[5e] Any ideas for a "visiting the black market" scene?

Hiiii, fellow dnd peeps! So my party sorta pushed their way into visiting a black market and I had no plans for that kind of scene but they got so excited so I gave in :)

I have some ideas: i looked up two different 100-item lists of fantasy/magical items and I think I'll describe a sketchy shop owner/setting and have them roll 3x d100 to "see the wares at shop owners discretion." Then I can look at my list and show them those 3 items. I can sorta DM fudge it if the d100 rolls link with something too powerful?

Idk how fun this will be and would love some ideas or hear about ways you might have done/experienced a black market shopping scene.

My party is 4th level: druid tiefling, half-elf bard, half-elf sorceress, and human monk. Also, they don't have a lot of money yet (prob $500gold each). Thanks in advance!

Posted Sep 4, 2020, 1:07 PM UTC

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RenReclaimed•

You could also look for some cursed items and put those within their price range while putting other magic items with only beneficial properties just outside of the richest one's price range. That way, they might buy one of the cursed items. But, you could also make the cursed items have a condition that lifts the curse and turns the item into something really cool that they can use.

Example: A kriss dagger. It's curse is that once it is unsheathed, the user cannot take it's hand off of the handle of the blade until it is used to kill a creature from another plane of existence. The perk: Can cast misty step a number of times equal to your constitution modifier per day. You regain expended uses after a long rest or after you kill a creature from another plane of existence.

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Half the fun of a black market scene is the atmosphere. Really play up how shady the scene is (figuratively or literally). Litter and graffiti on the street outside. There are urchins on the corner who have been paid to keep an eye out for guards--or the guards have already been paid off. The players might need a referral from an underworld contact to do business with certain people. There's some very mean-looking "private security" lurking nearby. Everyone emphasizes that they are legitimate businesspeople, in a way that no actually legitimate businessperson ever has to. This guy turns up.

2
bumofthefutureOP•

Ahh you're so right. These are such fantastic ideas!!

1
Dm_intraining•

Cursed items are a must, try some endangered animal hides, and try to have some kind of gang

Avoid - Rape and Slave People

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bumofthefutureOP•

Oh goodness, 100% agree with avoiding those things. Thanks for the ideas!!

1
Dm_intraining•

I don't know how to put this into writing but maybe a type of artificial spell components, like for example instead of sulfur and bat guano for a fireball maybe instead a white powder that substitutes it, maybe it can have a special effect like a extra damage die

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