Remember that feeling of starting a brand-new game, full of excitement, but also a tiny bit of trepidation? Especially when you know it’s not going to be a typical experience. That’s exactly how many players feel diving into the world of Disco Elysium, a truly one-of-a-kind RPG. As the video above explains, this isn’t your usual hack-and-slash adventure; it’s a deep, introspective journey into the mind of a detective with amnesia, where your wits, words, and even your inner voices are your most powerful tools. While the game encourages you to go in blind and embrace the chaos, sometimes a little guidance can make that initial stumble a bit smoother. This supplementary guide aims to expand on the video’s excellent advice, offering more context and practical tips to help you navigate Revachol as a beginner detective.
One of the biggest hurdles for new players is understanding how this unique system works. Unlike traditional RPGs that focus on combat stats, Disco Elysium centers on abstract social and intellectual skills. It’s an unusual experience from the moment you wake up with a massive hangover and a complete blank slate for a memory. You’re here to solve a murder, yes, but also to rediscover who you are. These tips are designed to enhance that journey without spoiling the discovery.
Mastering Your Inner Voices: Understanding Attributes and Skills in Disco Elysium
The foundation of your detective’s capabilities in Disco Elysium lies in its intricate attribute and skill system. At the start, you’ll choose or create a character, and for newcomers, this can feel incredibly daunting. Unlike games where ‘Strength’ means hitting harder, here, skills like ‘Rhetoric’ or ‘Inland Empire’ dictate how you perceive and interact with the world, manifesting as actual voices in your head. The video suggests picking a pre-made build if you’re overwhelmed, which is sound advice, letting you jump straight into the practical application of these unique mechanics.
Pre-made Archetypes and Custom Builds
If you opt for a pre-made archetype, you’re essentially choosing a particular lens through which to experience Revachol. The ‘Thinker’ build, for instance, transforms you into a Sherlock Holmes-esque figure, adept at logical deductions but potentially out of touch emotionally. Imagine if you could deduce the entire crime scene from a single discarded cigarette butt, but struggled to comfort a grieving witness. Conversely, the ‘Sensitive’ build, akin to Twin Peaks’ Dale Cooper, grants you extrasensory insights and prophetic dreams, yet might leave you grappling with basic realities. Finally, the ‘Physical’ build allows you to embody a Bruce Wayne/Batman type, using brute force to overcome obstacles, perhaps intimidating suspects or breaking down doors, but missing out on more diplomatic solutions.
However, if you feel adventurous and want to craft your own detective, the game gives you 12 attribute points to distribute among four core attributes: Intellect, Psyche, Physique, and Motorics. Each attribute governs six specific skills. A balanced approach might involve putting three points into each attribute, offering a broad but less specialized experience. Alternatively, specializing in one or two attributes (e.g., setting one at five or six, or two at four) can lead to more distinct and memorable playthroughs. Low skill levels can unlock unique narrative paths, proving that failure isn’t always a bad thing in Disco Elysium.
Passive vs. Active Skill Checks Explained
The game constantly runs ‘passive checks’ in the background, represented by those internal voices that provide extra information or context. A cumulative skill level of six is considered ‘trivial,’ meaning it will almost always trigger unless your skill level is negative. ‘Easy’ checks require eight, ‘medium’ require ten, and ‘challenging’ checks need twelve. Most frequent passive triggers are ‘medium’ level, so having a base skill value of four in an area you want to specialize in is often enough to start seeing consistent results. For challenging checks, however, the video wisely recommends aiming for at least six points in your chosen skills. This ensures you’ll unlock the majority of content and options.
Active checks, on the other hand, involve dice rolls where you add your skill level to two six-sided dice. Higher skills increase your chances of success, opening alternative solutions to problems. For example, a high ‘Physical Instrument’ skill might let you force open a locked door, whereas a low skill might lead to a different, perhaps more embarrassing, outcome.
Boosting Your Skills Beyond the Basics
Beyond skill points gained from leveling up, Disco Elysium offers creative ways to enhance your abilities. Clothes provide temporary skill bonuses, allowing you to tailor your outfit to specific challenges. Consumable substances can temporarily boost attributes, but beware of their potential side effects. The ‘Thought Cabinet’ is another unique mechanic, where you can internalize certain ideologies or concepts. Committing to a thought may initially incur a penalty, but after enough in-game time passes, it can provide permanent skill bonuses or raise your maximum learning cap for related skills, profoundly shaping your detective’s identity.
