Jagged Alliance 3 – Currency Systems Guide (The Dual Economy)

This Jagged Alliance 3 article explores how dollars and parts are used as currency systems.

The Dollar System

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In Jagged Alliance 3, dollars serve the following purposes:

1. Mercenary Expenses: Used primarily for hiring and extending contracts of mercenaries, including the customized IMP merc. While 5 special mercs don’t require salaries, all A.I.M. mercs need payment.
2. Equipment Procurement: Utilized to buy gear from Bobby Ray’s or local merchants in specific sectors. While scavenging is possible, purchasing allows for inventory adjustment based on needs or to counter bad luck.
3. Operational Costs: Needed for certain operations like Militia Training, R&R, Craft Ammo, Craft Explosives, and water travel expenses. Costs depend on factors like distance, loyalty, and the presence of a Negotiator.
4. Quest and Dialog Options: Some quests/dialogs involve spending dollars, but these are optional and generally not crucial. Examples include giving dollars to characters like Martha and Herman at the Refugee Camp.

Occasionally, bags of Grand Chien franks may be found. However, due to inflation, their local value is low and not easily spent. Grand Chien franks can be used in two places:

1. Port Cacao: Itsadi the Fisher sells various items for Grand Chien franks, including magazines, field supplies, meds, crafting parts, and quest items like the red wig. The inventory changes periodically, making it advantageous to have a nearby merc check Itsadi’s wares.
2. Poacher’s Camp: A local merchant sells an Ancient Bronze Mask for Grand Chien franks, refreshing after a certain period. If the Gouverneur funds Emma’s museum, this allows conversion of Grand Chien franks into U.S. dollars.

Making Money

The next question is: how do you earn more dollars? While numerous guides discuss making money, I’ve found most to be incomplete. At the game’s outset, you start with $40,000 (First Blood), $30,000 (Commando), or $24,000 (Mission Impossible). Managing cash flow is crucial. Here are ways to boost your income:

A. The main income source in Jagged Alliance 3 revolves around controlling diamond mines.

There are 7 mines – Mfumu’s Mine, Diamond Red, Old Diamond, Fosse Noire, Drachenberg Mine, Wassergrab, and Belle Eau.

Mfumu’s Mine, Diamond Red, Old Diamond, and Fosse Noire are early game mines in the west. Drachenberg Mine is mid-game in the center, and Wassergrab and Belle Eau are late game in the east. To control a mine, eliminate enemies, except for Fosse Noire and Drachenberg Mine, where alternative methods apply. The income depends on the mine’s base value and nearby city loyalty. Increase loyalty by clearing sectors, defending against patrols, completing quests, and positive dialog options with NPCs. Old Diamond lacks an attached city, but its loyalty is equivalent to 100%. Most early mines deplete over time based on difficulty, except the last four.

B. Mines can be enhanced for increased income.

At Diamond Red, deciding Graaf’s fate impacts income. Hiring him as foreman significantly boosts income. You can also recruit additional workers at Fleatown Flea Market and Refugee Camp.

At Old Diamond, killing Legion imposters and sparing Fournier boosts income. Unlock a Prospecting operation by completing a skill check on the second floor.

Controlling Fosse Noire and exploring the underground sector boosts mine income with silver veins.

If you side with Boss Blaubert against Luigi, your mines’ incomes increase as long as Boss Blaubert lives.

C. Intercept diamond shipments.

Enemy-controlled mines periodically send shipments worth $12,000 or weapons. Leaving some mines in enemy hands may be worthwhile for farming.

D. Hack electronic devices.

The Wisdom, Explosives, and Mechanical skills help find herbs, detect traps, and hack electronic devices. A moderate to high Mechanical skill is needed to find hackable devices. When hacked, you gain Intel for a nearby sector or a random amount of dollars, with early game hacks giving $500-$1,250.

E. Cash in valuables

There are some valuable items that can be cashed in immediately for dollars (the in-game explanation is that the contract you sign with Adonis at the beginning of the game lets them facilitate these sales):

Certain items have additional uses; consider not cashing them in:

1. The Green Diamond has special endings if donated to the museum or kept in the inventory at the game’s end.
2. The Diamond Necklace and Gold Watch can be cashed, but it’s better to use them for associated quests. With the Necklace, having a Negotiator yields $15,000; without, it’s $3,000. Cashing in might be preferable in the latter case.
3. Ancient archaeological treasures can be donated to the museum for benefits, including loyalty and recruit-level militia.
4. Tiny Diamonds can be used to buy loot boxes or information from Lalee Leewaylender. Early game, you can sell them to Father Tooker for $600 each (or $700 with a Negotiator).
5. Diamond Shipment, Big Diamond, Gold Bar, and Chipped Sapphire can be freely cashed in.

F. Quests

Some quests offer cash rewards, mentioned during NPC conversations or in the Snype window.

G. Dialogue options

Certain dialogue options, often tied to the Scoundrel trait, may result in earning money.

H. Sell Meds or Parts

At the Sanatorium, sell 50 meds for $1,500 every several days. At the Fleatown Flea Market, sell 30 parts for $500 every several days.

I. Gambling

Gamble with Headshot Hue at the Port Cacao docks; without a Scoundrel, it’s not a reliable way to make money.

The Parts System

The Parts System in Jagged Alliance 3 serves various purposes:

1. Weapon Mods: Invest parts in customizing and upgrading guns, requiring a mercenary with high Mechanics. Some mods may need additional components like steel pipes, lenses, or chips.
2. Crafting: Use parts for crafting ammo and explosives. Repair lightly used equipment with time, but significantly damaged gear requires a few parts.
3. NPC Transactions: Give parts to NPCs like Deedee Bombastic for explosives or Wlad the Tinkerer for unique items, including an RPG-7 or an AK-74.
4. Currency Conversion: Sell 30 parts for $500 at the Fleatown Flea Market, providing a slow yet viable way to convert spare equipment into dollars.

Obtaining Parts:

A. Scrap Excess Equipment: The primary method involves scrapping armor, weapons, crowbars, lockpicks, wire cutters, remotes, and detonators.

B. Random Loot: Parts can sometimes be found as random loot.

C. Purchase at Bobby Ray’s: Buy parts at $50 each, or spend $500 at Bobby Ray’s for 10 parts (excluding shipping).

D. Baroness Alliance: Align with the Baroness at the Dump to unlock a repeatable Harvest Junk operation. Completing it yields parts and random items, with a single mercenary finishing it in slightly over a day. Four mercenaries can complete it multiple times in a day, acquiring parts and valuable items like magazines and chips.