Trading & survivors

Other survivors can appear as traders while you descend. Encounters are random — your run's difficulty preset controls how often they spawn, how much stock they carry, and your starting reputation with them. Higher INT improves negotiation outcomes; haggling also grants INT experience, making traders useful for grinding crafting recognition between layers.

Values below are pulled from each preset's overrides on the difficulty page. Normal is the baseline — other presets only change what differs.

traderchance —

Relative odds a trader encounter rolls on a layer.

traderrepoffset —

Starting reputation bonus (or penalty) with traders.

traderitemamount —

Multiplier on how much stock each trader carries.

• Deliberately negotiate prices when you have time — it raises INT even when you do not buy anything.
• INT also gates which items you recognize in a trader's inventory; low-INT survivors may not identify advanced meds or tools until they level up.
• Paradise starts with +25 reputation and 50% trader chance — best preset for learning the economy.

• Processed scrap and surplus tools — high value per weight once you have replacements crafted.
• Duplicate low-tier weapons after you upgrade to titanium or firearms.
• Excess liquids you can craft yourself (groundwater after you have clean water stockpiled).

• Medicines you cannot craft yet — antibiotics, procoagulant, antirad — check liquids and items for effects before spending.
• Rare crafting qualities (titanium, advanced fluids) when a layer modifier dried out your water sources.
• Ammunition and magazines once you hit INT 9+ firearm recognition.

Not every encounter is a shop — some survivors are hostile, others share lore. Handwritten notes from past runs are catalogued under lore (survivor category). Hugging friendly survivors can raise mood, though some refuse until you bring the right items.