Mentor's Notes: Complete Collection

This collection contains all 18 obtainable teaching papers, including the Board-signed Appraisal Service sheet. Follow the progress table to find a missing note, or browse by subject. Each entry includes the complete note and its signature, an English original paper page and a practical next step.

With the introduction retained, the days below refer to the day counter. Morning gifts appear when you open the shutter; visitor gifts require advancing the conversation. When skipping the introduction, 15 different notes are already inside the tutorial book in the dossier. Commissary Ban removes the Food Stamps and Commissary notes, leaving 13. Appraisal Service, SCD and The Augmented follow their own conditions below. Fence, Rock Bottom, Gunsmith and Chemist starts force the introduction skip.

Original English paper UI pages · release 1.0. The text below follows the official localization.

By subject

• Trading and goods: Mentor’s Note: Trading · Mentor’s Note: Food · Mentor’s Note: Buying Wholesale · Mentor’s Note: Barter Offer · Mentor’s Note: Item Labels
• Shop and market: Mentor’s Note: Display Case · Mentor’s Note: Upgrades · Mentor’s Note: Events
• After hours and food stamps: Mentor’s Note: After-Hours Activity · Mentor’s Note: Food Stamps · Mentor’s Note: The Commissary
• Security and danger: Mentor’s Note: Contraband · Mentor’s Note: Security Inspection · Mentor’s Note: Stolen Items · Mentor’s Note: The Augmented
• Appraisal and health: Mentor’s Note: Visual Inspection · Appraisal Service · Mentor’s Note: Sentinel Collapse Disorder

By game progress

Note	With introduction	Without introduction
Mentor’s Note: Trading	Day 1	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Food	Day 1	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Buying Wholesale	Day 2	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: After-Hours Activity	Day 2	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Visual Inspection	Day 3	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Item Labels	Day 4	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Display Case	Day 5	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Upgrades	Day 6	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Barter Offer	Day 6	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Events	Day 7	In tutorial book
Appraisal Service	Day 8	Own condition
Mentor’s Note: Contraband	Day 9	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Security Inspection	Day 9	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Food Stamps	Day 11	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: The Commissary	Day 11	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: The Augmented	Day 12	Own condition
Mentor’s Note: Stolen Items	Day 13	In tutorial book
Mentor’s Note: Sentinel Collapse Disorder	Own condition	Own condition

Mentor’s Note: Trading

1. Drag the item to the Negotiation Counter and the Negotiation Interface will appear. 2. A button will appear if you are able to buy or sell the item.

Clients only have a limited budget to spend at your Store.

You will automatically sell your items with a retail markup.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 1: advance the Mentor’s conversation.

Use it: Put goods on the negotiation counter, read the buy/sell button and check the customer’s budget before confirming.

• Probably Stolen Beginner Guide: Appraisal and Shop Basics
• Customer requests: restrictions, variety and budgets

Mentor’s Note: Food

Food is the most traded commodity on the station. Keeping Food in stock is highly recommended, as Food and water prices can rise sharply during shortages. Everyone has to eat.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 1: advance the Mentor’s conversation.

Use it: Keep everyday food stock and check the newspaper before pricing goods during a shortage.

• Probably Stolen money-making guide: water, wine and rat farming
• Item categories: all 60 labels and how they overlap

Mentor’s Note: Buying Wholesale

Sometimes sellers offer a discount if you buy all of their items. (This is called buying “Wholesale”.)

You can still inspect each item in the offer individually.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 2: open the shutter.

Use it: Inspect every item before accepting the whole bundle; a bulk discount can still include counterfeit goods.

• Probably Stolen buyer checks: water labels and counterfeit goods
• Magnifying Glass and Aug Scanner

Mentor’s Note: After-Hours Activity

After closing the Store for the day, you should have time to visit one of the various locations around the Sector. You can always return to the Dumping Grounds to scavenge. You won’t be able to bring much back to the Store without a backpack. You should also bring a bandage to patch yourself up in case you get wounded while scavenging. If you are badly hurt, you won’t be able to go out for a few days.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 2: advance the Mentor’s conversation.

Use it: The Mentor also gives a bandage and fanny pack. Pack the bag before choosing a destination; locations share the night’s visit allowance.

• After-hours: destinations, unlocks and travel rules
• Dumping Ground: searches, injuries, tools and carrying loot

Mentor’s Note: Visual Inspection

Certain items will be marked as inspectable using a Magnifying Glass. Use the Magnifying Glass on an inspectable item to open the Inspection Tray. If there’s an issue with the item, you can select a reason at the bottom of the Inspection Tray UI to confront the client about it. If the item is counterfeit, one issue is enough to confront the client.

If you are right, the client will adjust the price. If you are wrong, you will lose Reputation and the client may take their business elsewhere.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 3: advance the Mentor’s conversation.

