[Suggestion] Making the Black Market more involved

[Marc_Hicks]

In another thread, someone made an interesting suggestion, so I'm posting it here for people to think about. The idea is basically that access to the Black Market is dependent on how much of a rep you have as a criminal. As you increase that rep, the level of access you have to the black market increases-meaning better prices for illegal goods, access to less legal goods & services, & possibly even non Bulletin Board based missions.

As an additional point of my own, it would also be nice to see "Black Markets" that actually turn out to be sting operations by the local authorities....a la Elite II.

So what do people think? How would you further refine this idea?

CMDR Marcus Hicks.

 

[Daynen]

The simplest part of the black market that's currently missing is the ability to BUY illegal goods from it. right now, 'black market' just means 'will buy stuff you haven't bought.'

Where does it go? What is it for? Why can't we do anything else with it?

 

[Marc_Hicks]

The simplest part of the black market that's currently missing is the ability to BUY illegal goods from it. right now, 'black market' just means 'will buy stuff you haven't bought.'

Where does it go? What is it for? Why can't we do anything else with it?

I concur, black markets do need to be a 2-way street.

 

[Stellar Gambit]

If you could buy materials from the blackmarket it would make the normal commodities market a less attractive avenue.

the only thing you should be able to buy at a BM is the stuff thats illegal in that area... otherwsie your devaluing the commodities market

 

[Marc_Hicks]

If you could buy materials from the blackmarket it would make the normal commodities market a less attractive avenue.

the only thing you should be able to buy at a BM is the stuff thats illegal in that area... otherwsie your devaluing the commodities market

Well yes, of course you shouldn't be able to buy just anything on the black-market. Only stuff that is illegal or restricted. This would be useful for 2 scenarios...(1) those missions where you need to source goods that are illegal at that station. (2) situations where there is a high level of supply at one black market, but you can sell it at a higher price at a black market in another system.

 

[Cyberneticist]

Well yes, of course you shouldn't be able to buy just anything on the black-market.

I guess the logic behind it is that a black market doesn't imply the infrastructure to produce certain goods in quantities of thousands of tons.

The black market is just a poor replacement for having an actual anarchy jurisdiction station/outpost in a system.

However, it would be really, really nice if you could see black market prices at a station without having to bring the type of good you want to check the price of.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

I guess the logic behind it is that a black market doesn't imply the infrastructure to produce certain goods in quantities of thousands of tons.

The black market is just a poor replacement for having an actual anarchy jurisdiction station/outpost in a system.

However, it would be really, really nice if you could see black market prices at a station without having to bring the type of good you want to check the price of.

Yes, the Elite II Black Market was really good!

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

If you could buy materials from the blackmarket it would make the normal commodities market a less attractive avenue.

the only thing you should be able to buy at a BM is the stuff thats illegal in that area... otherwsie your devaluing the commodities market

I don't agree. Why would black market sellers care if they were undercutting the regular market sellers?
Most goods would indeed just be the illegal ones that aren't available on the commodity mnarket. But there should also be some the "fell off a truck", or are not paying taxes, or second rate or whatever, so they are cheaper than the regular goods. Getting caught trading these could cost some local reputation though.