The global map in ROB RUN is split into districts, and each district is made up of settlements. Players can only build in a settlement that has an owner. Owning one is how you start earning from other players instead of only from robberies.
Where do settlements fit in the power pyramid?
Kefir's Power Pyramid post describes five tiers. Settlements are the middle of it:
| Tier | Who | What they get |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hobo | Everyone at the start | A bed at Lenny's Motel |
| 2. Settlement Resident | Rents a plot | A base, businesses, new Shipments |
| 3. Settlement Owner | Owns a whole settlement | Taxes from residents, free base placement |
| 4. District Owner | A clan holding a district | A cut of settlement owners' taxes, faster laundering |
| 5. Shadow Governor | Leader of the clan holding the central Highlands district | Taxes every other clan; only one in the game world |
How do you become a settlement owner?
Buy a settlement that has rentable plots. Creator This is Shran explains that you need a settlement title for this (a land plot title only rents one plot). Since November 4, Tier 1 settlements cost documents instead of cash.
Prices players have reported:
- Steam forum user PeKaBoo paid $200,000 for a level 1 settlement title.
- Creator SwoleBenji says that on a brand-new server you buy the settlement title first and then the settlement itself, about $300,000 in his case.
These are player reports from launch week. Prices are to be confirmed and may change with updates.
Speed matters. On a server that is a few hours old, all the settlements may already be taken, so This is Shran recommends starting on a fresh server.
How does a settlement make money?
You get a cut of the money your tenants spend and launder. Kefir's Power Pyramid post says settlement owners collect taxes on laundered money and Black Market purchases made by all residents.
Two catches:
- You must collect your cut in person. It doesn't arrive in your bank by itself.
- Getting out alive is another story. Kefir's Global Map post warns that collecting taxes is one thing, but leaving with the cash is another.
The good news: no one can seize your settlement before the wipe, according to Kefir. You also get free base placement on your own turf.
What do settlement and district levels change?
Districts have levels, and the level decides which features you have and what items you can buy. Kefir's help center says some items in the Shipments tab need your base to be in a settlement of a certain level. Plots in level 2 and 3 districts need special documents from the Black Market. On November 4, Kefir raised the unlock and purchase costs of certain items in Tier 2 and Tier 3 settlements.
Some settlements are near special structures that give nearby settlements extra defense, business bonuses or discounts. Every district also has a central hub where residents can sell loot, often for higher prices than in Looty Bay but with more danger.
Who takes a cut above you?
The clan that controls your district collects a cut of all taxes paid to settlement owners on its turf. Above that, the Shadow Governor's clan taxes every other clan on the map. See clans.
Tips
- Save the title until you find a settlement that is actually free.
- Pick a spot near useful special structures if you can.
- Collect your cut when the area is quiet, and launder it straight away.
- Settlements reset at the wipe like everything else; see the wipe guide.
Related: how to buy a house, money laundering.