries; you are never more than 6 systems from a RAT.

It is understood that this saying originated in Yank and spread by trade vessels to peripheries far and wide. Many starbases have heightened their security and added additional sensors and locks to various entry points including foul and grey water outfalls. Beer and drug stocks are undergoing increased proofing to avoid the critters gaining entry and consuming the stockpiles.

Will this present as a new plague of proportions never before seen or is this some simple urban myth being spread for the amusement of some mischievous entity? Who knows, but to be certain... check the shadows.

 
This year we will again be returning to the Briardene Hotel. They were welcoming, the bar didn't run out of beer pre-covid and there was room for quiet chats. Along with Wetherspoons there is the Victoria just down the road (Sam Smiths - last time beer was around 2 shillings per pint and a full round was less than £10).

Mostly drinking beer and talking toot though we have a good few things on the agenda.

Bookings are done directly with the hotel. Book by phone and say that you are with KJC Games

Briardene Hotel
Telephone: +44(0)1253 338300
All staff should be able to deal with the booking but if there are any problems ask for Tracy (manager) as she dealt with all our foibles in previous years.
 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

Dog days are over

With the fall of the DEN and the implosion of their home territory as the AFT, DTR and GTT moved in, it was unlikely the Dewiek would rise again. The DWP gave the species a little hope with the Dewiek Pocket Periphery kept under lock and key. But news has reached us of the AFT's penetration of this private area of space that's been locked down. With a base and claim in one of the three visible systems it seems that the end of the Dewiek is near. A once noble and aggressive race, determined to make an impact on the galaxy is now little more than a species that lives under the command of others. A sad end to a once powerful species that used to control a significant part of known space.

Pirate activity continues

Yet more reports of pirate activity have been received, one from the WMB, losing a freighter in Solo and another from the FET who reported they had engaged and hit the attacking pirate ship with several weapons before it managed to make off with it's prize. Hopefully the pirate ship took significant damage and will now be out of action for some time. The Corewards periphery seems to have been plagued with pirates recently and many travellers would welcome a break from attacks.


MEK incursion into Corewards

The FET and GTT have mounted a joint venture into Nog-Kesri to tackle a MEK force. It isn't known where they have come from, with the only other MEK ships seen so far being located in the Orion Spur. The lack of a known link between where they have appeared in Corewards and the Orion Spur has caused some concern among planetary populations as who knows where they could turn up next! Fortunately the combined FET/GTT task force dealt the MEK a heavy blow and the threat has been eradicated. But we all know this is unlikely to be the last we hear of the MEK in Corwards and we would encourage ship captains to keep a keen eye on thier sensor screens when travelling near Nog-Kesri.

 
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*** Inter Galactic News ***

  • CIA freighter fights off overwhelming pirate forces

  • Fin Saine media broadcast, What is Hot in the galaxy?!?!

  • MEKlan forces attack in Corewards Arm


  •  
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    *** Inter Galactic News ***

    Aladdin faces ongoing DNA/GTT tension

    The tensions between the DNA and GTT in the Coptuv system recently spilled over into the DNA system of Aladdin. A significant party of GTT ground troops has reinforced one of their bases in the system and claimed it, forcing the system claim into turmoil as the DNA finds itself under threat of losing the system. With the DNA chairman asking for help, several affiliations have been seen sending ships to evacuate any in the local population that want to escape the GTT. But so far not a shot has been fired and despite the AFT, FEL and DTR assistance no reisistance to the claim jump has been encountered so far. It remains to be seen if the DNA and it's friends will scatter before this hostile take over or put in a last minute counter claim to thwart GTT intentions.

    Increasing pirate activity

    Recent reports indicate a new surge in pirate attacks with the AFT and GTT reporting ships lost. Knowing how some don't like to advertise losses we wouldn't be surprised if this is the tip of the iceberg. Reports passed to us show the ship PIR Scavenger running ID 43174 and another ship of the same name running ID 68668 have both been in action with successful boarding attempts. It's unknown whether these are seperate ships or the same ship reregistered, but our information suggests that it would be hard for these pirates to cover the space where these attacks happened with just one ship. One thing is for sure, be on your guard as open space is not as safe as it once was.


