Probably Stolen Rock Bottom is the hardcore starting scenario: no product line, no starting stock and no cash. The 1.0 announcement describes it in four words — "Nothing. Start from scratch. Maximum difficulty." The equipment you would normally start with is gone, so the rent clock starts in the same place and you pay it with whatever the counter produces.
Probably Stolen Rock Bottom: What You Start With
- No product line.
- No starting stock.
- No cash.
- No machines, no licences, no buffer.
Difficulty is a separate choice from the scenario. Version 1.0 offers four difficulty options after you pick a scenario, and the in-game difficulty screen lists the modifiers for each. The same screen offers Skip Intro and Endless Mode checkboxes, and an arrow leads to the fourth, hardest option that players know as Red Ink.
On Rock Bottom, appraisal is often the strongest early income, because it costs nothing but time. A player running Rock Bottom on the highest difficulty reported scavenging every day and using appraisal as the main source of money.
Dr. Jackson's stock and every upgrade cost more on the harder difficulties, so the cheap machine you would normally buy early is a much bigger purchase on this start. A Rock Bottom run needs a plan before the first customer arrives, and the first-week walkthrough is the shortest version of one.
The Four Difficulty Options, Line By Line
| Modifier | Price Gouge (Cozy) | Mark Up (Normal) | Thin Margins (Hard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail markup when selling | 20% | 15% | none |
| Rent increase each cycle | +2% | +5% | +10% |
| Nightly service fees | — | standard | higher |
| Vendor permit | 500 credits | 1500 credits | 2000 credits |
| Upgrade prices | — | standard | 50% more |
| Dr. Jackson's stock | — | standard | 50% more |
| Supplier markup | — | standard | higher |
| Property price | lower | standard | higher |
| Reputation gains | x1.5 | x1 | x0.75 |
| Reputation losses | x0.5 | x1 | x1.25 |
| Wild's favour gains | increased | standard | reduced |
Two achievements are built around this start: From Nothing, for winning the game starting from Rock Bottom, and From Nothing, the Hard Way, for winning the game starting from Rock Bottom on hard mode.
A Rock Bottom run needs a plan before the first customer arrives, and the starting scenarios page lists all nine openings if you would rather start with something in your hands.
