Negative Thoughts

[DAN-di-WARhol]

Why equip negative thoughts that only reduce your skills?

[Du-Vu]

That's the tradeoff. Complete the necessary research time and they'll give you at least some kind of bonus, but while you're researching them that's the cost you pay. Until they're finished you can switch them out freely.

Some finished thoughts do have (usually different) penalties as well, but they're mostly offset by the bonus you get. A -1 isn't a big deal in the long term.

[DAN-di-WARhol]

There doesn't seem to be any logical trade off. Some of them don't offer any bonuses at all.

"Spend 3 hours learning this, so that you can reduce your Strength attribute by 3 points."

"I'd rather not, actually."

[Rialm]

Role playing?

[DAN-di-WARhol]

Role playing games at least have a trade off. "Armour of ineptitude = Str +6 Ag -3"

This game makes me feel like I'm missing something. No-one in their right mind would equip those thoughts because they do nothing good, only harm you.

I guess I'm just posting to try to get a counter-argument and see if I'm missing something.

[dot]

Originally posted by DAN-di-WARhol:

There doesn't seem to be any logical trade off. Some of them don't offer any bonuses at all.

"Spend 3 hours learning this, so that you can reduce your Strength attribute by 3 points."

"I'd rather not, actually."

Care for spoilers

https://discoelysium.fandom.com/wiki/Thought_Cabinet

which are you talking about?

Originally posted by Rialm:

Role playing?

And this my thought too, even if there were thoughts with no reward whatsoever, what`s the issue with that? The mechanic is supposed to represent ideas or personal archetypes on the front of our character`s mind, a thread in steam forums could be one, does this thread development make you get more money, get someone to like you or become stronger? no, still is possible to follow and engage in those ideas.
You can give up 10 seconds after starting the game and die, should it have a trade off?

[Shiver]

The thoughts have varying levels of usefulness, and the benefits won't manifest until you finish them. Which thoughts are good depends heavily on what kind of character you're going with. I did a PSY and INT build, and my two favorite ones were Waste Land of Reality and Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre.

Wasteland reduced Physical Instrument by 2 while researching, but increased my effective Authority, Espirit de Corps, Empathy, and Volition by 1 upon completition. It still had a -1 Physical Instrument upon completion, and alcohol no longer provided positive benefits. I sucked at physical confrontation, except it didn't matter much since I could talk my way out of a fight, or at least make my assailant unstable and full of doubt.

Wompty reduced suggestion by 1, but upon completion I would gain 10 exp and 2 Real every time my Encyclopedia passive triggered. I was at -2 Suggestion with it completed, but I never needed money again and I gained at least a couple levels from it alone.

[DAN-di-WARhol]

Ah. Thank you! That makes sense.

To summarise: It sounds as though the negative effects are only present while researching, then there are hidden positive effects once finished.

I thought the negative research effects were permanent (and didn't know about the hidden positives.