Unless I have missed something, the black market is kind of dead. Now, part of me thinks it makes sense that the black market stays in the shadow, not a whole lot known about it so it gives the GM more freedom to do what he/she wants. The other part Really really wants the next sector sourcebook to be "A Source book for the black Market". So far we have three different pieces of equipment and 6 types of drugs, other than that, lacking.

Has anyone placed any items into the black-market? Personally I think Disruptor Rifles and pistols should be black market only.

Doesn't everything that's marked Restricted technically have to be purchased through the black market (with Streetwise rather than Negotiation)?

Unless I have missed something, the black market is kind of dead.

Why would the black market be dead?

There's pretty solid evidence in EotE that it isn't dead - Black Market Contacts talent (Trader, Enforcer, Scoundrel, Thief).

When you buy a single blaster rifle you go to a store that sells them. When you need to buy five crates to supply your shady pals hiding in the woods, you go to the black market.

The black market is precisely as dead as the GM and players want it to be. If you let your players buy restricted and illegal items openly, then of course the black market is "dead" - to you at least. If you want something bought or sold illegally you have to go looking for it. The black market doesn't advertise.

And then there's the lovely scenario of the legitimate blaster dealer,

"I'd like to sell these five blaster carbines."

"These are stormtrooper standard issue."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, no, just let me call some guys to help me price these" *calls the local authorities*

Black market? Probably less concerned, worst case they don't pay you as well because they are "hot".

Strangely, my group of law abiding bounty hunters are better at shopping the black market than they are at buying from legal sources. This is because most of them have Cunning > Presence and Streetwise > Negotiation. Street Smarts is there to take away Setback too, and I don't think there is a talent that removes Setback from Negotiation.

I would personally allow streetwise to be used for above board purchases, it's knowing who to talk to to find things after all "Where is the nearest place to by a gun legally" seems to be covered by that. I honestly can't understand why negotiation is the "find stuff to buy" skill at all, the haggle skill sure. but just finding it?

If the black market is dead how ever do those poor Hutt and Black Sun types pay the bills?

I would personally allow streetwise to be used for above board purchases, it's knowing who to talk to to find things after all "Where is the nearest place to by a gun legally" seems to be covered by that. I honestly can't understand why negotiation is the "find stuff to buy" skill at all, the haggle skill sure. but just finding it?

I always found it interesting that Knowledge (Core Worlds or Outer Rim) isn't used to search for goods. I'll agree that using Negotiation to locate goods seems off compared to using Streetwise for the same.

I would personally allow streetwise to be used for above board purchases, it's knowing who to talk to to find things after all "Where is the nearest place to by a gun legally" seems to be covered by that. I honestly can't understand why negotiation is the "find stuff to buy" skill at all, the haggle skill sure. but just finding it?

I always found it interesting that Knowledge (Core Worlds or Outer Rim) isn't used to search for goods. I'll agree that using Negotiation to locate goods seems off compared to using Streetwise for the same.

To me the Knowledge skills are more for book learning and only get you so far in the day to day events. Sure, with those knowledge skills you'll know that the black market is a thing and where some of the hotspots are, but you won't know where to start looking to find it. Streetwise will get you the face time to ask enough people to find out you knock on the red door on Main St and ask for Big Jack. That's not something written down.

To me the Knowledge skills are more for book learning and only get you so far in the day to day events.

I'd like to think they could represent first-hand knowledge, too. Like you know about the Outer Rim because you've been exploring it for so long.

That said, I'd expect pretty much all illegal trades to involve a Streetwise roll.

Sorry, I have been watching the news too much and I am use to misleading headlines to get attention....

Doesn't everything that's marked Restricted technically have to be purchased through the black market (with Streetwise rather than Negotiation)?

Another reason I should not post past 8 pm.

Anyhow the point I was trying to make is we are lacking any new poisons, drugs, and Black market equipment (outside weapons) in any of the new splat books.

It's true there is a lack of things that must be black market items. But as the Corebook points out a few times, there are several items that vary in legality from system to system. Something freely flowing on Ryloth won't be as easy to come by on Chandrila.

Sorry, I have been watching the news too much and I am use to misleading headlines to get attention....

Doesn't everything that's marked Restricted technically have to be purchased through the black market (with Streetwise rather than Negotiation)?

Another reason I should not post past 8 pm.

Anyhow the point I was trying to make is we are lacking any new poisons, drugs, and Black market equipment (outside weapons) in any of the new splat books.

Perhaps the Smuggler book will provide a little more illegality to trade for us.

Anyhow the point I was trying to make is we are lacking any new poisons, drugs, and Black market equipment (outside weapons) in any of the new splat books.

Perhaps the Smuggler book will provide a little more illegality to trade for us.

It's weird. I play as a Bounty Hunter and want to know more about how criminals are tracked in the SW universe, but I'm getting to the point where I want to see this book next.

I think a lot of groups hand wave this stuff as well. A good smuggler doesn't look in the box unless he has too. So the PCs may never know what they are hauling around the galaxy. If it doesn't matter to the story, why bother?

In the movies it's never explained what cargo Han dumped into space that pissed off Jabba. It didn't matter to the story.

You could loosely define things if it might be important. Maybe the PCs are hauling narcotics. Does it matter what kind? Assuming the PCs are intelligent they won't be using the cargo. Loose definitions are also helpful when spending destiny points. Maybe a PC spends a light side to make the drugs prescription pain killers and can now use them to help with a critical wound.

Until the story needs to know what the illegal goods are the players don't need to know.

You could loosely define things if it might be important. Maybe the PCs are hauling narcotics. Does it matter what kind? Assuming the PCs are intelligent they won't be using the cargo. Loose definitions are also helpful when spending destiny points. Maybe a PC spends a light side to make the drugs prescription pain killers and can now use them to help with a critical wound.

Until the story needs to know what the illegal goods are the players don't need to know.

Having consciously tried to apply this to my games for years, in various systems, I've come to refer to the practice as, "Schrödinger's Plot".

Anyhow the point I was trying to make is we are lacking any new poisons, drugs, and Black market equipment (outside weapons) in any of the new splat books.

Perhaps the Smuggler book will provide a little more illegality to trade for us.

It's weird. I play as a Bounty Hunter and want to know more about how criminals are tracked in the SW universe, but I'm getting to the point where I want to see this book next.

I play a Scoundrel so I fully claim bias in wanting Smuggler next, but I wouldn't cry were it BH, and I think Tech will bring the most surprise, so I'm good no matter which is next after Colonist.