Heat & Law Enforcement
Heat is the law enforcement pressure on you and your syndicate. The more attention you draw, the more dangerous your daily operations become. The system has three independent levels that don’t directly influence each other — but together determine your survival.
Hood Heat (per runner, 0–100)
Each of your runners has their own Hood Heat. It rises through crimes and falls over time — but not linearly:
- Below 30: Heat drops quickly. Minor offenses are soon forgotten.
- Above 60: Heat only drops slowly. Once in the spotlight, it’s hard to shake.
What happens with high Hood Heat? A runner with high Hood Heat has a significantly higher arrest probability during police contact. This affects traffic stops, raids, and random sector encounters.
Tactical tip: Rotate your runners. Let high-heat operatives rest for a while while others take the hot jobs. An arrested runner is no use to you at all.
Sector Heat (per sector, 0–100)
Each sector of the city has its own heat value. It rises through fights, shootings, and open crime in that sector and drops automatically each day.
Sector Heat determines the CorpSec response level in the sector:
| Sector Heat | Response Level | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20 | No presence | Clear path. Nobody’s watching. |
| 21–40 | Occasional patrols | Basic patrol. Low risk. |
| 41–60 | Increased patrols | Traffic stops, heightened vigilance. |
| 61–80 | Tactical units | Raids possible. Active searches. |
| 81–100 | Maximum escalation | FCA seizure possible! |
Warning: A hot sector affects all players active there — not just you. If a rival heats up a sector, you suffer too.
Federal Heat (per player, 0–100) — The RICO Counter
Federal Heat is the most dangerous of the three levels. This isn’t about beat cops — it’s about federal authorities. High Federal Heat can destroy your entire empire.
What drives Federal Heat up?
- HIGH contacts on PAYROLL: +5 Federal Heat per day per contact! Powerful, but dangerously hot.
- Excessive laundering: Large sums in a short time attract attention.
- Bombings and arson: Serious offenses always draw federal attention.
- Civilian casualties: Collateral damage is taken seriously.
How do you reduce Federal Heat?
- FALSE_ATTRIBUTION: Costs $1,500 per use and reduces your heat by 3 to 6 points. But warning: effectiveness decreases with each use. Later you need more uses for less effect.
How do you know your Federal Heat?
Your Federal Heat is not directly visible. Other players only see vague hints in the Gazette. You yourself only learn your exact value through a Compliance Bureau contact — one of the most valuable informants in the game.
Federal Escalation
The higher your Federal Heat rises, the harder the consequences:
| Level | Heat | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| GREEN | 0–39 | No attention. You’re under the radar. |
| YELLOW | 40–59 | Cryptic hints appear in the Gazette. Other players might get suspicious. |
| ORANGE | 60–74 | 1 random HIGH contact is suspended per cycle. Your network crumbles piece by piece. |
| RED | 75–89 | All HIGH contact benefits suspended. 10% chance per cycle of property seizure. |
| INDICTMENT | 90–100 | Indictment! See below. |
INDICTMENT (90–100)
When you reach 90 Federal Heat, a 5-day countdown begins. From now on, every day the following occurs:
- 1 Subsidiary is frozen
- 15% chance of property seizure
- PAYROLL is completely blocked
Day 5 — FEDERAL SEIZURE:
- 50% of your assets are confiscated
- All runners arrested for 5 days
- All Subsidiaries frozen for 3 days
- All PAYROLL contacts lost
- Federal Heat reset to 60
The Second Indictment — FINAL SEIZURE
If you are indicted a second time, it’s over:
- 80% of your assets confiscated
- All runners permanently arrested
- All buildings seized
- You are effectively eliminated as a player
Strategic Tips
- HIGH contacts on PAYROLL are the most powerful tools in the game — but each one costs you +5 Federal Heat per day. Consider carefully how many you can afford.
- FALSE_ATTRIBUTION is mandatory once you reach YELLOW. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
- The Compliance Bureau contact is your most important informant. Only they show you your exact Federal Heat. Without them you fly blind.
- Watch the Gazette. Cryptic hints about federal activity could be about you — or a rival. Learn to read the signs.