# Messages: A loss of sanity

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [February 17, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109 "2014-02-17T23:38:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Slax](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/slax/32/5385_2.png) [@Slax](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Slax)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/1 "2014-02-17T23:38:39Z")

</div>

[spoiler=Allow me to illustrate something.]Feeling down can be tough.  
Feeling down while barely surviving the apocalypse can be… devastating.  
But you gotta keep going, right? So you do.

Hallucinations. Audible, visual. Reality? Can you even tell the difference anymore? The memories… seared into your mind. Your body. It… never lets up! You just… ah, you just can’t…

“You hear a phone ringing. It’s loud.”  
“RRRRING RRRRING RRRRING!”

No, that’s the old world. Those things… don’t…

“RRRRING RRRING RRRRING! It’s REALLY loud. Your head hurts.”

No, it’s not the first time. You read an old novel to clear your head. You fall asleep.

“You have a horrible nightmare.”  
“You stand up and your legs come off. OH GOD!”

You awake and realize that those psychotropic drugs didn’t do you any favors way back when.[/spoiler]

Late game shenanigans. Actions should have consequences, no?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BeigeSand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BeigeSand](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeigeSand)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/2 "2014-02-18T00:33:50Z")

</div>

Agreed they should, but I’m fairly certain anybody would realize that limbs randomly falling off doesn’t really happen. What exactly would the consequences be other than a slightly trippy nightmare?

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**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/3 "2014-02-18T00:37:38Z")

</div>

You wake up

Everything is still

You can’t craft or pick up anything.

You can’t hit or fire anything, just move.

You leave your base, wondering what the hell is going on.

(Que bad things)

Then you wake up.

---

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/cataclysmdda/original/1X/21b5d044e8473b25d0bf905d60477e25f6fbe0cf.png) [@system](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/4 "2014-02-18T00:42:10Z")

</div>

[quote=“FunsizeNinja123, post:3, topic:5109”]You wake up

Everything is still

You can’t craft or pick up anything.

You can’t hit or fire anything, just move.

You leave your base, wondering what the hell is going on.

(Que bad things)

Then you wake up.[/quote]

OOBE?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Slax](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/slax/32/5385_2.png) [@Slax](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Slax)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/5 "2014-02-18T01:27:03Z")

</div>

Nah, fuck it.

You guys are terrible. Farewell.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BeigeSand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BeigeSand](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeigeSand)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/6 "2014-02-18T01:52:58Z")

</div>

Glad to be of resistance.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheGrifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@TheGrifter](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TheGrifter)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/7 "2014-02-19T01:55:16Z")

</div>

Beigesand, take a step back.That was a little rude. I agree that more sanity mechanics are a good thing. Don’t troll.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BeigeSand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BeigeSand](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/BeigeSand)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/8 "2014-02-19T03:21:54Z")

</div>

> [@TheGrifter](#):
>
> Beigesand, take a step back.That was a little rude. I agree that more sanity mechanics are a good thing. Don’t troll.

My criticism? Or my smart ass comment?  
If a) I think more sanity mechanics are good too. I just don’t see this one do anything more than making me wait before I can play my game more.

If b) Alright, it is entirely possible that comment was slightly uncalled for. I apologize for any emotional scarring caused by my emotional insensitivity to other peoples feelings.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Inadequate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Inadequate](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Inadequate)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/9 "2014-02-19T03:26:12Z")

</div>

I don’t particularly care about sanity messages, but did the OP really give up after one mildly sarcastic reply? I don’t think chances are high it would have been implemented, with that kind of attitude.

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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:** [February 19, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/10 "2014-02-19T04:27:12Z")

</div>

This is an area where making it an option would be an excellent idea. Whether it’s toggleable in worldgen (“Cataclysm: Eternal Darkness Days Ahead” mod? EDSR takes place in New England!) or from the options menu would be the only real question I’d have.

Because though I imagine a LOT of the playerbase wants sanity mechanics–I’ve seen this sort of Idea several times now–they’re a dealbreaker to folks who don’t want them. Not everyone likes EDSR, and those who do don’t play it constantly.

And speaking for the devs, we’d need to be able to turn off the Mind Screw when bughunting, at minimum. 😉 Folks report Schizophrenia effects as bugs from time to time.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/11 "2014-02-19T13:55:33Z")

</div>

> [@Inadequate](#):
>
> but did the OP really give up after one mildly sarcastic reply?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Soyweiser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/soyweiser/32/37_2.png) [@Soyweiser](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Soyweiser)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/12 "2014-02-19T14:03:58Z")

</div>

I have been considering making a monster tag for the shoggoth that does something with sanity. But have not worked out the details. A few turns of schizophrenia would be fun.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheGrifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@TheGrifter](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TheGrifter)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/13 "2014-02-19T20:46:49Z")

</div>

> [@Inadequate](#):
>
> I don’t particularly care about sanity messages, but did the OP really give up after one mildly sarcastic reply? I don’t think chances are high it would have been implemented, with that kind of attitude.

People come here to make suggestions, not to be berated. If you act politely, most people will act politely in return. If you act like a jerk, no wonder the OP got irritated and left.

