Availability & Rarity

Throughout a hero's travels in the galaxy, they will use & encounter many different gadgets, equipment, weapons, and armor, along their path. All of these items can be categorized by their Availability, the legal constraints to ownership, and their Rarity, how commonly found these objects are. The following page will detail how the two systems of organization work and what type or licensing & training a hero will need to properly, and legally, own and operate these tools on their quests.

Availability

Most objects capable of lethal harm in the galaxy require some form of license to own & operate. A basic license is often available for immediate purchase and registry before the item itself is handed over. In such cases, a character can pay a license fee to own the object legally. A license fee is a separate expense, purchased in addition to the object to which it applies. Other, more lethal or destructive, items require a more strict screening process before their license can be given; or may only be given to members in active military service. The five restriction ratings are as follows:

• Open: The character does not need a license to own the item.
• Licensed: The owner must obtain a license to legally own or operate the object. The license costs 10% of the item's original value.
• Restricted: Only specifically qualified individuals or organizations are allowed to own the object. The license costs 30% of the item's original value.
• Military: The object is sold primarily to military organizations. A military rating is essentially the same as restricted, except that manufacturers and dealers are generally under tight government scrutiny and are therefore especially wary of selling to private individuals. The license costs 50% of the item's original value, this cost can be reduced to 30% if you are a member of the military.
• Illegal: The object is illegal in all but specific, highly regulated circumstances. For 100% of the weapon's cost, and the proper connections you may obtain a license to own the item.

Other Means of Getting A License

If a character doesn't want to pay for a license they may do so through more illicit means listed below:

• They may bribe an official by making a Persuasion check, DC 15 for licensed and +10 for each level of restriction above that.
• They may fabricate a false identity or steal another person's identity by making a Disguise check DC 15 for licensed and +10 for each level of restriction above that.

If either of these checks critically fails, the local authorities are alerted to your activities.

Rarity

The rarity of an item represents how difficult the item is to find throughout the galaxy. As characters explore the stars they will find most shops carry only the mass-manufactured common & uncommon items. With the more specialty items being restricted to exclusive stores and black markets. While most items may be used by anyone who gets their hands on them, Legendary and Exotic items require special training to operate without hindrance, or to their full efficacy. Listed below are the seven rarity types:

• Common
• Uncommon
• Limited
• Rare
• Legendary
• Unique
• Exotic

The Black Market

The Black Market is the lifeblood of the fringe of the galaxy. It is through the Black Market that smugglers, shipjackers, pirates, and other criminals make their livings. The Black Market is the name given to the thousands of channels by which illegal goods are trafficked; this covers the fences (or agents) that sell the items to buyers, the credit launderers that make sure dirty money looks clean, and the crime lords that organize and protect the members of their organization that engage in illegal commerce. The Black Market is the only way to obtain legendary, illicit, or exotic items (outside their normal means), and any character who wants to obtain something must deal with a Black Market agent in some way.

Finding a Black Market Agent

Agents of the Black Market do not make themselves known easily, as they would be quickly swept up by the authorities. The DC of the check is 20 but GM may apply a bonus or penalty to the check depending on the circumstances. (For example, finding a Black Market dealer on the smuggler's moon of Nar Shaddaa is relatively easy and may warrant a +5 bonus on the check.) If you succeed on the Gather Information check, you find a Black Market agent that can put you into contact with the illicit market you seek. If you fail, you can try again later a day later. If you fail by 5 or more, the check will increase in difficulty as your questions will be seen as suspicious or prying; local crime lords may get the wrong idea and send a few thugs to deter the you from inquiring further. If your check critically fails someone notices you've been asking questions about black markets and you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law, with law enforcement officials closing the net around you to arrest on suspicion of dealing in illegal goods.

• Once you find someone who can get the item for you, you may have to pay extra for the item in question do to the means of its procurement.

At its most basic, finding a Black Market agent requires a Gather Information check, DC 20 to establish contact. Even searching for the Black Market can be dangerous. A failed Gather Information check shouldn't just result in a delay; it could also result in an encounter. If the heroes are snooping around and asking a lot of questions about the Black Market, On the other hand, if the heroes are careless,

Selling on the Black Market

The Black Market can be used by the heroes to sell their illegally obtained goods as well. If the heroes are smugglers, shipjackers, or pirates, they may need some way to pawn off their prizes, and the Black Market is an excellent place to do so. The heroes can find the Black Market in the same way that they would to buy from the Black Market, but instead of making purchases they can make sales, using the same Black Market cost modifiers to determine how many credits the heroes make off their goods. The value of the goods is still halved as normal, before applying the Black Market modifiers (Which should compensate for the reduction in value from selling the item).