    GCE ships loitering in deep space

    After the fall of the GCE and a lot of their assets being shared or purchased it was thought that the affiliation was no more. Yet deep space scans indicate that there is still a significant number of GCE warships holding station in deep space between Coptuv and Yank on the transport route into the Corwards Arm. Nobody knows what these ships are up to and why they are still flagged GCE, but our best guess is that are captains either awaiting new orders or owners after the fall of the GCE command structure.


    *** Affiliations ***

    AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
    BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
    BHD Brotherhood (63) - de Molay
    CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
    DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
    DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
    DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
    FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien
    FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan
    FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
    FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
    GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
    HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
    KRL Krell (30) - Namica
    KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
    KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
    MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
    NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
    NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
    SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
    WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz

    * Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
    ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.

    NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
    Inactive: ANT, COD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,

    *** Submissions ***

    By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous.
     
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    *** Inter Galactic News ***

    Tension in the Corewards Arm

    With the DNA obtaining several ex-GCE bases in the Coreward Arm it has found itself in the middle of an asset grab of serious proportions and aggression. Our reporters witnessed several GTT troop carriers heading for the Corewards system as the DNA published information suggesting they were accidental owners of the system and that the assets were to be moved on. As the GTT ships started to arrive the bases were quickly passed to the CIA, thus thwarting the GTT intentions as they were hardly likely to start dropping troops on their allies bases. This shrew move by the DNA seems to have calmed matters in the Coreward arm temporarily, although the shift in relations between the GTT and DNA has taken a negative turn. When asked what their next move might be the GTT refused to comment.

    GCE collapse

    The GCE are no more, save for some scattered light freighters. The affiliation which enjoyed a sharp rise and profiltable relations with many has ceased trading. Rumors point to the GTT buying up GCE assets before stripping the rival corporation of anything of value. Although our reporters at the SSS have been quick to point out that any GCE assets not in GTT systems have been taken over by both the DNA and FET. So it seems many different affiliations were able to profit from this development including a new group called the HSH who appear to have taken over the GCE war fleet. No doubt many in the peripheries will be watching with interest where these ships are used, who the HSH are and how they were able to get thier hands on so many warships so quickly.


    Secudus trials

    In the Cluster Secudus has continued his trials, claiming to root out terrorists working against the Empire. With tends of thousands of beings being sent to the camps or worse. There is no sign of these actions stopping as the NHS clamp down on the locals and bring them under the harsh control of the Empire.


    *** Affiliations ***

    AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
    BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
    BHD Brotherhood (63) - de Molay
    CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
    DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
    DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
    DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
    FCN Falconian Republic (70) – <Unknown>
    FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Juris
    FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
    FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
    GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
    HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
    KRL Krell (30) - Namica
    KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
    KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
    MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
    NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
    NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
    SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
    WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz

    * Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
    ** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.

    NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
    Inactive: ANT, COD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,

    *** Submissions ***

    By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous.
     
    ******Empire Syndicated News Network (ESNN) ******

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    Welcome to the latest version of ESNN, giving the news and views from the ESNN's reporter and news anchor, Ainsley Moore, making this the peripheries' most favourite and most reliable unbiased publication in the known universe from our home in the Heartland,

    And so with the news from the last couple of weeks,


    Cluster War! DNA Gather Fruit
     

    Free Ship when you sign-up
    Complete missions for in game rewards
    Control everything, up to an entire empire
    Dedicated human moderators
    Player and Moderator driven plotlines
    Discover new worlds to explore, exploit & colonise
    Over 20 years of content development
    Persistent Browser-Based Game (PBBG)

    I’ve played on and off for approximately 10 years, over a 20 year spell. After some interesting debate on the in-game forum, I did wonder what, exactly, has kept drawing me back to the game, when for so many others I’ve generally lost interest after a few months.

    Ultimately, I think it is a combination of automation (that allows the game to handle thousands of positions to interact on a daily basis) coupled with Special Actions (that allow the story arc to develop in a way that could not be catered for by a set of predefined list of available orders).
    -Zigic