Slax, come backs. Beige Sand, show a little human decency.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@ted](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/ted)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/14 "2014-02-19T22:17:16Z")

</div>

> [@Soyweiser](#):
>
> I have been considering making a monster tag for the shoggoth that does something with sanity. But have not worked out the details. A few turns of schizophrenia would be fun.

Schizophrenia usually doesn’t do anything each turn. It would have to automatically trigger schizophrenia effects instead.

[quote=“TheGrifter, post:13, topic:5109”]People come here to make suggestions, not to be berated. If you act politely, most people will act politely in return. If you act like a jerk, no wonder the OP got irritated and left.

Slax, come backs. Beige Sand, show a little human decency.[/quote]

BeigeSand’s questioning was decent and polite. It’s Slax who’s been unreasonable, especially by putting the thread suggestion in a spoiler for no good reason.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheGrifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@TheGrifter](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TheGrifter)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/15 "2014-02-19T23:19:04Z")

</div>

Well, the thread has turned into a hive of negativity by now. I feel bad for Slax. Sure, he has a temper, but we all have our tempers.

Here was a good idea. They just added the ability to add custom monsters to migo\_speech.json, so hallucinations can now be voiced and everything.

Put this bit in migo\_speech.json

```auto
    },{
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_phone",
        "sound" : "RRRRING RRRRING RRRRING!",
        "volume" : 40
    },{
```

Put this in monsters.json

```auto
    },{
        "type" : "MONSTER",
        "id" : "mon_hallu_phone",
    "name": "telephone",
    "species":"HALLUCINATION",
    "symbol":"{",
    "color":"white",
    "size":"MEDIUM",
    "material":"flesh",
    "diff":0,
    "aggression":100,
    "morale":100,
    "speed":100,
    "melee_skill":3,
    "melee_dice":0,
    "melee_dice_sides":0,
    "melee_cut":0,
    "dodge":0,
    "armor_bash":0,
    "armor_cut":0,
    "item_chance":0,
    "luminance":0,
    "hp":5,
    "special_freq":20,
    "death_function":"DISAPPEAR",
    "special_attack":"PARROT",
    "description":"I wonder who it is?",
    "flags":["SEES", "HEARS", "NO_BREATHE", "SMELLS"]
    },{
```

There’s your hallucination phone.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Candlebury](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/john_candlebury/32/6437_2.png) [@John\_Candlebury](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/John_Candlebury)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/16 "2014-02-19T23:40:41Z")

</div>

Oh God that hilarious

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/17 "2014-02-19T23:41:53Z")

</div>

Well, Beige just asked a question as far as I can read.

But that last remark was a bit much, Beige.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheGrifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@TheGrifter](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TheGrifter)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/18 "2014-02-20T00:22:48Z")

</div>

Let’s smooth over that rough patch, and start making awesome hallucinations.

Put this in monster

```auto
    },{
        "type" : "MONSTER",
        "id" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
    "name": "Elvis",
    "species":"HALLUCINATION",
    "symbol":"@",
    "color":"white",
    "size":"MEDIUM",
    "material":"flesh",
    "diff":0,
    "aggression":100,
    "morale":100,
    "speed":100,
    "melee_skill":3,
    "melee_dice":0,
    "melee_dice_sides":0,
    "melee_cut":0,
    "dodge":0,
    "armor_bash":0,
    "armor_cut":0,
    "item_chance":0,
    "luminance":0,
    "hp":5,
    "special_freq":20,
    "death_function":"DISAPPEAR",
    "special_attack":"PARROT",
    "description":"Nothin' but a hound-dog",
    "flags":["SEES", "HEARS", "NO_BREATHE", "SMELLS"]
    },{
```

And put this in migo\_speech.json

```auto
    },{
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\"Man, I really like Vegas.\"",
        "volume" : 30
    },{
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" People ask me where I got my singing style. I didn't copy my style from anybody.\"",
        "volume" : 30
    },{
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\"I'm trying to keep a level head. You have to be careful out in the world. It's so easy to get turned.\"",
        "volume" : 30
    },{
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\"I like entertaining people. I really miss it\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{    
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" When I got outta High School I was driving a truck. I was just a poor boy from Memphis.\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" Rhythm is something you either have or don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over.\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{    
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" I never expected to be anybody important.\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{    
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" I'm no hillbilly singer.\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{    
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" Every time I think that I'm getting old, and going to the grave, something else happens.\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{    
        "type" : "speech",
        "speaker" : "mon_hallu_elvis",
        "sound" : "\" Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine.\"",
        "volume" : 40
    },{    
```

There you have it, another hallucination.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Soyweiser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/soyweiser/32/37_2.png) [@Soyweiser](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Soyweiser)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/19 "2014-02-20T01:06:23Z")

</div>

[quote=“TheGrifter, post:15, topic:5109”]`
        "sound" : "RRRRING RRRRING RRRRING!",
`[/quote]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheGrifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@TheGrifter](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/TheGrifter)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109/20 "2014-02-20T01:17:54Z")

</div>

I made something useable. Feel free to mock me. Make a better hallucination, why don’t you?

[Next page](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/messages-a-loss-of-sanity/5109.md?page=2)