How to Play Drug Wars

Game Objective

Your goal is to maximize your profit by buying and selling commodities across New York City's five boroughs. Start with $1,000 and build your empire through smart trading and strategic decisions.

Game Modes

Retirement Mode

Play until your character reaches age 65. This mode offers the most freedom and potential for massive profits.

30-Turn Challenge

Fast-paced gameplay with exactly 30 turns to maximize your profits. Perfect for quick sessions.

60-Turn Challenge

Extended gameplay with 60 turns, offering more opportunities for strategic planning and big profits.

Basic Gameplay

  1. Choose Your Avatar: Select from 4 unique character designs
  2. Travel Between Boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island
  3. Check Market Prices: Prices fluctuate between locations and turns
  4. Buy Low, Sell High: Purchase commodities where they're cheap, sell where they're expensive
  5. Manage Resources: Watch your cash, health, and inventory space
  6. Handle Events: Deal with police raids, rival dealers, and random opportunities

Trading Strategy

The Five Commodities:

  • Weed: Low risk, steady profits, good for beginners
  • Cocaine: High value, moderate risk, significant profit potential
  • Heroin: Very high value, high risk, massive profit potential
  • Meth: Extremely volatile pricing, high risk/reward
  • Ecstasy: Moderate value, good for steady income
Start with safer commodities like Weed and Ecstasy. As your capital grows, gradually move to higher-value items like Cocaine and Heroin.

Combat System

Weapons Available:

  • Knife: $250 - Adds 1d4+2 damage, no ammo needed
  • Pistol: $1,000 - Adds 1d6+6 damage, requires bullets
  • Shotgun: $2,500 - Adds 2d8+4 damage, requires shells
  • Assault Rifle: $5,000 - Adds 3d10+8 damage, requires rounds
Always carry a weapon and ammunition. Combat encounters are random but can be profitable if you win.

Advanced Features

Bank System:

Deposit money at the bank to keep it safe from thieves and police seizures. Withdraw funds when needed for large purchases.

Stash Houses:

Purchase stash houses in different boroughs to store inventory. Each location has limited capacity but allows strategic stockpiling.

Clinic Services:

Visit clinics to restore health or increase maximum health capacity. Essential for surviving tough encounters.

Winning Strategies

  1. Market Timing: Buy during price dips, sell during peaks
  2. Risk Management: Don't carry all your money - use the bank
  3. Diversification: Trade multiple commodities to spread risk
  4. Equipment Investment: Better weapons mean better combat outcomes
  5. Health Management: Keep health high to survive encounters
  6. Strategic Storage: Use stash houses to capitalize on market opportunities
The key to massive profits is patience and strategic thinking. Don't rush into high-risk trades until you have the capital to absorb losses.

High Scores

Your final score is calculated based on your total net worth (cash + inventory value + bank deposits). The game tracks the top 10 high scores, so aim for the leaderboard!

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