Black Markets

[KellyR]

Where have all the Black Markets gone to? Seems before 1.3, there were black markets in most (but not all) outposts. Now it's very rare when I see a black market. How are you supposed to sell these rare artworks/ancient artefacts/trade data (whatever) that you find in weak signal sources if there's no black markets around for dozens or hundreds of light years. I could understand if they don't have them in main stations, but there should be at least one outpost per system that has a black market, unless there are no outposts in that system.

Piracy, politics and greed still exist in 3300. You're telling me crime doesn't? This makes no sense at all.

 

[Araviel]

the default number of black markets has been reduced to make the power play powers have more of an impact.
some powers will close their black markets, others will open them and others provide trade bonuses to them, see this post for details https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDange...wer_control_effects_the_policies_and_bonuses/

they have also compensated for lowering the default number of black markets by listing them in the station services on the map to make them easier to find.

 

[mossfoot]

You can just check the system map to see if a station has a black market or not without having to actually visit it first. Just click on a station in System View and in the list of what services it provides it will tell you if it has a black market or not.

 

[KellyR]

Thanks. I appreciate the answers. Although how a power would shut down all the black markets under their jurisdiction isn't altogether clear. They could shut down some of them, but all? I don't think any power or government has the resources to totally eliminate crime.

 

[Chummy62]

We have a great community with both helpful players and developers.

 

[Kazacy]

Where have all the Black Markets gone to? Seems before 1.3, there were black markets in most (but not all) outposts. Now it's very rare when I see a black market. How are you supposed to sell these rare artworks/ancient artefacts/trade data (whatever) that you find in weak signal sources if there's no black markets around for dozens or hundreds of light years. I could understand if they don't have them in main stations, but there should be at least one outpost per system that has a black market, unless there are no outposts in that system.

Piracy, politics and greed still exist in 3300. You're telling me crime doesn't? This makes no sense at all.

Come to Delaine space; black markets everywhere. A little warning: if you are not pledged to Delaine you are KOS.

 

[Ozmodion]

You can just check the system map to see if a station has a black market or not without having to actually visit it first. Just click on a station in System View and in the list of what services it provides it will tell you if it has a black market or not.

this....

 

[Tarman]

Thanks. I appreciate the answers. Although how a power would shut down all the black markets under their jurisdiction isn't altogether clear. They could shut down some of them, but all? I don't think any power or government has the resources to totally eliminate crime.

The crime gameplay is simplistic/deficient on a great number of fronts, this being one of them. An actual layer of criminal economy would play out much better than this Fences On/Off setup.

 

[Marra Morgan]

Thanks. I appreciate the answers. Although how a power would shut down all the black markets under their jurisdiction isn't altogether clear. They could shut down some of them, but all? I don't think any power or government has the resources to totally eliminate crime.

Government officials and enforcement agents simply open up their System Maps and look under Services
It's silly, isn't it? Black Markets should only be listed there once initially discovered by the player. But there we go vOv

 

[Ben Ryder]

Every single black market on the system maps is silly .. not quite as stupid as the local secuirty officer paying trade dividends to people who actually sell goods on the black market... :S

 

[Winterwalker]

Definitely an area that could do with some developer love.

I imagine the powerplay system could have something useful to offer dynamic blackmarket locations, though I also feel blackmarkets should really only be map visible, once a player finds them. I think you could be led to them though .. bulletin board mission, "deliver xyz to 'our man in Havanna' (station/system)" .. magically, that's your blackmarket contact found for you without being signposted.

I feel the way you get caught with prohibited goods is missing a trick at the moment. Scan / fines in deep space are maybe fair enough (a basic fixed penalty notice, surely they'd make you dump it at gunpoint?) and around stations OK, scan .. but maybe the police sting should come when you actually try to sell goodies (if you got scanned on your way in, you find a modifier makes it much more likely you get caught, either at blackmarket trade or some of the time, maybe, docking bay officials revoke launch requests) to mix it up.

Whether my ideas are any good, not sure but the placeholder development stage, "I want to sell goods on the blackmarket" is flat at the moment. That being said ... I find it HIGHLY unlikely FD can be satisfied with it either .. but there is though, only so much any, one or developer, can do at once.

 

[Ben Ryder]

+1 " blackmarkets should really only be map visible, once a player finds them. I think you could be led to them though .. bulletin board mission, "deliver xyz to 'our man in Havanna' (station/system)" .. magically, that's your blackmarket contact found for you without being signposted." Really like the way of introducing the contact element rather than the board game 'you've landed on a black market tile' that has come with power play

 

[Kazacy]

Definitely an area that could do with some developer love.

I imagine the powerplay system could have something useful to offer dynamic blackmarket locations, though I also feel blackmarkets should really only be map visible, once a player finds them. I think you could be led to them though .. bulletin board mission, "deliver xyz to 'our man in Havanna' (station/system)" .. magically, that's your blackmarket contact found for you without being signposted.

I feel the way you get caught with prohibited goods is missing a trick at the moment. Scan / fines in deep space are maybe fair enough (a basic fixed penalty notice, surely they'd make you dump it at gunpoint?) and around stations OK, scan .. but maybe the police sting should come when you actually try to sell goodies (if you got scanned on your way in, you find a modifier makes it much more likely you get caught, either at blackmarket trade or some of the time, maybe, docking bay officials revoke launch requests) to mix it up.

Whether my ideas are any good, not sure but the placeholder development stage, "I want to sell goods on the blackmarket" is flat at the moment. That being said ... I find it HIGHLY unlikely FD can be satisfied with it either .. but there is though, only so much any, one or developer, can do at once.

Markets only visible to the player only after he finds them? very good idea. Also i remember in frontier two, sometimes when you try to buy/sell illegal goods using the contacts in station, instead of the contact person a police officer appears and you get the options to pay the fine or bribe the official (bribe sometimes doesn't work). First time when i discovered a black market i was very disappointed when i understand it was only just an option in menu no more adrenaline.

 

[Winterwalker]

First time when i discovered a black market i was very disappointed when i understand it was only just an option in menu no more adrenaline.

Totally placeholder. Reckon I'll eat my sidewinder if there isn't an improvement before too long. As you say, FE2 was much more sophisticated here, and that was .. cough .. years ago?

I think think there were calls, to "tell us where the blackmarkets are" from the playerbase (wanting bookmarks basically). FD stuck one in, but it wouldn't be much to take it out again .. and wouldn't it be great if NPC's in space scanned your illegal goods and told you where the black (oh whoops, you already killed that NPC for his wanted status?) .. never mind, someone in bulletin board whispers, "hey, Bud" .. or like I say, asks you to take illegals somewhere and that's where you find a black market.