# Dead Drops

> How the black market delivers. A physical pickup loop, not an inventory teleport.

![Screenshot: a dead drop wooden box spawned in an alley, with the pickup prompt visible](../screenshots/04-economy/dead-drop-pickup.png)
*Screenshot needed: a dead drop crate in the world with the player approaching.*

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## How dead drops work

When you buy from the [black market](black-market.md):

1. Item is purchased — money deducted instantly
2. A **dead-drop location** is selected from a configurable pool
3. The system generates a **physical prop** (default: `prop_box_wood05a`, a wooden crate)
4. The crate **only spawns when you're nearby** — within ~150m
5. You get a waypoint marker showing the location
6. You travel to the location
7. Use the crate (ox_target prompt) → 4-second progress bar plays
8. Item enters your inventory

---

## Pickup location pool

Dead drops use a pool of pre-defined coordinates (configurable in `Config.PickupLocations`). Common spots:

- Underbridge alcoves
- Construction sites
- Abandoned warehouses
- Behind dumpsters in alleys
- Parking-lot back corners
- Industrial yards

The locations are chosen for **plausibility** — places a real dead drop would happen.

---

## The pickup flow

### Arriving

- Drive/walk to the waypoint
- The crate spawns when you're within ~150m
- A small icon appears on the minimap when very close (~30m)

### Picking up

- Approach the crate (within 1.5m)
- ox_target option appears: "Paimti dėžę" (Pick up the box)
- Press the prompt button
- 4-second progress bar with crouch-pickup animation
- Crate despawns
- Item adds to your inventory

### Notify on success

A chat / toast notification confirms:

```
[Black market] You picked up: 3× cokebaggy
```

---

## Risks during pickup

### Visibility

The crate **is visible to other players in render range**. Anyone nearby can see it. If a rival is camping the drop location, they may:

- Watch you arrive and kill you for the loot
- Pick the crate up FIRST (yes, anyone can pick it up — not just the buyer in some configs)
- Camp the area waiting for the next drop

> ⚠️ **Some servers configure "buyer-only" pickup.** Check with admin. Default is open-pickup.

### Time pressure

Drops have a **lifetime timer** — typically 10–30 minutes from spawn. After expiry:

- Crate despawns
- Your purchase is **refunded** (minus a small handling fee, ~5%)
- Notification fires

### Police interception

If the drop is in a high-heat zone, cops may spawn at the location during pickup. Time it right.

---

## Multiple drops queued

If you buy multiple items quickly:

- Each gets its own dead drop
- Multiple drops can be active simultaneously
- They use **different locations** to spread risk
- You can ignore one and pick up another later

Practical: don't queue 10 drops if you don't have time to pickup. Better to buy + collect in pairs.

---

## Dropper-side (NPC drops vs player drops)

When you BUY:

- From NPC listing → system spawns the drop (auto)
- From player listing → seller's drop is the SAME pool location — system manages it; seller doesn't manually drop

So as a player-seller, you don't physically drop the item. The system handles delivery.

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## Tips

- **Check the area before picking up.** If a rival's car is parked nearby, expect an ambush
- **Bring a friend.** A 2-player pickup is much safer than solo
- **Don't drop chase keys on the way.** If you're being followed, lose the tail before approaching the drop
- **Time-shift drops to quiet hours.** Late night = fewer rival players = safer pickups
- **Pickup with armor.** Some drops are in cop-heavy areas; armor mitigates intercepts
- **Note the timer.** A 10-minute drop in a far district might expire before you arrive — buy nearby items only if you're cross-mapping

---

## Common questions

**Can I see other people's dead drops?**
Only if you're physically near them. The waypoint is private to the buyer.

**What if I die on the way?**
Drop is still spawned. As long as you respawn within the timer, you can retrieve.

**What if I quit the server?**
Drop expires; refund issued on next login.

**Can I trade pickup rights to someone?**
Officially no — but you can give them the coords + buy them a duplicate. Some gangs do this for distance-coverage.

**Are dead drops protected from cops?**
No. If a cop walks by while you're picking up, they may notice. Use cover.

---

## Related

- [black-market.md](black-market.md) — buying from the market
- [../03-territory/zone-rep-heat.md](../03-territory/zone-rep-heat.md) — drop heat in zones
- [../05-crime-loops/airdrops.md](../05-crime-loops/airdrops.md) — different but related drop mechanic