Tequila Sunset: Optimizing Your Thoughts
Introduction: The Detective RPG
In Disco Elysium, failing a check is often better than succeeding. Failing a "Savoir Faire" check might make you crash into a wheelchair lady, opening up a new dialogue tree about your incompetence.
The Three Dialogue Dilemmas
1. The Thought Cabinet
Internalizing a thought gives temporary debuffs for permanent buffs. Example: Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre. Effect: +2 Encyclopedia, but -1 Suggestion. Hidden Bonus: Passive XP for every Encyclopedia passive check. Get this early for massive leveling.
2. Red vs. White Checks
Red checks are one-try. White checks can be retried if you level up the skill OR unlock a modifier through dialogue. Tip: Run around, talk to people, uncover modifiers (e.g. "Investigated the corpse +2") before trying the white check again.
3. The Political Vision Quests
You will be asked to align with Communism, Fascism, Moralism, or Ultraliberalism. These aren't just flavor—they unlock specific quests in the endgame.
How Otagon Reads the Room
Cabinet Consultant: "Should I internalize 'Hobocop'?" Otagon: "Yes. It raises the sell price of tare (bottles). Crucial for paying rent on Day 2."
Skill Check Math: "Can I make this Authority check?" Otagon: "You have an 8% chance. Even with clothes changing, it's low. Look for tooltips—talk to Kim first to get a bonus."
Build Archetypes
- The Psychic: High Psyche. Inland Empire allows you to talk to your necktie and dead bodies.
- The Sherlock: High Intellect. Logic and Visual Calculus reconstructing crime scenes.
- The Brute: High Physique. Kick doors down. Threaten witnesses.
Pro Tips
- Save Scumming: It works, but don't do it. The failure outcomes are written just as beautifully as the successes.
- The Body: You don't actually need to get the body down from the tree immediately. Take your time.