Use it: Use the magnifier before buying. One correctly identified defect is enough to confront; an unsupported accusation costs reputation.

• Magnifying Glass and Aug Scanner
• Hemingway Cigarette Authenticity Handbook

Mentor’s Note: Item Labels

Certain items can be relabeled. For example, you can label a counterfeit box of cigarettes as genuine to raise its price.

Beware — most workers, Security Officers, and Lower Level citizens are familiar with common item fraud. Scam attempts will fail and result in a penalty to your Reputation. While Scavengers are also familiar with item fraud, they often don’t carry the equipment required to test for authenticity, if any is needed. Tourists and Upper Level citizens, however, are generally less aware. But sooner or later, people will find out.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 4: open the shutter.

Use it: The day-4 gift includes a red Labeler. Relabeling changes the claim, not authenticity; use the buyer-by-product inspection table.

• Mentor’s Note: Item Labels
• Labeler guide: Blue Labeler names and red product labels
• Probably Stolen buyer checks: water labels and counterfeit goods

Mentor’s Note: Display Case

On the left side of the Shutter Door, you’ll find the Display Case, one of the key features of your Store. Depending on the type of items you place inside, you can attract one client per day looking to buy that type of item. For example, if you put many [Food] items and one low-value [Medical] item, a food-buying client will visit the store the next day. The total value of the items stored will impact the social class of the attracted client. Upgrading your Display Case will allow you to attract more clients.

Make sure to stock the Display Case before opening the Store each day. Do not keep Contraband inside the Display Case or you will be arrested.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 5: advance the Mentor’s conversation.

Use it: Stock the case before opening. Item category, total value and special attraction tags affect who arrives; contraband can trigger Security.

• Probably Stolen display case guide: buyers, signs and Black Lamp

Mentor’s Note: Upgrades

As the days go by, you will meet various persons of interest who will offer to upgrade your Store for a price. These upgrades can be useful, but you must be careful when managing your cash flow and keep an eye out for the next rent payment.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 6: open the shutter.

Use it: Reserve the next rent payment before paying for an upgrade; use the network and equipment guides to choose a useful first purchase.

• Probably Stolen Joe Wild guide: starter kits and network costs
• Dr. Jackson
• Shop guide: rent, Business Permit and buying the shop

Mentor’s Note: Barter Offer

Sometimes customers will arrive and offer to exchange items, rather than Credits. Barter offers cannot be negotiated unlike regular buy and sell offers. They are also not impacted by ongoing events.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 6: open the shutter.

Use it: The note arrives on day 6, before the tutorial’s barter customer. Compare the actual items: these offers cannot be bargained down.

• Probably Stolen Beginner Guide: Appraisal and Shop Basics

Mentor’s Note: Events

Certain events will effect the market price of items, temporarily causing them to rise, or fall. The Newspaper will list most ongoing events. Some insiders can sell you tips for events before they happen.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 7: advance the Mentor’s conversation.

Use it: The day-7 conversation also announces the next day’s mining return event. Read the newspaper for current market conditions before buying stock.

• Probably Stolen money-making guide: water, wine and rat farming

Appraisal Service

Some valuable items marked as [Appraisal Item] have complex price structures. Customers will visit the Store and use your appraisal service to determine the value of their item.

You will receive a base service fee for the appraisal, plus a bonus based on the precision of the appraisal. You will be able to pass appraisal examinations and receive a certification that will improve your base service fee and unlock new item types to appraise.

-The Board

Getting it: Join the Board and pay the quoted fee: first invitation on day 8 with the introduction, or day 5 without it. Asking them to return schedules another visit 7 days later. The sheet is signed by the Board.

Use it: Joining also gives a hand appraisal guide, magnifier and Junior Certificate. Appraisal values the customer’s item; it is a separate service from buying it.

• Appraiser Board
• Cybernetic Hand Appraisal Guide

Mentor’s Note: Contraband

Contraband includes any item that is considered illegal by the Republic. The possession or sale of Contraband carries a high risk… and a higher profit margin. There are 4 tiers of Contraband: Low Level (+35% Profit Margin): While technically illegal, they are generally ignored by Security unless they are out to get you. Mid Level (+70% Profit Margin): If found during Inspection, this item will be seized. High Level (+100% Profit Margin): If found during Inspection, this item will be seized and you will receive a fine. Critical Level (+150% Profit Margin): If found during Inspection, the Store will be shut down permanently and you will be immediately arrested. Additionally, you will lose Reputation with Security if any Contraband is found.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 9: open the shutter.

Use it: The note’s four markup values are 35%, 70%, 100% and 150%; these are price modifiers. Check contraband tags and storage before inspections.