Role-Playing Your Detective: Politics, Personalities, and Kim’s Opinion
Your choices in Disco Elysium resonate far beyond individual skill checks. Every dialogue option and action contributes to shaping your character’s political alignments and “cop-o-type.” These stats, visible in your police ledger (once found and deciphered with Kim’s help), influence how the world reacts to you and unlock new narrative pathways.
Unraveling Political Alignments and Cop-o-Types
The game tracks four core political alignments: Communism, Fascism, Ultraliberal, and Moralism. Imagine arguing for workers’ rights (Communism) versus advocating for a return to traditional authoritarian rule (Fascism). Or picture yourself championing ruthless self-reliance (Ultraliberal) against striving for a balanced, progressive society (Moralism). These choices aren’t just cosmetic; accumulating four points in any political field will unlock unique Political Vision quests in a dream sequence on the third night, offering a deeper exploration of that ideology.
Similarly, your “cop-o-type” evolves based on your actions. Are you a ‘Superstar Cop,’ charming and effective, or a ‘Sorry Cop,’ constantly apologizing for your ineptitude? You might even become an ‘Art Cop,’ valuing beauty and aesthetics, or a ‘Hobocop,’ embracing the chaotic, disheveled life. These aren’t just labels; they subtly influence dialogue options and the game’s perception of your character, adding layers to your unique story.
The Good Cop/Bad Cop Meter: Kim Kitsuragi’s Verdict
Perhaps one of the most immediate and personal reflections of your role-playing is your relationship with Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi, your steadfast partner. The ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ stat represents Kim’s opinion of you, and it can fluctuate wildly. Being professional, solving problems efficiently, and showing respect will earn you positive points. However, taking bribes, abusing substances, or generally making a mockery of the police force will swiftly lead to negative scores. Imagine trying to explain away a botched interrogation to a visibly disappointed Kim. While this stat primarily affects flavor text and slight modifiers to active checks, fostering a good relationship with Kim enriches the narrative significantly and often leads to more positive interactions and camaraderie.
Embracing Failure: When Mistakes Lead to Unique Discoveries
In many RPGs, failing a skill check feels like a punishment, a roadblock. Disco Elysium, however, redefines failure as an integral part of the experience. The game is incredibly lenient, often incorporating your blunders into the story or providing alternative paths forward. This approach aligns perfectly with your character’s amnesiac state; you’re *supposed* to struggle and make mistakes.
White Checks vs. Red Checks: Learning from Your Missteps
Most failed skill checks are ‘white checks,’ meaning you can retry them after investing a skill point to improve the relevant skill. This mechanic is brilliant; it allows you to literally grow as a detective, returning to past failures with new knowledge and increased capability. It’s often a good idea to keep a few spare skill points handy for these moments, letting you instantly re-engage with a challenge that initially seemed insurmountable. Imagine failing to convince a suspect, then leveling up your ‘Rhetoric’ and returning to craft a more persuasive argument, ultimately succeeding where you once faltered.
However, ‘red checks’ are different; these cannot be retried. They usually pertain to more critical narrative points or have dramatic, immediate consequences. Even so, the game is designed to adapt, ensuring the story always progresses, albeit in an unexpected direction. Sometimes, a failed red check can even lead to a more interesting or amusing outcome than success, forcing you to think creatively or simply enjoy the absurd narrative branches. Kim might even step in to salvage the situation, subtly building your bond.
No Wrong Choices, Only Different Stories
The most liberating aspect of Disco Elysium‘s design is the absence of “wrong choices.” Every decision, every failed check, every quirky dialogue option contributes to *your* unique narrative. The game is incredibly reactive, molding future interactions and events based on your past actions. Don’t be afraid to experiment, follow your instincts, or simply embrace the bizarre. Reloading a save to “get the best outcome” might strip away some of the game’s magic, as much of its charm comes from seeing how your detective stumbles and grows. Let the story unfold naturally; the less you know in advance, the more impactful the journey of discovery will be.
