Are Secret Hemp Hydroponics Possible WITHIN United Cities towns?

[Explosive Eggshells]

The United Cities bans hemp, and I've read that if you set up anything hemp related within a player-owned towns within UC territory, they'll issue a drug bust on you if they see those buildings.

However, is it possible to hide hemp hydroponics farms INSIDE a purchasable home within a UC town without getting busted? Say for instance you put all the hydroponics bays on the second floor of a private building.

The reason I ask is because Catun has a potentially really nice set up for training armorsmithing if I could grow hemp there- there are many shops with a lot of money to buy the items produced by the armorsmith training, as well as a giant iron node just outside the town. The hemp would hypothetically never leave the building- it would be immediately turned into fabric for armor crafing.

Has anyone tried this out or have any thoughts on if its possible? Figured I'd ask before sinking a bunch of time into it.

[Shidan]

Theoretically, yes. But it would be hard to remain undetected for sure, as sometimes they like to walk into your house on their own, and the interior wall partitions do NOT obstruct line of sight.

Second floor would work better than first floor, but they could plausibly still see it if they happen to go up.

Though even if they spot it, you can more often than not just bribe them to get away with it anyway. But if you hit a guard who doesn't like bribes you're in for a fight and possibly some jail time.

I lived in a UC town with a hemp farm though, for several in-game months. Only got found twice, and was able to pay them off just fine.

[Explosive Eggshells]

Originally posted by Shidan:

Theoretically, yes. But it would be hard to remain undetected for sure, as sometimes they like to walk into your house on their own, and the interior wall partitions do NOT obstruct line of sight.

Second floor would work better than first floor, but they could plausibly still see it if they happen to go up.

Though even if they spot it, you can more often than not just bribe them to get away with it anyway. But if you hit a guard who doesn't like bribes you're in for a fight and possibly some jail time.

Appreciate the response, that makes perfect sense! I have noticed NPCs wandering in my homes even when they're set to private, so I see how that would be a problem.

I'll probably just set it up in Squin as I have before and maybe test it out once I'm looking for stuff to do later in the game. I wonder if locking a couple units inside the building and moving items through walls with a dedicated runner would solve the issue so that the door never gets opened and unlocked.

Thanks for the insight!

[di eshor ribly]

Since you're using hydroponics, what's stopping you from just growing cotton and using that for your fabric? At least it's legal.

[Explosive Eggshells]

Originally posted by di eshor ribly:

Since you're using hydroponics, what's stopping you from just growing cotton and using that for your fabric? At least it's legal.

That's a fair point. I had just read that hemp was the more efficient option when it came to fabric making, and any gross surplus could later on be hauled to an outpost and turned into fuel. So when it comes to setting up an armorsmith training location, I'd rather just avoid UC than switch to cotton in my mind.

I'll definitely give it a try though and see if the lower craft speed actually makes a difference, thanks for reminding me cotton was an option

[di eshor ribly]

The biggest difference in hemp products is in bio-fuel refining, the fabric is more or less the same as cotton. You just get fewer neighbors getting uppity about your herb garden. You may need to build one or two extra hydroponics bays though. In the end it's just water + your farmer's time.

The only industries that absolutely require hemp are hashish production and medical supplies.

[Shidan]

To be fair, there is no such thing as Hydroponic Cotton in vanilla. So you'd have to get a mod to do so.

[di eshor ribly]

Originally posted by Shidan:

To be fair, there is no such thing as Hydroponic Cotton in vanilla. So you'd have to get a mod to do so.

.... Yeah, that might do it.

Score one for forgetting that mods do that. Disregard my suggestion then, sorry for my mistake!

[Draa]

I've grown hemp in UC cities for years playing this game, but I was always allied with them before I began. Usually in Stoat since it has enough large building to buy. I've never really had an issue growing hemp in the UC while allied.

I do remember once when a guard in Stoat mentioned something about illegal activity in a building (I was growing hemp) and wanted a pay-off to keep quiet. But again, I was allied with the UC so I'm not sure it would have mattered if I didn't pay him.

I haven't attempted doing it without being allied so i'm not sure how long before someone would notice. Probably not long considering UC guards just walk in and out of your buildings all the time.