# It's...gone. It's all gone

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [October 8, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530 "2014-10-08T05:02:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Solusphere](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/solusphere/32/66_2.png) [@Solusphere](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Solusphere)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/1 "2014-10-08T05:02:37Z")

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Just a simple idea I think could be cool. Basically, add a negative starting trait that gives you a major morale penalty at the start of the game that gradually diminishes over the course of a week or two, representing a combination of survivor’s guilt and the loss of friends, loved ones, porn collections etc. as a result of the cataclysm. It always struck me as odd that a new survivor could wake up in a shelter hours after the collapse of civilization and death of everyone they know, drink a can of coke and be feeling pretty good about things in general. This would, I think, help with those that like to roleplay in their games, while also presenting a challenge in the early game. It could potentially be called Lost it All or Recent Tragedy, and i’d say it should only grant a single point due to it’s impermanent status.

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**Author:** ![Headset-less](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/headset-less/32/1153_2.png) [@Headset-less](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Headset-less)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:39am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/2 "2014-10-08T07:39:36Z")

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I thought that when the game starts it’s a few days since you first holed up in the shelter and you explore the cataclysm after your supplies run out?

Anyways it’s a nice thought, but since it’s already a week or so since shit hit the fan, maybe a not-too-major morale penalty?

Also another nice thought in the same vein: what about PTSD? Something something random chance of triggering low morale due to seeing something reminiscent of a family member/friend/colleague/pet? Not really much gameplay-wise but adds flavor into the game a bit

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**Author:** ![Solusphere](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/solusphere/32/66_2.png) [@Solusphere](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Solusphere)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:50am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/3 "2014-10-08T07:50:02Z")

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Actually, Cataclysm canonically begins exactly 8 hours after the shit hit the fan, or so TVtropes tells me. I’m assuming that’s based on a post by Whales/Kevin somewhere.

I feel it should absolutely be a major morale penalty if there’s any penalty at all, because everyone you knew and loved is dead. That’s why i’m proposing it be an optional pick and not a standard part of the game start.

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**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 8:11am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/4 "2014-10-08T08:11:53Z")

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[quote=“Solusphere, post:3, topic:7530”]Actually, Cataclysm canonically begins exactly 8 hours after the shit hit the fan, or so TVtropes tells me. I’m assuming that’s based on a post by Whales/Kevin somewhere.

I feel it should absolutely be a major morale penalty if there’s any penalty at all, because everyone you knew and loved is dead. That’s why i’m proposing it be an optional pick and not a standard part of the game start.[/quote]

TVTropes, like our own wiki, is outdated. DDA’s Cataclysm hit on Saturday and the game starts five days later, on the vernal equinox. (Wiki has some [interesting holidays](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_20#Holidays_and_observances) for it: Int’l Storytelling day makes sense, but the Day of Happiness seems amusing.)

Incidentally, this would place DDA in [2042](http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2042&country=1); [2048](http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2048&country=1) would be an option too because [leap year doesn’t move the equinox](http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/seasons.html).

As for the OP, a random morale-shifter trait (that starts with a penalty) could be implemented w/o difficulty, but IME depression/PTSD don’t work quite that easily.

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**Author:** ![ribblle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/ribblle/32/5263_2.png) [@ribblle](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/ribblle)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/5 "2017-02-14T18:38:19Z")

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Bang on. It also makes sense that a fresh survivor will receive harsher morale penalties for everything until they toughen up, with some exceptions.

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**Author:** ![StopSignal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/stopsignal/32/1923_2.png) [@StopSignal](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/StopSignal)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/6 "2017-02-14T23:54:58Z")

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Holy hell Ribble try not to post on topics older than a month please  
I mean if this was D&D I’d love to have ya as a necromancer but it’s just getting everything disorganized y’know

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**Author:** ![ribblle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/ribblle/32/5263_2.png) [@ribblle](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/ribblle)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/its-gone-its-all-gone/7530/7 "2017-02-15T00:14:39Z")

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I don’t understand man. What’s the difference between making a thread on this subject and reviving this still very relevant discussion? It’s not like i’m breaking the thread link everytime i post.

When a thread has become irrelevant, or 2000 pages long, i get it no necromancy. This is harmless.

For what it’s worth, i have already necroed every single thread i could contribute to in this forum. No more 🙂