Why do i have severe hunger issues while having food?

[Lucky0000]

I was hoping someone could be so kind as to help me figure out why I have severe issues with zone hunger in my current game. After over 350 hours in SE this is the first time I have had this kind of extreme hunger issues, to the point of having lost over 100k people to starvation. I have already conceded the game, and the last couple of turns in the attached save file was rolled quickly just to check the development of the zone hunger.

Several turns before this save file, I ran out of food. After that, the hunger started rising in all the zones, while my food stocks simultaneously started rising again. Now, I have some food stocks, but the zone hunger stays at max. Additionally, it does not look like my logistics network is that severely overloaded either. What I was hoping for was some help to explain what's happening, because I can't figure it out.

My workers are fed, but my population is not. I have emergency food enabled in all zones, but the private food stocks are depleted and not filling back up. It's like my logistics network is overloaded, but without any clear indication of it. I have also read all the reports searching for some indication of how much food my population demands, without being able to find it.

I would appreciate any form of help or guidance!
Cheers

[BlueTemplar]

The immediate cause is that you ran out of food in your SHQ.

But there seems to be a bug here, the situation should be even worse ??

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5+225+140+470 = 840 which is more than 700 !

Since 840-140 = 700, I guess that the bug is that there's a check missing between emergency food on one hand, and recruits and colonists on the other, allowing them to "double-dip" on the same food ??
(Also the capital population seem to have gotten "first dibs" on emergency food, rather than it being spread evenly ?)

The only other zone that received food was Sozonis Ruins, because it was the only one that didn't have enough in stock (at least 4 Earth months = 2 turns worth of public worker food), 700-470-225 = 5

You also have a bottleneck with Badenfield, resulting in not all of its food (it has more than 2 turns worth of stocks for its public workers) being delivered to SHQ.

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While sending Emergency Food OUT doesn't cost any logipoints, you still need to collect it IN the SHQ first !
EDIT : In an emergency like this, forming a new SHQ in Badenfield so that its population can be fed via *its* emergency food should work, but in this particular case it's probably not worth it, since it's not the only one city that is starving ?

Yeah, looks like there's an oversight in the reports not telling how much ideal food they need...
FYI, in ShEmp each person needs 0.01 food per turn, whether public or private, and the only ones that you don't have to feed (directly or indirectly) in your zones are the Free Folk !

P.S.: On my list is to request for the SHQ stock numbers to be coloured in yellow when it ran out (also Regime's credits ?), and in red for food.
P.P.S.: See also a related bug report :
[1.20n] Supply issue

[Lucky0000]

First of all, thank you very much! This was helpful indeed.

As for the bottleneck with Badenfield, you are right but I didn't think that was the main issue, as the SHQ inventory bar indicates a food surplus either way. I guess that's what's making me confused, because it clearly indicates that I have completely missed some core rules in how the resources work. Could you explain to me why its indicating a surplus while I'm obviously not producing enough food?

Again, thank you very much, this is very helpful.

[BlueTemplar]

I agree that this is horribly confusing, and since there aren't any warnings displayed on that tab, it's forcing players to keep checking every turn !
(The Management => Asset Management (=> Start Turn/Preview) screen helps somewhat...)

(Also this bug report : [1.20h] Emergency Food taken twice from zone and from SQH inventory (but actually not))

Looks like the situation is even worse because even if you do the math yourself every turn in this SHQ popup (and for every item !), you would still miss the Emergency Food which is not listed there ?!

I've been complaining already two years about this as being THE worst interface issue, but I guess so far we haven't complained loudly enough ??

P.S.: So, the short explanation is that you need to have the stocks at the end of the turn there (or for instance for building assets - in the zone inventory) to be able to fulfill the demands. (Though it does allow you to raise troops for emergencies using this "cushion".)

[Lucky0000]

So this is a combined production and logistics issue then? I'm producing some food, but the logistics network is not strong enough to deliver what's needed to the zones (even Omicron itself?) So, because the food isn't getting distributed properly, the food is getting stored and the SHQ inventory bar indicates that the stocks are rising?

The stocks in the SHQ inventory have risen steadily from 0 to 700+ the last several turns.

Resources usually work on a two-turn basis right? The SHQ needs to be stocked one turn, then used the second? Barring of course the instant uses you mentioned and resources traded manually

This is confusing but also intreguing

[BlueTemplar]

Probably, (but not quite) would need to see what happened in the previous turns...
As an easier to understand alternative to Management => Asset => Start Turn / Preview,
see the Items tab towards the bottom right of the Map screen to see the different Zone items stocks (also flows during last turn processing), that should help ?

[eddieballgame]

Currently playing this save file...quite challenging & fun.
The starting position looked like it was going to be great based on the many ruins.
Anyways, noticing the lack of workers in key places & 10k+ colonists, I immediately put them to work in Omicron. Could not ship any to Badenfeld due to logistics. However, after building a Truck Station between those 2 cities I was able to start sending workers there, as well.
Increasing the salaries of the private & working sectors has helped with Happiness &...hopefully future production.
The biggest problem I am having is dealing with 'Rebels'...keeping those roads cleared is mandatory. However, round 30 & so far...so good.
I am new to the Oceania dlc, so not much help there.
Btw, Syringa looks like a lost cause...but we will see.

[Lucky0000]

Hey that’s great!

I have to admit I lost interest in the save after loosing 1/3 of my population without fully understanding why. But it’s nice to hear a new Dawnbringer has risen to the cause. Deliver the world to the Dawn my friend

[eddieballgame]

Here are some screenshots for round 41. Omicron (the capitol) has been a major problem per rebels.
Making it a level IV City while still having level 1, 2 & 3 QOL buildings available to build was not necessary.
Anyways, all is going ok so far...minus the problems.

[Lucky0000]

Awesome! Good job making the failed naval invasion work. How did you solve the hunger issues? Was it putting the colonists to work in Omicron that did the trick?

[eddieballgame]

Awesome! Good job making the failed naval invasion work. How did you solve the hunger issues? Was it putting the colonists to work in Omicron that did the trick?

Pretty much that was the key early, particularly getting workers to Badenfeld.
The unrest/rebels were another problem that took some time (still ongoing) to keep things running, somewhat, smoothly.
That capitol has been a royal pain per the citizens.
Per the naval invasion working; I was resigned to not expecting too much on the positive side per that position.
However, due to the protection those farmers were under, (which I had not noticed, initially) when they were attacked by their neighbor...they joined me!

[Lucky0000]

Yeah I’ve always found protecting minors a good way to spread influence and gain more ground in the long run. Thanks for the tips to the both of you this is such an awesome community

[eddieballgame]

Yeah I’ve always found protecting minors a good way to spread influence and gain more ground in the long run. Thanks for the tips to the both of you this is such an awesome community

You are very welcome, & I concur...the Matrix/Slitherine community is excellent.
Also, thank you for being a part of it.