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Black Dog HQReport

English：Black Dog HQ　·　Locations

One Snailhouse behind one wall, just west of Black Scratch — that is the entire estate of the Black Dog. Inside are crates with 120,000 Cats of gear Artifacts value, plus a very usable exploit — once they knock you out, they stop attacking you.

🗺 See this place on the map ↗

Contents
  1. What this faction does
  2. Who is inside
  3. What is here
  4. The exploit
  5. What it means for the player
  6. See also

Black Dog HQ is the headquarters of the Black Dog faction, in The Outlands, directly west of Black Scratch.

The scale is almost comic: one Snailhouse, ringed by a Defensive Wall III and a Defensive Gate III. That is the whole of it.

What this faction does

Now that you're benefitting from our presence, we kindly ask that you chip in like everyone else. For a small fee we'll guard your base and take care of all your vermin problems. — Black Dog Bodyguard

The Black Dog are a minor faction in the eastern regions running a protection racket. Their homeless squads have a chance to extort the player, and refusing means a fight. They will also visit player bases directly and bully them into paying.

Their patrols spawn in Flats Lagoon, the Grey Desert, Stormgap Coast and The Outlands.

TipThe name "Black Dog" may be a combination of "Blackguard" and "Watchdog" — pointing at both their tendency to bite the hand that feeds them and their nominal work as mercenaries and bodyguards. Alternatively it may just refer to their black-themed armour and their use of Bonedogs.

Who is inside

ResidentNotes
Black Dog BodyguardNames are randomly generated
BonedogThe faction's signature animal
NoteDestroying the gate or invading the building is a crime that immediately alerts the inhabitants. And attacking the inhabitants turns the whole Black Dog faction hostile. That is the only hostility trigger this faction has — otherwise, as long as you pay up or run fast enough, they will not hold a grudge.

What is here

Black Dog HQ holds a lot of containers: Wood Barrels, Baskets, Secure Wood and Metal Crates, Weapon Cabinets and Safes.

The number that matters: this location has a gear Artifacts value of 120,000 Cats, meaning it spawns armour and weapons from the Artifacts system. Total item count is 40, refreshed every 24 hours.

The best-known single item is the Masterwork Dark Leather Shirt, which spawns in the metal chest on the bottom floor.

Regular stock is drink, food and medical supplies:

ItemAverage priceItemAverage price
Bloodrum1,328 CatsSake428 Cats
Grog1,155 CatsMotor421 Cats
Foodcube874 CatsBook300 Cats
Dustwich730 CatsAdvanced Splint Kit311 Cats
Meatwrap658 CatsAdvanced First Aid Kit265 Cats
Sleeping Bag605 CatsLuxury Goods240 Cats
Pearl Urn600 CatsPearl Cup240 Cats
Cactus Rum520 CatsSplint Kit212 Cats
Bread488 CatsRice Bowl186 Cats
Gohan444 CatsChewsticks152 Cats
Standard First Aid Kit147 CatsHashish144 Cats
Dried Meat78 CatsWater Jug30 Cats
Wooden Bowl12 CatsCup6 Cats
Empty Grog Can3 CatsEmpty Rum Bottle3 Cats

Backpacks are counted separately: Medium Backpack (1,500 Cats, Uncommon), Small Backpack (1,000 Cats, Common), Trader's Wooden Backpack (800 Cats, Uncommon), Scavenger's Basket (250 Cats, Common).

The exploit

Black Dog HQ has an unusual and very usable quirk:

TipAfter being knocked out by members of the Black Dog HQ, they become passive and will not attack for some time — unless you steal from them in front of them. That window is long enough to pick every lock in the building, including the bottom-floor metal chest with the Masterwork Dark Leather Shirt in it.

Their beds are also public to use — provided you can sneak in, or get knocked out first as above.

Which means the correct way to play this location is not to win. It is to lose once first.

What it means for the player

Black Dog HQ is one of the best value-per-effort stops in The Outlands:

  1. 120,000 Cats of gear Artifacts value. On a location consisting of one building, that number is absurd.
  2. An entrance that does not require winning. The passivity quirk substitutes Lockpicking for combat.
  3. Free beds. Right outside the walls of Black Scratch — and inside versus outside those walls are two different worlds.
NoteRaiding Black Dog HQ turns the Black Dog permanently hostile. Their patrols appear in Flats Lagoon, the Grey Desert, Stormgap Coast and The Outlands, so all four regions become more careful travelling afterwards.

See also

SourcesBlack Dog HQ、Black Dog、Black Dog Bodyguard、The Outlands、Black Scratch、Bonedog
Categories: LocationsOutpostsBlack DogThe Outlands