# Why the black market is cringe (and how to fix it)
#### How the black market works right now:
1. craft a black market uplink
2. select what you want to buy
3. choose your transport method
4. go to the designated drop zone and receive your item
5. OPTIONAL: build the LSRBT, receive item at that
### Issues with the current system:
**No worthwhile purchases.** There is rarely anything of any actual value on the black market, and what few valuable things there *are* aren't guaranteed to appear and easily out-performed by things you can tide for. (.38 derringer outperformed by improv shotguns, combat medic hardsuit can be substituted by a regular space suit) Additionally, everything on the black market is prohibitively expensive, making all except heads of staff unable to afford the good stuff.

**Existing transport methods are awful.** The default options of "Drop pod" and "Teleport" send your purchase to a completely random location on the station, anywhere from the primary hallway to the AI satellite, with zero restrictions. This means that, even if you do manage to get a worthwhile item from the black market, you still may not receive it. The LSRBT solves the randomness, but it is often not a viable method of transport due to needing to order it from cargo.

These two major issues are enough to preclude most attempts of using the black market.
## how to fix the black market
1. new stocking system
2. prices made more reasonable
3. new things to purchase
4. transport methods made more reliable

Split items into weighted tiers of rarity.

Every 30 minutes, the Black Market gets completely reshuffled, throwing out all previous items (except Anomalous Selections) and filling up the shop again, with the set guarantees.

[Black Market Selection Listing](/2dVSrj3SRh650aaHNlZj9g)

**Teleportation/Drop pods are now given 3 options based on area to where the purchased item will be dropped, and can be rerolled for 50 credits.**

- **Black Market Exclusive** - Items exclusive to the black market. Roughly equal to or better than station equipment in strength. Current examples include the combat medic hardsuit.
- **Minor Faction Equipment** - Items normally not seen on the station due to belonging to a different faction, such as the Syndicate or SolGov. Usually low-tier compared to what's available to those factions. Examples could include the energy dagger, SolGov armor, extra ammo for weapons, etc.
- **Major Faction Equipment** - Items normally not seen on the station due to belonging to a different faction. Unlike the previous category, these items are allowed to be somewhat more powerful, but also much rarer. Examples can include the SolGov M9C, Syndicate energy sword, etc. The examples listed are pretty dull though, and I recommend putting more fun items in this category, such as the briefcase launchpad.
- **Rare Station Items** - Strange seeds, riot shields, etc. Anything that is in limited supply on the station and would be a good fit for the black market.
- **Maintenance Loot** - Maintenance loot that is useful, but usually in limited supply. Some are scaled up to bulk purchase size, i.e. stock parts come in boxes instead of being single purchase, beakers come in boxes, floorpills come in floorpill bottles. Some remain single item purchases, like modular receivers or maint peaches.
- **Major Maintenance Loot** - The absolute highest end of maintenance loot. Ninja stars, .38 derringers, degraded armor, insulated gloves. Become the tide.
- **Anomalous Selections** - Includes the wacky stuff from the [oddity maintenance loot pool](https://github.com/WaspStation/WaspStation-1.0/blob/master/code/_globalvars/lists/maintenance_loot.dm) and then some. Anything that is strange, crazy, and usually unseen.
1. *At least one* **Black Market Exclusive** is guaranteed to be in the black market uplink.
2. *A small amount of* **Minor Faction Equipment** is guaranteed to be in the black market uplink.
3. *One* **Major Faction Equipment** might be placed in the uplink.
4. **Rare Station Items** will have *up to double the amount you would find on the station,* depending on value and ease of access.
5. *A decent variety of* **Maintenance Loot** is guaranteed to be in the black market.
6. *a few* **Major Maintenance Loot** items are guaranteed to be in the black market.
7. There is an extremely rare chance to have *one* **Anomalous Selection** in the black market at roundstart. These can only spawn at roundstart.

**Things that dont fit into the categories listed above but will be included in the black market anyways:**
- ammunition
- drugs
- liquor
- ghetto augments (that could be rarely found in the maintenance loot pool)
-

### Miscellaneous Ideas that don't fit with the above overarching plans but are still related to the black market:
- remove the black market uplink, make it a cartridge or data packet thing you can load into a PDA or modular computer instead.
- Cartridge would be crafted with the same materials as the current uplink, but with a signaller cartridge instead of a radio.
- Data packet would require illegal means to get. Emagging a modcomp would work but is probably too illegal for most of the station to access, maybe as something you can find in maint loot to load into your mod comp?

###### tags: `Boomers ruin the economy`