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= Resource Protection & Looting =
Successful raids can steal resources from a defender's colony — but not everything. '''Resource Protection''' and '''Warehouse''' capacity work together to shield part of your stockpile, while a global '''loot rate''' limits how much of the exposed portion attackers can actually take. Fleet '''cargo capacity''' is the final gate: raiders must bring enough haulers to carry the loot home.

This system applies to '''player-vs-player (PvP) attacks''' on active colonies. Pirates, inactive colonies, and other special targets follow different rules (see Special cases).

== How it works ==
Every stored resource on a colony (steel, quartz, gas, iridium, silicium, elerium) falls into one of two categories:

=== Protected resources ===

* Resources stored '''within your Warehouse capacity''' can be partially shielded.
* The protected share is determined by your '''Resource Protection rate''' (see below).
* Protection is calculated '''per resource type''' — each material is evaluated against the same Warehouse capacity independently.

=== Lootable resources (exposed) ===

* Any portion of a resource '''not covered by protection''' is exposed to looting.
* Resources '''above Warehouse capacity''' are always fully exposed (protection does not apply to the overflow).
* Attackers do not automatically take all exposed resources — a global '''loot rate''' and '''cargo capacity''' further limit the haul.

== Protection rate ==
Your total Resource Protection rate is the share of in-warehouse resources that '''cannot''' be stolen. It is built from several sources:
{| class="wikitable"
!Source
!Effect
|-
|'''Base protection'''
|'''10%''' of in-warehouse resources are always protected.
|-
|'''Resource Protection research'''
|'''+1% per level''' (research id: <code>resourceProtection</code>).
|-
|'''Monuments'''
|Bonus safe-storage percentage from active monument effects.
|-
|'''Combat cap'''
|Total protection cannot exceed the global loot rate (see below).
|}
You can view the full breakdown on any colony's '''Warehouse''' panel in the game.<blockquote>'''Note:''' Protection only applies to resources stored '''up to Warehouse capacity'''. Anything above that amount is 100% exposed regardless of your protection rate.</blockquote>

== Warehouse capacity ==
The '''Warehouse''' building defines how much of each resource type can benefit from protection. Capacity scales with building level:
 <code>Warehouse Capacity = 15,000 × 1.9 ^ Warehouse Level</code>
(At level 0, capacity is 15,000 per resource type. Each level multiplies capacity by approximately '''×1.9''', or roughly '''+90%''' per level.)

Upgrading your Warehouse increases the amount of each resource that can be partially shielded — not just total storage, but the portion eligible for protection.

== Loot rate & cargo limits ==

=== Global loot rate ===
The share of '''exposed''' resources that can be stolen is set by a global combat setting (<code>combat.lootPercentage</code>). The current default is '''50%'''.

There is '''no attacker research''' that increases loot efficiency. All raiders use the same loot rate against active PvP targets.

This loot rate also serves as the '''maximum protection cap''' — your total protection rate cannot exceed it. With the default 50% loot rate, the highest achievable protection is '''50%''', even if your research and monuments would add up to more.

=== Fleet cargo capacity ===
After calculating available loot, the game checks whether the attacking fleet has enough '''cargo space''' to carry it:

* Each cargo ship contributes its base cargo capacity.
* '''Galactic Commerce''' research (Realm 4+) increases cargo capacity by '''+1.5% per level''' per attacker.
* In joint / FCS attacks, each participant's Galactic Commerce bonus applies to their own ships.

If total cargo capacity is '''less''' than available loot, attackers take a proportional share. If cargo capacity is '''greater''', they take everything available.

== Formulas ==
For a single resource type:
 <code>In Warehouse     = min(Stored Amount, Warehouse Capacity)
 Overflow         = max(0, Stored Amount − Warehouse Capacity)
 Exposed          = Overflow + In Warehouse × (1 − Protection Rate)
 Available Loot   = floor(Exposed × Loot Rate)
 Actual Loot      = min(Available Loot, limited by fleet cargo capacity)
 Defender Keeps   = Stored Amount − Actual Loot</code>
Where:

* '''Protection Rate''' = min(Base + Research + Monuments, Loot Rate cap)
* '''Loot Rate''' = global <code>combat.lootPercentage</code> (default '''0.50''')

All final amounts are rounded '''down''' to whole numbers.

== Worked examples ==
The examples below use the '''default 50% loot rate''' and assume the attacker has enough cargo capacity to carry all available loot. Protection values are the '''effective''' rate after the combat cap.

=== Example 1 — Small Warehouse, stockpile overflow ===
{| class="wikitable"
!
!
|-
|'''Stored'''
|50,000,000 Steel
|-
|'''Warehouse capacity'''
|10,000,000
|-
|'''Protection rate'''
|50% (capped maximum at default settings)
|}
 <code>In Warehouse  = min(50M, 10M) = 10M
 Overflow        = 40M            → fully exposed
 Protected share = 10M × 50%     = 5M protected inside warehouse
 Exposed         = 40M + (10M × 50%) = 45M
 Available Loot  = floor(45M × 50%)    = 22,500,000</code>
'''Result:''' Defender keeps '''27,500,000''' Steel · Attacker steals '''22,500,000''' Steel.