Survival in Revachol: Mastering Money and Health Management
While Disco Elysium isn’t about combat, it’s still a game of survival. Managing your money (called “real”) and keeping your detective’s physical and mental health intact are crucial for progress. Without proper care, you could find yourself stuck or even meet an untimely, often humorous, demise.
The High Cost of Living: Lodging and Income
Your primary financial concern, especially in the early game, is paying for lodging at the Whirling-in-Rags hostel. For the first two nights, if you can’t afford your room by 22:00, you’ll be unable to progress. The first night is particularly expensive due to accumulated debts and damages. While Kim will bail you out on the first night if you wait long enough, you’re on your own for the second, needing at least 20 real. Imagine the stress of desperately scrounging for coins as the clock ticks down!
Fortunately, there are several ways to earn money. Exploring thoroughly and pressing the ‘tab’ key (which highlights interactive elements) can reveal spare change and valuable items. Your Perception skill influences how much you find. You can also collect empty bottles (highlighted without a green outline, making them harder to spot) and sell them at the Frittte Convenience Store for 10 cents each—every little bit helps. Selling postcards at the pawn shop is always safe, but be cautious with other items, as they might be quest-related. For substantial sums, conversing with key NPCs like Joyce or Evrart (the Wild Pines and dockworkers’ representatives, respectively) can yield significant payments if you pass their skill checks or are willing to accept their potentially loaded offers.
Managing Health and Morale: Staying Alive in a Strange World
Your detective has two distinct health bars: a red one for physical health (Endurance) and a blue one for mental health (Volition). Taking damage to either can lead to a game over. You can literally die from sitting in an uncomfortable chair or from a particularly embarrassing remark. Imagine uttering a foolish statement and your morale plummeting so low it gives you a heart attack! Medicine, available at the Frittte Convenience Store, is vital. Buying three at a time is cheaper, and always aim to have at least two or three on hand, as some situations can inflict multiple hits of damage. Taking damage also temporarily lowers your Endurance and Volition, making subsequent passive skill checks harder, further emphasizing the need for quick healing.
The Passage of Time and the Importance of Exploration
While the clock in the bottom corner of your screen might suggest a looming deadline, Disco Elysium is surprisingly forgiving. There’s no real time limit to solve the case, allowing you to thoroughly explore and engage with all the rich side content. This relaxed approach to time fosters a deeper connection with Revachol.
Time of Day Matters, But Not Urgently
Time only advances when you’re in dialogue or interacting with objects, not while simply moving around the map. This means you can explore at your leisure without fear of “wasting” precious hours. However, the time of day does affect NPC availability and shop hours. Some quests might require you to meet someone at a specific time, or certain stores might close late. If you need to pass time, reading books or case files, or even sitting on benches (when Kim isn’t with you), are easy ways to do so. The game will automatically stop at 2 AM, prompting you to sleep and advance to the next day.
Crucially, despite some implied urgency from characters like Kim, there are no penalties for taking too long to solve the murder. The only real-world consequence of time passing is that the waterlock, which grants access to the western coastal region, remains inoperable for the first two days, opening up on day three. Also, one particular NPC, one of the two older gentlemen playing pétanque in the crater, becomes unavailable after day five. Imagine missing out on a unique conversation or quest line because you didn’t explore an area thoroughly enough!
The Rewards of Thorough Exploration
The world of Revachol, though seemingly small, is incredibly dense and interconnected. Vague objectives are common, often appearing in your journal with little immediate guidance. The solution rarely jumps out at you. Instead, it typically reveals itself through patient exploration and conversations with every character you encounter. Things that seem irrelevant can often tie into the main investigation later, providing crucial bonuses to difficult skill checks or unlocking new dialogue options.
For players accustomed to skipping side content, Disco Elysium strongly encourages a more holistic approach. There’s a palpable sense that everything belongs, that every detail contributes to the overarching narrative. If you find yourself stumped on a particular objective, simply set it aside and explore elsewhere. Solutions will emerge organically as you gather more information and connect the dots. The game rewards curiosity and patience, ensuring that a comprehensive playthrough offers a far richer and more engaging experience than rushing through the main quest alone.
