Traders
| Trader Restocking | |
|---|---|
| Type | System |
| Location | NPC traders in towns and encounters |
Overview
NPC traders refresh their inventories on a timer, offering new items for sale and clearing out old stock. Each trader follows a preset that defines what they sell, how often they restock, what quality of items they carry, and which items they accept in trade. Restocking only triggers when a player interacts with the trader — idle traders do not refresh until someone checks their wares.
How Restocking Works
Restock Timer
Every trader has a restock interval defined by a minimum and maximum time in minutes. When the timer expires, the trader's inventory is refreshed the next time a player interacts with them.
The actual restock time for each cycle is randomized between the minimum and maximum — a trader with a 30–60 minute interval might restock anywhere in that range.
Inventory Refresh
When a trader restocks:
- Old items are cleaned from the trader's inventory
- New items are rolled from the trader's supply list, each with its own spawn chance
- At most traders bottle caps do not clear with items
One-Time Traders
Some traders are set to never restock — they receive their initial inventory once and never refresh. These are typically special encounter traders or quest-related merchants. Once bought out, they remain empty.
Trader Properties
Accept Lists
Each trader has a list of item types they accept in barter. If a trader only buys weapons, they will not accept armor or drugs. Traders with no accept list will buy anything. The items traders do not accept are red colored.
Item Quality
All items spawned by a trader are generated at a specific quality level. The default is Crafted quality, meaning items may have random mods. Some special traders may offer higher or lower quality goods. High Stability towns can offer higher quality items.