Faction
Black Market
The underground trade runs on trust. Its thieves bring stolen goods to shops they can rely on, Sawyer's janitorial crew runs the Underground Exchange out of your trash bin, and every loss of Black Market standing is doubled before it lands.
At a glance
- Who they are
- Thieves, the janitorial crew and the Underground Exchange.
- Notable reward
- Safe Hands at +40: a thief visits every week and every thief offers better goods
- Notable penalty
- Blacklisted at −40: no contraband sellers, no Underground Exchange and janitorial service costs double
- Ending at −100
- No ending
Someone who buys what nobody else will touch. Buying stolen goods and serious contraband earns standing several times faster than an ordinary purchase.
What moves standing
| What happens | Standing change |
|---|---|
| Buying stolen goods | Trade rate ×1.5 to ×3, by how hot the item is |
| Buying serious contraband | Trade rate multiplied by its contraband level, up to ×3 |
| A fence service visit | +2 |
| A confirmed Aug shot at the counter | +2 |
| Accepting an Underground Exchange barter | A fraction of a point |
| Shooting a customer who turns out not to be an Aug | −10, doubled to −20 |
| Reporting a Black Market customer | −8, doubled to −16, and 2 worse each time after |
| An Alarm Transmitter broadcast | +1, the first time only |
Perk ladder
| Standing | Perk | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Always | Honor Amongst Thieves | Always active: Black Market standing is lost faster than it is gained. |
| +60 | Underground Network | You hear about most Black Market events in advance. |
| +40 | Safe Hands | A thief is guaranteed to visit once a week, and every thief offers better wares. |
| +20 | Small Time Broker | Petty thieves visit more often, and their wares improve as standing rises. |
| −40 | Blacklisted | Black Market customers stop selling you contraband, the Underground Exchange shuts you out and janitorial service doubles in price. |
| −60 | Uninsurable | Insurance is no longer on offer, not even from Joe Wild. |
Worth knowing
- The Black Market is the only faction with no ending at −100; losing insurance at −60 is the worst it does.
- Blabbermouth halves every Black Market gain, and Known Snitch starts you at −10.
- Sawyer explains early that you are not allowed to clean your own storefront: pay the crew's fee or regret doing it yourself.
- Sector 13 Cartel handlers wear the same faces as Black Market customers.
