Star Wars_ Edge of the Empire Rule Book

THE BLACK MARKET
It is important to realize the black market is not a single,
homogenous entity. Rather, it refers to myriad different
networks and dealers scattered across countless civilized
worlds. Black markets are vague and loosely connected
networks that secretly deal in regulated or illegal goods
and services, like an invisible spiderweb covering civilized
society. One of the most difficult things a spacer can at-
tempt is landing on a new world and making contact with
someone involved in the local black market. Cautious
inquiries, clandestine meetings, and careful negotiations
are all necessary. One wrong move or ill-spoken word
can result in a firefight, a back alley beating, or arrest.

Once an individual makes multiple reliable contacts,

dealing in the black market becomes much easier. This

applies whether someone is trying to sell or obtain items

or services on the black market, no matter what those

items or services may be. If a contact cannot provide a

service or buy or sell an item, they may know someone

amongst their own list of contacts who can (possibly for

a small referral fee). This may repeat multiple times un-

til the person locates the right contact. Success in the

black market depends on two things: how many people

someone knows, and who those people are.

Since black market networks are usually dealing in illicit

or restricted items, any negotiations are always overshad-

owed by the threat of discovery by the authorities. This is

another reason why having more contacts in a black mar-

ket is useful. Contacts may be caught by the authorities,

or forced into hiding. Always remember that black market

networks are never stable, and more contacts means re-

dundancies that can survive that instability.

Certain skills and talents are vital to successfully navi-

gating a black market, no

matter where it is.

Having someone

with good street

instincts is vital,

as most crimi-

nal operations

tend to share

some simi-

larities everywhere in the galaxy, as is being a smooth

talker when conducting negotiations. Mercantile sense

is also very useful; black market dealings may be illegal,

but they are still commercial transactions. Finally, having

someone threatening and dangerous to provide backup

and discourage betrayal is also useful, since black mar-

kets are not bound by conventional laws.

Black market work doesn't always mean buying,

transporting, and selling morally questionable nar-

cotics, weapons, or technology. There are places in

the galaxy in desperate need of food, medicines, and

basic supplies. The people there cannot afford to pay

the fees and taxes imposed by the Empire, or else

the Empire has cut them off from basic supplies as

a means of punishment. Thus, black market opera-

tives may find themselves in the conundrum of being

legally wrong, but morally right.

THE REBELLION

With the entire might of the Empire turned toward its

destruction, the Rebel Alliance's survival is miraculous.

There is no worse crime in the Empire's eyes than be-

ing part of the Rebellion, and this means it's cut off

from many legal avenues of supply. Thus, the organiza-

tion that arguably has the greatest need for goods and

services in the galaxy has a very hard time filling that

need, and often turns to illegal avenues of supply.

This can provide a valuable opportunity for smug-

glers and other independent freighter captains. Small

transport ships, able to transport goods, materials,

weapons, medicines, and important personnel any-

where required, are essential to the Alliance. What a

tramp freighter lacks in bulk cargo capacity, it more

than makes up for in flexibility and stealth. Smugglers

tend to know the best routes to use when they want

to avoid Imperial Customs or Naval interdiction, and

fringers tend to make a life out of breaking the law.

However, many see the risks as outweighing the

opportunities. Dealing with the Alliance is the worst

offense in the Empire's eyes, and likely earns the of-

fender a quick death or a life sentence in Kessel's

spice mines. What's more, the Alliance doesn't always

have much money to offer. Limited funds may be

supplemented by appeals to a smuggler's goodwill or

offers of barter.

This isn't always a bad thing; what the Rebellion lacks

in funding, it more than makes up for in talent and im-

provised resources. A savvy fringer willing to work with

v what's available might be able to arrange for a complete

* overhaul of his ship's engines, military-grade hardware,

I or illegal weapons. Perhaps a Rebel slicer can access

m? some sector records and remove a few blemishes

•L on a person's registration, or Alliance raids can

obtain supplies they'll trade to fringers.

LAW AND SOCIETY

EDGE OF THE EMPIRE