• Probably Stolen crime guide: contraband, heat and hidden storage
• Probably Stolen Security guide: reputation, VIP and inspections

Mentor’s Note: Security Inspection

Station Security will conduct random inspections for Contraband. Your Reputation with Security will affect the severity of your punishment when Contraband is found. Events can affect how often the Store is inspected.

Additionally, different Officers will conduct inspections differently. Some may be open to a bribe; others may not search every container.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 9: open the shutter.

Use it: Prepare before admitting the inspector. Security reputation changes consequences, and contraband in the display case has its own inspection trigger.

• Probably Stolen Security guide: reputation, VIP and inspections
• Probably Stolen crime guide: contraband, heat and hidden storage

Mentor’s Note: Food Stamps

Food Stamps are part of a social program to help eligible Lower Level citizens and prevent civil unrest. Food Stamps can be redeemed and are used at the Commissary to buy Food. Food Stamps can carry various values. Since they can only be used to buy Food, they are often traded at a lower value for Credits. The Stamps are sometimes forged and sold to unsuspecting victims, who only find out after failing to redeem the Stamp.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 11 on opening, unless banned from the Commissary. Welfare Program can grant this note at the start if food stamps have not already been introduced; the day-11 delivery can give a duplicate.

Use it: Check authenticity before buying. A convincing label does not make a forged stamp redeemable at the Commissary.

• Republic Food Stamp Authenticity Handbook
• Commissary: Food Stamp redemption, all stock and prices

Mentor’s Note: The Commissary

The Commissary is run by the Republic. The prices of all items sold here are fixed, and unaffected by the market.

Nevertheless, while the price of goods is fixed, the availability of items is very much affected by the market. Only Food Stamps can be used to purchase goods at the Commissary.

Visit the Commissary after closing the Store to purchase goods.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 11 on opening, unless banned from the Commissary. The Food Stamps note, authenticity handbook and logo checker are delivered in the same morning batch.

Use it: Bring genuine food stamps on the outing. Prices are fixed, but market events can change which goods are available.

• Commissary: Food Stamp redemption, all stock and prices
• After-hours: destinations, unlocks and travel rules

Mentor’s Note: The Augmented

The Augs are humans overtaken by a rogue AI inside a brain implant. Their bodies are no longer their own, and there is currently no safe way to remove the implant without killing the host. Augs are hostile and extremely dangerous, actively seeking to kidnap people and install more Augmentation implants. Shopkeepers are the first line of defense, since Augs rely on raw materials to fabricate new implants and medical supplies to surgically implant more victims. They haven’t fully mastered normal human behavior and may also use overly formal phrasing or robotic vocabulary. Shoot only if you are absolutely certain. Do not try to call Security, the Augs have hacked their comms and will flee before Security arrives.

-The Mentor

Getting it: On day 12, if Augs have not yet been introduced, advance the Mentor’s shotgun conversation to receive the note and Aug Identification Guide. Aug Menace grants them at the start instead. This day-12 check also runs with the introduction skipped.

Use it: Compare several identification signs before firing. Calling Security lets an Aug escape; a mistaken shooting has serious consequences.

• Probably Stolen Aug guide: identify customers and deal with them
• Augmented Identification Guide

Mentor’s Note: Stolen Items

It is illegal to trade in [Stolen] items. Each stolen item has Heat value, the higher the Heat, the more likely Security will recognize it on inspection. Sellers will offer a discount based on the Heat value. Heat slowly decreases over time.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Day 13: open the shutter.

Use it: A stolen-item tag and contraband level are separate properties. Check both, and allow Heat to decrease before exposing stolen stock to inspection.

• Probably Stolen crime guide: contraband, heat and hidden storage

Mentor’s Note: Sentinel Collapse Disorder

I am sorry to hear that you have SCD… It’s a serious health condition that you will live with for the rest of your life. You will need to take regular Immunivax shots or your health will deteriorate and suffer permanent damage. You can afford to miss a few days at the start, but the damage adds up over time.

-The Mentor

Getting it: Start with the Sentinel Collapse Disorder trait. You receive this note, a genuine Immunivax injector, its handbook and a magnifier. Skipping the introduction does not replace this trait requirement.

Use it: Keep a genuine Immunivax supply and follow the trait’s treatment schedule. Counterfeit injectors need their own authenticity check.

• Starting traits: all 48 perks and opening choices
• Immunivax Injector User Handbook

Unused older notes

Two older drafts, “Marketplace Requests” and “Rent and The Landlord”, are not handed out in the current game. They are excluded from the 18 obtainable papers above. Use the current guides for marketplace business and rent rather than looking for these sheets.

• Probably Stolen money-making guide: water, wine and rat farming
• Shop guide: rent, Business Permit and buying the shop
• In-game manuals: complete library, pages and acquisition