SCUM Economy Balancing Guide

3.1 Trader Configuration Files

Trader settings are stored in JSON files located in the server's configuration directory:

SCUM\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\Traders

The main files you'll need to modify are:

• TraderConfig.json - General trader settings
• TraderInventory.json - Items available at each trader
• TraderPrices.json - Buy and sell prices for items

To export the current trader configuration, use the admin command:

#ExportTraders

This will create the necessary files if they don't exist, or update them with the current settings.

3.2 Price Adjustments

Adjusting item prices is one of the most direct ways to balance your economy. Here are some principles to consider:

Price Tiers

Create clear price tiers that reflect item value and rarity:

Buy/Sell Ratio

The difference between buy and sell prices creates an economic "friction" that prevents players from exploiting the system. A good rule of thumb:

• Traders should buy items for 20-40% of their sell price
• Higher tier items should have a larger buy/sell gap
• Essential survival items can have a smaller gap to help new players

Example price adjustment in TraderPrices.json:

{
  "ItemPrices": [
    {
      "ItemId": "BP_Weapon_AK47",
      "BuyPrice": 1200,
      "SellPrice": 400
    },
    {
      "ItemId": "BP_Ammo_762x39",
      "BuyPrice": 10,
      "SellPrice": 3
    }
  ]
}

3.3 Item Availability

Controlling which items are available at traders is as important as setting prices. Consider these strategies:

Trader Specialization

Each trader type should have a specialty that makes visiting different traders worthwhile:

• Armorer - Weapons, ammunition, and armor
• General Goods - Basic supplies, tools, and common items
• Fisherman/Harbourmaster - Fishing equipment, boats, and water-related items
• Doctor - Medical supplies and health-related items
• Mechanic - Vehicles, vehicle parts, and tools

Stock Limitations

Limiting the quantity of high-tier items available at traders creates scarcity and value:

• Set lower stock limits for powerful weapons and rare items
• Consider longer restock times for premium items
• Basic survival items should have higher stock to prevent frustration

Example configuration in TraderInventory.json:

{
  "TraderInventories": [
    {
      "TraderType": "Armorer",
      "Items": [
        {
          "ItemId": "BP_Weapon_AK47",
          "Amount": 2,
          "RestockAmount": 1,
          "RestockInterval": 7200,
          "FameRequired": 1000
        },
        {
          "ItemId": "BP_Ammo_762x39",
          "Amount": 200,
          "RestockAmount": 50,
          "RestockInterval": 3600,
          "FameRequired": 0
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

In this example:

• The AK-47 is limited to 2 in stock, restocks 1 every 2 hours (7200 seconds), and requires 1000 fame to purchase
• The ammunition is more plentiful with 200 in stock, restocks 50 every hour, and has no fame requirement

4.1 Fame Acquisition Rates

Players can earn fame through various activities. You can adjust these rates in your server settings:

To adjust the fame multiplier, modify the Game.ini file:

[/Script/SCUM.SCUMGameSession]
bIsFameEnabled=True
bIsFamePointsMultiplierEnabled=True
FamePointsMultiplier=1.0

Setting FamePointsMultiplier to values below 1.0 will make fame harder to earn, while values above 1.0 will make it easier.

4.2 Fame Point Sinks

Creating effective "fame sinks" (ways for players to spend fame) is essential for long-term economic health. Consider these options:

Consumable Items

Ensure that consumable items like ammunition, medical supplies, and food are priced to create a steady drain on fame points.

Maintenance Costs

Items that require maintenance (like vehicles or high-tier weapons) create ongoing fame costs.

Fast Travel

If enabled, fast travel costs can be an effective fame sink. Consider scaling costs based on distance.

Respawn Options

Premium respawn options (like respawning with basic gear or at specific locations) can cost fame points.

Base Building

Make advanced base building components cost fame at traders to create a significant late-game fame sink.

To configure fast travel and respawn costs, modify the Game.ini file:

[/Script/SCUM.SCUMGameSession]
FastTravelFameCost=50
RespawnWithGearFameCost=100

5.1 Loot Tables

Loot tables define what items can spawn in different containers and locations. You can modify these in the LootSpawner.ini file:

[/Script/SCUM.SCUMLootSpawner]
GlobalLootMultiplier=1.0
MilitaryZoneLootMultiplier=1.2
UrbanZoneLootMultiplier=1.0
RuralZoneLootMultiplier=0.8

Adjusting these multipliers affects the overall quantity of loot that spawns. For a balanced economy:

• Keep GlobalLootMultiplier between 0.7 and 1.2
• Make military zones more rewarding but also more dangerous
• Create clear distinctions between different zone types

Item-Specific Spawn Rates

You can also adjust spawn rates for specific item categories:

[/Script/SCUM.SCUMLootSpawner]
WeaponSpawnMultiplier=0.8
AmmoSpawnMultiplier=0.9
FoodSpawnMultiplier=1.1
MedicalSpawnMultiplier=1.0
ClothingSpawnMultiplier=1.0
ToolSpawnMultiplier=1.0

For a balanced economy, consider:

• Reducing weapon and ammunition spawn rates to increase their value
• Keeping food and basic survival items more common
• Making high-tier items extremely rare in the world

5.2 Spawn Rates

Loot respawn timing affects how quickly players can gather resources from the same locations:

[/Script/SCUM.SCUMLootSpawner]
MinimumTimeBetweenLootSpawns=1800
MaximumTimeBetweenLootSpawns=3600

These values represent seconds, so the example shows loot respawning between 30 minutes and 1 hour. For a balanced economy:

• Longer respawn times (2-4 hours) encourage exploration rather than "loot cycling"
• Consider faster respawn for basic survival items
• Military and high-value areas should have the longest respawn times

5.3 Loot Zones

Creating distinct loot zones with different risk-reward profiles adds depth to your economy:

Tiered Loot Zones

Consider dividing your map into zones with different loot quality:

• Starter Zones - Common survival items, low risk, low reward
• Mid-Tier Zones - Better equipment, moderate risk and reward
• High-Tier Zones - Rare items, high risk (more zombies, radiation, etc.)
• Event Zones - Temporary high-value loot areas that attract player competition

You can create custom zones using the Zones.ini file to define areas with special properties like increased zombie spawns or radiation.