The large overflow (40M above warehouse capacity) dominates the loss — upgrading Warehouse is critical when stockpiles grow.

=== Example 2 — Large Warehouse, full coverage ===
{| class="wikitable"
!
!
|-
|'''Stored'''
|50,000,000 Steel
|-
|'''Warehouse capacity'''
|50,000,000
|-
|'''Protection rate'''
|50%
|}
 <code>In Warehouse  = 50M
 Overflow      = 0
 Exposed       = 50M × 50% = 25M
 Available Loot = floor(25M × 50%) = 12,500,000</code>
'''Result:''' Defender keeps '''37,500,000''' Steel · Attacker steals '''12,500,000''' Steel.

When all resources fit inside the Warehouse, protection applies to the entire stockpile.

=== Example 3 — Mid-level protection (below cap) ===
{| class="wikitable"
!
!
|-
|'''Stored'''
|50,000,000 Steel
|-
|'''Warehouse capacity'''
|50,000,000
|-
|'''Protection rate'''
|30% (10% base + 20 levels of Resource Protection research)
|}
 <code>Exposed        = 50M × 70% = 35M
 Available Loot = floor(35M × 50%) = 17,500,000</code>
'''Result:''' Defender keeps '''32,500,000''' Steel · Attacker steals '''17,500,000''' Steel.

=== Example 4 — Cargo-limited raid ===
{| class="wikitable"
!
!
|-
|'''Stored'''
|50,000,000 Steel
|-
|'''Warehouse capacity'''
|50,000,000
|-
|'''Protection rate'''
|50%
|-
|'''Available loot'''
|12,500,000 (from Example 2)
|-
|'''Fleet cargo capacity'''
|5,000,000
|}
 <code>Take ratio = 5M / 12.5M = 0.4
 Actual Loot = floor(12.5M × 0.4) = 5,000,000</code>
'''Result:''' Defender keeps '''45,000,000''' Steel · Attacker steals '''5,000,000''' Steel.

Even after a successful attack, insufficient cargo ships leave loot on the table.

== Strategic impact ==

=== For defenders ===

* '''Upgrade the Warehouse''' to raise the capacity threshold — protection only applies to resources within this limit.
* '''Research Resource Protection''' for +1% safe storage per level (stacks with the 10% base rate).
* '''Activate monument bonuses''' that grant safe-storage percentage.
* Keep stockpiles near or below Warehouse capacity when possible; overflow is fully exposed.
* Stay active — inactive colonies lose warehouse protection entirely (see Special cases).

=== For raiders ===

* '''Bring enough cargo ships''' — available loot means nothing if your fleet cannot carry it.
* '''Research Galactic Commerce''' (Realm 4+) for +1.5% cargo capacity per level on haulers.
* Target colonies with '''low Warehouse levels''' or '''large unprotected stockpiles''' (resources above warehouse capacity).
* Scout defender resource levels and warehouse infrastructure before committing a fleet.

=== Design goal ===
The system creates an ongoing economic arms race:

* Defenders invest in '''Warehouse capacity''', '''Resource Protection research''', and '''monuments'''.
* Raiders invest in '''cargo ships''' and '''Galactic Commerce'''.

Raids remain profitable, but a single attack cannot wipe out an entire economy — especially when Warehouse and protection are maintained.

== In-game references ==
{| class="wikitable"
!What
!Where to find it
|-
|Protection rate breakdown
|Warehouse building panel → '''Resource Protection''' (expand details)
|-
|Exposed / raidable amount
|Resource popup → '''Unprotected (Raidable)'''
|-
|Warehouse capacity
|Resource popup → '''Capacity'''; Warehouse building stats
|-
|Research
|'''Resource Protection''' (Security, Realm 1)
|-
|Cargo bonus
|'''Galactic Commerce''' (Economy, Realm 4)
|}

== Special cases ==
These targets '''do not''' use the Warehouse protection formulas above:
{| class="wikitable"
!Target
!Loot behavior
|-
|'''Pirates (PvE)'''
|100% of stored resources can be looted (subject to cargo capacity).
|-
|'''Inactive colonies''' (<code>inactive_week</code>, <code>inactive_month</code>)
|'''80%''' of all stored resources can be looted. Warehouse protection is bypassed.
|-
|'''Active PvP colonies'''
|Full protection system described in this article.
|}
----''Values reflect the current live configuration: 10% base protection, 50% default loot rate, 1% protection per Resource Protection research level, and 1.5% cargo capacity per Galactic Commerce level. Global combat settings may be adjusted per realm or season — check the in-game Warehouse panel for your current protection cap.''