Starting perks

Starting perks are picked when you begin a new game. There are 48: 20 positive, 22 negative and 6 neutral. Positive perks cost points, negative ones give points back; some perks cannot be combined.

Positive (20)

Perk Cost Effect Incompatible with
Diplomatic 2 Reputation generated from trade is increased by 33%. —
Handy 1 Start with a shabby toolbox and a set of shabby tools: a screwdriver, a wire cutter, a crowbar and a plasma cutter. —
Intimidating 2 All committed crimes generate 33% less available evidence. —
Lucky 1 Increases your luck. Probably. Unlucky
Model Citizen 1 Start with an additional +30 Security Reputation and will receive 50% more reward for reporting customers on the Wanted List. Convict
Proficient Scavenger 1 You can perform up to 2 additional Search actions in the Dumping Grounds every time you visit. Maimed
Revolution Sympathizer 1 Start with an additional 25 Reputation with The Revolution. You will receive Marketplace Requests from The Revolution more frequently. —
Savings 1 Start with an additional 150 Credits. —
Sawyer’s Crew 1 The Underground Exchange is available from the start. Janitorial Service is always free, unless the Store is vandalized. Vandalism clean up cost is significantly reduced. —
Secret Admirer 1 You will occasionally receive random items from a secret admirer when opening the Store. —
Short Sleeper 1 You won’t miss out on any customers when going out during after-hours activities the night before. —
Sycophant 1 Start with an additional +15 Upper Levels Reputation. Reputation gained with the Upper Levels is increased by 25%, and Upper Level customers have 10% more budget. —
Tapehead 1 You start with all music cassettes available inside the cassette player. —
Tinkerer 1 When you upgrade an item, there is a 20% chance the material used is not consumed. —
Vending Machine 2 Start with a vending machine installed in front of your store. Allow customers to purchase items automatically during after-hours. —
Vigilant 2 You will never get robbed during the night. —
Welfare Program 1 The Commissary is available from the start. On Mondays, you may receive Food Stamps depending on your total wealth. Banned from the Commissary
Well Connected 2 Start with an additional 15 Reputation with all factions. Public Enemy
Wild’s Favorite 1 All upgrades from Wild’s Network cost 10% less. Insurance costs 50% less. On Wild’s Bad Side
Working Pipes 2 You will start with the water lines already connected with unlimited Rustwater. —

Negative (22)

Perk Cost Effect Incompatible with
Agoraphobia -1 After visiting an after-hours location, you must rest at the Store for 2 nights before going out again. speedy
Alcohol Addiction -1 You will suffer a trade penalty of 8% if you don’t consume alcohol regularly. The addiction can be cured. —
Ascetic -4 Your main inventory is reduced to 16x10 instead of 24x10. Minimalist
Awful Negotiator -3 You cannot bargain with customers, and you suffer a permanent trade penalty of 5%. —
Bad Lease -1 Your starting rent is increased by 40 Credits. —
Banned from the Commissary -1 The Commissary is not available, and food stamps are never introduced. Welfare Program
Blabbermouth -2 All committed crimes generate 33% more available evidence. You will gain 50% less reputation with the Black Market and the Revolution. —
Blackmail -2 You have a questionable past and a blackmailer is threatening to expose your secret. You will have to pay them a small weekly fee or they will expose you, leading to a major one-time loss to your reputation across most factions. —
Convict -1 Start with an additional -30 Security Reputation and will receive 25% less reward for reporting customers on the Wanted List. Model Citizen
Degenerative Osteoarthritis -1 Scavenging in the dumping ground works normally for the first week. After that, you lose 1 max scavenging attempt every week that passes. Once your max attempts fall below 3, you can no longer scavenge at all. Normal shopkeepers start with 5 daily max attempts. Start with 2 additional topical medication bandages. Maimed
Gambling Addiction -1 You will always buy some Lottery Tickets when possible. All lottery content is unlocked from the start. The addiction can be cured. —
Illiterate -1 You won’t be able to read any guide. —
Known Snitch -2 Customers from the wanted poster will never visit your store. Start with -10 reputation with the Revolution and the Black Market. —
Maimed -2 The Dumping Ground is not available. You cannot scavenge at all. Proficient Scavenger, Degenerative Osteoarthritis, Careful Scavenger
Minimalist -2 Your main inventory is reduced 20x10 instead of 24x10. Ascetic
Narcotic Addiction -1 You will suffer a trade penalty of 8% if you don’t consume narcotics regularly. The addiction can be cured. —
Nicotine Addiction -1 You will suffer a trade penalty of 8% if you don’t consume nicotine regularly. The addiction can be cured. —
On Wild’s Bad Side -1 All upgrades from Wild’s Network cost 10% more. Insurance costs 50% more. Wild’s Favorite
Public Enemy -2 Start with -15 Reputation with all factions. Well Connected
Sentinel Collapse Disorder -3 You suffer from a deadly, incurable auto-immune condition and must take a weekly Immunivax injection to stay alive. Start the game with 1 Immunivax Injector. —
Side Street -1 You get one less random customer per day. Prime Real Estate
Unlucky -1 Decreases your luck. Probably. Lucky

Neutral (6)

Perk Cost Effect Incompatible with
Aug Menace 1 The Augmented content is unlocked at the start of the game. Earn 25% more credits for killing an aug. The aug menace never ends, and letting too many augs get away ends the game on every difficulty. —
Careful Scavenger 0 You can perform 2 fewer actions in the Dumping Grounds every time you visit, but you never get injured while searching. Maimed
Colorful Character 1 Allows you to have 3 additional starting perk slots. —
Hoarder 0 Start with three piles of immovable debris along the bottom of your inventory. Each pile can be removed. —
Makeshift Reactor 1 You are permanently disconnected from the station power grid and are not affected by blackouts. Start with an upgradable Makeshift Micro Nuclear Reactor sold to you by Dr. Jackson. It powers the Store but needs regular repairs. —
Prime Real Estate 0 1 more normal customer will visit everyday but starting rent cost 75 credit more. Side Street

FAQ

How many starting perks are there?

48 in version 0.46D.

Can I combine any perks?

No — some perks list incompatible perks (last column); the game will not let you pick both.

See also

Data: game files, version 0.46D.